it will be admitted that the little party of fugitives whose fortunes we are following displayed great skill in escaping the tories and indians, who, on that "day of desolation," wrought such ruin in the wyoming valley.
a wonderful good fortune attended them up to a certain point, and yet the humiliating truth must also be admitted, that, from the moment they rushed pell mell into the friendly cavern in the rocks, they were outgeneraled by the senecas, under the leadership of the tory, jake golcher.
it looked, for a time, as if the success of the patriots was to be crowned by the most brilliant achievement of all, in stealing out of the ravine under the very noses, so to speak, of their vigilant enemies; and yet, despite their caution and well-directed audacity, which never overreached themselves, every movement, even to the slightest, was known to the redskins, who carried out their own scheme with even greater subtlety and skill.
when fred godfrey reached the ground above he detected nothing suspicious, and, making the vine secure, turned and signaled to his friends to follow him.
it was at that instant he was seized by two powerful warriors, one of whom threw his arm about his neck, and jerking his head back, nearly strangled him. the lieutenant was caught at such disadvantage that he was helpless, but he struggled with all the strength possible, and attempted to utter a cry of warning to his friends.
but his hands were pinioned behind him, a dusky palm was glued over his mouth, and some one said in very good english:
"if you speak a word, you're a dead man!"
he was dragged back into the wood, where his wrists and elbows were tied with as much care as if he were worth all the other prisoners taken that day in wyoming.
it required but a few seconds to complete this performance, and while it was going on two other senecas were tugging away at the vine, to which mr. brainerd was clinging.
the old gentleman was altogether unsuspicious, and he came sprawling over on the ground with considerable emphasis.
"i don't see the necessity of yanking a fellow out of his boots," he laughed, in a guarded voice. "it will hardly do to be so ardent with the others—"
at that point in his remarks he was pounced upon, and served very nearly the same as his son. he fought as fiercely: but the indians were prepared for it. he was run back in the wood behind the lieutenant, and the two condoled with each other—their chagrin being inexpressible.
then came aunt peggy, whose figure was so light compared with that of mr. brainerd, that she was literally whisked to the top of the ground, seeming to drop from some point above.
"maggie said there was something wrong," remarked the voluble lady; "but i'm sure there wasn't anything very queer that i heard if there are any of them injins anywhere in the neighborhood i'd just like the chance—"
the wish of the lady was gratified, for at that moment two figures appeared beside her, as if they had sprung through a trap-door: and one, who was gifted with an exceptional amount of waggery, actually leaned over and kissed her cheek.
"you scand'lous villain!" gasped aunt peggy, too much horrified to speak above a whisper: "ain't you ashamed of yourself?"
with which exclamation she struck him on the side of the face, with a vicious vigor that gave out a report like the crack of a pistol.
"i'll teach you how to insult a lady—"
her words were stopped at this point by a dusky hand that was pressed over her mouth and held there despite her frantic struggles, and she was forced back to where her two friends were prisoners.
maggie brainerd went up the rocks with much distrust, as will be remembered, and, as it was, she was so suspicious that she would not have gone at all but for the fact that father and brother had preceded her, and no matter what their fate must be, she wished to share it with them.
"if they have fallen into the hands of the indians, i have no wish to remain away from them."
she peered into the gloom as sharply as she could and was not kept in suspense.
she offered no resistance, and quickly joined those who were overtaken by disaster.
it was much the same with eva, although she struggled with great energy and narrowly escaped violence, as did aunt peggy, when she chastised the audacious seneca.
habakkuk mcewen, as we have stated, was in a quandary, but he ascended, his feet going over the ledge first. such an approach to a foe is not disquieting, and he was caught at greater disadvantage than any of the others.
he tried hard to throw himself over the rocks, but was prevented; and thus it was that the capture of the entire party was completed.
"great cæsar!" exclaimed habakkuk, as he joined his friends. "the height, and length, and breadth, and depth of this failure is the most stupend'us i ever heerd tell of."
and no one said him nay.
