Part 40 (2/2)

CHAPTER LI.

Lieutenant Fred G.o.dfrey expected such a reception from Jake Golcher as would give him a suitable excuse for opening fire on the Tory and the Senecas, but the panic of the leader disarmed his enmity, and really forced the arrangement that was now carried out; one that, it may be said, was intensely disagreeable to d.i.c.k Durkee and his comrades, who were unwilling to spare such miscreants.

But the lieutenant was the commander, and there was no rebellion against his orders.

”Bring your warriors up here,” ordered Fred, and Golcher made a sign for the Senecas to approach.

They moved forward a few paces, but, mistrusting the purposes of the patriots, refused to come further. Golcher berated, and ordered them to advance, telling them--what they already knew--they were covered by the guns of the whites.

But they stood sullenly apart, and began moving in the direction of the river.

At this moment d.i.c.k Durkee called out:

”Lieutenant, shall we fire? We've got every wretch of 'em fast.”

”Keep them covered, but don't shoot unless they raise their guns,”

called Fred, who was embarra.s.sed by the unexpected turn.

”May I go with 'em?” asked Jake Golcher, in a cringing voice, beginning to back away from his dreaded master.

”Yes, go; and I pray Heaven none of us may ever look on your face again.”

Fred should have been prepared for what followed, inasmuch as no one understood the treacherous nature of Tory and Indian better than he, but, as we have intimated, he was confronted by an unexpected condition of affairs, and was caught off his guard, so to speak.

He saw the warriors withdrawing, and already entering the wood on his left, while he stood in the full light of the camp-fire, calmly watching the movement.

”Fred, move away from there,” called out his father; ”you are too good a mark for them.”

Fortunately, the young man stepped back and to one side, placing himself near d.i.c.k Durkee, who stood with c.o.c.ked rifle, fairly quivering with rage, because he was forced to hold his fire.

Fred himself had his pistol at command, but he was without any rifle, having handed his over to one of his friends, when he went forward with Habakkuk McEwen.

The Indians were in the fringe of the wood, when all the former prisoners, who were sitting on the fallen tree, sprang up, and began moving away.

At this juncture one of Durkee's men shouted:

”Look out! They're going to shoot!”

The words were yet in his mouth, when Jake Golcher, with unparalleled treachery, raised the gun that he had caught from one of the Senecas, and aimed directly at Maggie Brainerd.

His position was such that only her father understood his purpose, and he sprang forward to s.h.i.+eld his daughter, throwing himself before her at the very moment the Tory discharged his gun.

With a groan of pain, the brave parent staggered a few steps and fell heavily to the ground.

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