THE RIVER 
 FUGITIVES 
 
 EDWARD S.I-LLiS 
 
LI 
 
 BRAR 
 
 UNiVE* (TY OF 
 
 p SMITH 
 
 OF BOOK; 
 
THE RIVER FUGITIVES 
 
 EDWARD S. ELLIS 
 
 OF " DEHRFOOT " SERIES, " LOG CABIN 
 " BOY PIONBBR " SERIES, ETC. 
 
 ILLUSTRATED 
 
 THE JOHN C. WINSTON CO., 
 
 PHILADELPHIA, 
 
 OTCAGO, TORONTO. 
 
COPYRIGHTED 1893 
 THE PRICE-McGILL CO, 
 
 LOAN STACK 
 
a 7 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAP. FACE. 
 
 IThe Wyoming Massacre, 7 
 
 II By the River, ....... 14 
 
 III The Encounter, 21 
 
 IV In the Susquehanna, ...... 28 
 
 V A Dreadful Deed, 38 
 
 VI Gloomy Forebodings, ...... 45 
 
 VII The Forest Rose, ...... 55 
 
 VIII Dangerous Admiration, ..... 62 
 
 IX A Quarrel, 70 
 
 X Rather too Kind, 79 
 
 XI The Plan, 85 
 
 XII-A Valuable Ally, 92 
 
 XIII The Flight, 102 
 
 XIV Lena-Wingo Steps to the Front, ... 109 
 
 XV In the Wilderness, 116 
 
 XVI Queen Esther, 123 
 
 XVII A Struggle for Life, 130 
 
 XVIII-A Labyrinth of Peril, 137 
 
 XIX An Enemy and yet a Friend, .... 144 
 
 XX The Other Duty, 151 
 
 XXI A Strange Escape, 158 
 
 XXII Eight against One, ...... 167 
 
 XXIII An Unexpected Ally, 174 
 
 XXIV Unexpected Peril, 182 
 
 XXV The Spider's Web, 189 
 
 XXVI All Abroad, 196 
 
 XXVII-Behind the Trees, 203 
 
 XXVIII The Depth of Sorrow, 210 
 
 XXIX Groping in the Forest, 219 
 
 XXX A Discovery, 226 
 
 XXXI A Test of the Nerves, 234 
 
 XXXII The Occupant of the Canoe, .... 242 
 
 XXXIII The Consultation, - 249 
 
THE RIVER FUGITIVES. 
 
 CHAPTER L 
 
 THE WYOMING MASSACRE. 
 
 "LOOK out, Ned, the Indians are as thick and 
 plenty as hornets when yott stir up a dozen nests 
 of them ; you're running altogether too fast, and 
 you'll be in a trap before you know it." 
 
 " What's the use of talking that way, Jo?" 
 demanded his companion, in an impatient voice ; 
 "if we hadn't done the hardest kind of running, 
 we would have lost our scalps long ago. I can 
 tell you that I won't feel safe till we've put a good 
 fifty miles behind us, and we sec Stroudsburg 
 ahead/' 
 
 "That's just what we aren't going to see for a 
 good long -while. There's many a long mile of 
 woods between Wyoming and Stroudsburg, and 
 the Tories and Indians know that the poor set- 
 tlers are doing their best to get there and to 
 
8 THE RIYER FUGITIVES. 
 
 Wilkesbarre, and so they'll watch that route more 
 than any other." 
 
 At the end of these hurried words, Ned Clinton 
 and Jo Minturn came to a halt, and the former 
 asked, in a frightened and somewhat petulant 
 tone: 
 
 "Well, Jo, what do you think is the best thing 
 for us to do ? " 
 
 "We can't do anything just yet. We are both 
 out of wind, and can't run faster than a man can 
 walk ; and so I say we may as well stop and take 
 breath, and look over the ground a little before 
 we try to get out of the neighborhood. Night 
 will soon set in, and, if we are careful, we have a 
 chance of dodging the Tories and Indians." 
 
 "A chance of dodging the Tories and Indians?" 
 repeated the other boy. "Why, they are all 
 around, and I don't see much show for us." 
 
 These were bitter words, but there was good 
 cause for their utterance. The lad had not exag- 
 gerated the terrors of that day, in July, 1778, 
 when it seemed as if a legion of fiends had been 
 loosed, and given full power to work their will all 
 through the lovely valley of Wyoming. 
 
 In order to understand the incidents we have 
 taken upon ourselves to relate, we give as briefly 
 
THE RIYER FUGITIVES. 9 
 
 as possible the leading facts of one of the most 
 dreadful disasters that marred the struggles of our 
 fathers for independence : In the latter part of the 
 month of June, 1778, Colonel John Butler, of the 
 British army, with about four hundred Provincials, 
 made up of Tories, together with six or seven 
 hundred Indians, entered the head of the Wyo- 
 ming valley, and took possession of Fort Winter- 
 moot without opposition, they having massacred 
 a number of settlers on the way. Colonel Zebulon 
 Butler, a cousin of the British leader, was on a 
 visit to the valley at the time, and assumed com- 
 mand of all the available forces that could be 
 raised for the defense. His entire force consisted 
 of two hundred and thirty enrolled men, and 
 seventy old people, boys, civil magistrate and 
 others, who, under ordinary circumstances, would 
 be classed as non-combatants. These were all 
 mustered at "Forty Fort" so called from having 
 been erected by forty Connecticut settlers where 
 the families on the western side of the river had 
 taken refuge. 
 
 "Indian Butler," as he was generally known, 
 summoned the defenders to surrender the fort and 
 the valley. In answer to this peremp tory demand, 
 a council of war was held on the third of July, at 
 
10 THB RIVER FUGITIVES. 
 
 which Colonels Butler and Denison and Lieuten- 
 ant-Colonel Dorrance favored a dallying policy, 
 in the hope that reinforcements would arrive and 
 enable them to make the defense successful beyond 
 a doubt. The larger part of the defenders advo- 
 cated marching out at once and giving their 
 enemies battle, confident of their power to rout 
 them, "horse, foot and dragoons." Butler, a 
 brave and skillful officer, listened to the clamor 
 quietly, until he seemed to be impressed with the 
 belief that this ardor and enthusiasm only needed 
 directing to carry everything before it. 
 
 "The attack shall be made as you wish! "he 
 exclaimed, as he leaped into the saddle; "and I 
 shall lead you as far as any dare follow; but 
 remember you go into great danger, where it is 
 win all or lose all." 
 
 It was near the middle of the afternoon that the 
 column, numbering about three hundred men, old 
 men and boys, marched out of the fort, with 
 drums beating and colors flying. They passed up 
 the plain, with the Susquehanna on their right 
 and a marsh on their left, until they reached Fort 
 Wintermoot, which was in flames. It had been 
 fk<ed by the enemy in order to give the impression 
 that they were retiring from the valley. The 
 
THE RIVER FUGITIVE*. 11 
 
 ground for the battle was selected by Colonel 
 Zebulon Butler's aids, and when the position was 
 taken the right rested on a steep bank, the left 
 extending across the gravel flat to a morass, thick 
 with timber and brush, that separated the bottom- 
 land from the mountain, while yellow and pitch 
 pine-trees and oak shrubs were scattered all over 
 the plain. 
 
 The battle began at four o'clock in the after- 
 noon. Colonel Butler had impressed his men with 
 the importance of withstanding the first shock, 
 and ordered them to fire, and at each discharge to 
 advance a step. As the fight opened and pro- 
 gressed, the British line gave way, in spite of all 
 the officers could do to prevent it. The Indians 
 were engaged from the first, they being on the 
 British right. They were divided into six bands, 
 and as they fired, they kept up a series of whoops 
 and yells of the most frightful character. 
 
 It is a sad reflection that a fight which opened so 
 favorably for the little band of patriots should 
 soon turn overwhelmingly against them, but such 
 was the fact. At the end of half an hour the greatly 
 superior power of the enemy began to develop 
 itself, the Indians continuing to pour out of the 
 swamp, in which they had concealed the greater 
 
12 THE RIVER FUGITIVES. 
 
 part of their number, and the left was outflanked 
 and thrown into confusion. An order to execute 
 a certain military maneuver was mistaken by 
 many for a command to fall back, and the con- 
 flict of movements threw the whole force into 
 inextricable confusion. Seeing the imminent peril 
 that threatened, Colonel Butler dashed between 
 the opposing fires, regardless of his own life, and 
 shouted to his men that they had only to stand 
 firm and victory was theirs. 
 
 At this critical moment a horde of redskins 
 swooped down upon the disorganized patriots, 
 and the stampede was complete. Every captain 
 that led a company into action was slain. More 
 than two hundred of the Americans were massa- 
 cred, the loss of the British and Indians being one- 
 third as great. Colonels Butler and Denison, being 
 mounted, succeeded in reaching the fort, conveying 
 the tidings of what had taken place to the terrified 
 fugitives huddled together there. 
 
 Butler, on account of more than one daring 
 exploit against the British during the preceding 
 years of the Revolution, was especially hated by 
 them, and he knew only too well what his fate 
 would be if he fell into their hands. Nevertheless, 
 he remained in the fort until the terms werr 
 
THE RIVER FUGITIVES. 13 
 
 arranged that should be offered the enemy on the 
 morrow. He then crossed over to Wilkesbarre, 
 and, throwing a feather-bed on his horse, seated 
 his wife behind, and left the valley the next day. 
 Those who had taken refuge in the Wilkesbarre 
 fort began a precipitate flight the next morning, 
 and as they were unprovided with enough provis- 
 ions, many women and children perished with 
 fatigue and hunger in a dense pine forest, which is 
 known to this day as "The Shades of Death." The 
 terms proposed to the British Colonel Butler were 
 accepted and signed by him, and the surrender of 
 Forty Fort was made on the fourth of July, 1778. 
 On the succeeding day the Indians began plun- 
 dering, and when Colonel Denison remonstrated 
 with the British leader, the latter declared that the 
 Indians many of whom were drunk and commit- 
 ting all sorts of excesses were beyond his con- 
 trol. 
 
 Having thus briefly sketched the leading features 
 of the ever-memorable Wyoming massacre, we take 
 up again the thread of our story. 
 
CHAPTER H. 
 
 BY THE RIVER. 
 
 AMONG the band of old men and children that 
 issued from " Forty Fort," on the day of the fight 
 at Wyoming were Ned Clinton and Jo Minium , 
 who were side by side at the opening of the battle, 
 both being in that portion of the command 
 attacked with such fury by the Indians, and that 
 finally became panic-stricken and turned into a 
 complete rout, leading the headlong fight that was 
 the real beginning of the massacre. Young Clin- 
 ton was about eighteen years of age, and went 
 into the fight, leaving an aged mother at the fort, 
 while his only other relative, an uncle, was shot 
 down and tomahawked before his eyes. Jo Min- 
 turn was a year younger than his companion, and 
 alone in the struggle, so far as any of his relatives 
 were concerned; but he left a decrepit father, a 
 mother, and a sister, Rosa, a year younger than 
 himself, so that it will be understood the interests 
 of both were bound up in the little defense itself. 
 
 Both the young men, rather curiously, were of 
 
THE RIVER FUGITIVES. 16 
 
 the opinion that all the fugitives in the fort were 
 safe. Perhaps it was not so curious, either, for no 
 one could believe that, in case they were compelled 
 to surrender to Colonel Butler, he would fail to 
 see that they received the fullest and most com- 
 plete protection. Hence the two friends were 
 engaged m trying to save their own scalps. They 
 had made several essays to reach the fort, but the 
 majority of the fugitives had been massacred, 
 wkile striving to do the same thing; so they were 
 obliged to turn back again, and were in the woods, 
 near the river, which flowed broad and deep before 
 them. 
 
 "It seems to me," said Ned, after they had paused 
 long enough to regain their breath, "that the 
 wisest thing for us to do is to swim across. What 
 do you say?" 
 
 "I don't know that it makes much difference 
 whether we do or not, for the redskins are pretty 
 well scattered on both sides by this time, and we're 
 as likely to run against them in one place as 
 another. I've an idea that we could find a good 
 hiding-place on Monacacy island, out there in the 
 river that is, for a little while." 
 
 44 But, then, we aren't in want of an extra hid- 
 ing-place just now ; all we have to do is to keep 
 
16 THE RIVER FUGITIVES. 
 
 poking and picking our way along till we are so 
 far away from this place that we shall be well 
 clear of the Tories and Indians. I had no idea of 
 staying longer by the way than we have to." 
 
 "Nor I, either; the fact is, we can't pick out any 
 spot within a dozen miles of the fort where we 
 aren't liable to run against a lot of enemies. Let's 
 keep on along the river, and if we travel all night 
 we will be so far off by morning that we can feel 
 pretty safe. The folks at the fort will be dread- 
 fully worried over us, won't thej ? " 
 
 "Yes, but we can't help that; they will be sure 
 we are both killed, till they see us with their own 
 eyes." 
 
 Having decided what they would do, and hav- 
 ing rested themselves so far as to recover their 
 wind, there was no further excuse for their remain- 
 ing in the neighborhood. The hot summer day 
 had not yet ended, and so they were forced to be 
 extremely careful in moving through the woods, 
 when they were so liable to be seen by some of the 
 black eyes that were peering everywhere in search 
 of victims. Here and there the crack of a rifle was 
 heard, and not a minute passed in which they did 
 not catch the curdling sound of the Indian yell, 
 showing how relentlessly the savages were prose- 
 
THE RIVER FUGITIVES. 17 
 
 ctiting their work. The smoke from the ruins of 
 Fort Winter-moot lay like a great smirch against 
 the sky, and, here and there, where a glimpse 
 could be caught of the plain, the massacre was 
 going on. 
 
 The mind can become accustomed almost to any- 
 thing, and the two young men, who, a few hours 
 before, were so shocked at seeing an Indian bury 
 his tomahawk into the brain of a helpless and sup- 
 plicating old man, had already witnessed so many 
 equally horrible crimes, that they took them 
 almost as a matter of course, and busied them- 
 selves in doing their utmost to escape. The two 
 were within a few yards of the river bank, when 
 Ned Clinton, who was a single step in advance of 
 his friend, abruptly paused, and raising his hand 
 in a warning way, uttered the soft exclamation: 
 
 '"Sh!" 
 
 Jo was on the lookout for something of the 
 kind, and he checked himself on the instant, the 
 two standing as motionless as a couple of stone 
 statues. They scarcely breathed, even, while all 
 their faculties were centered in the single one of 
 listening. A minute followed without the silence 
 In their immediate vicinity being broken, when 
 
18 THE RIYER FUGITIVES. 
 
 Jk> Minturn ventured to lean a little forward and 
 whisper in the ear of his friend : 
 
 " What was it, Ned?" 
 
 "Can't say," he answered, in the same cautious 
 voice; "but I am sure I heard something moving 
 through the bushes." 
 
 " Likely it is somebody trying to hide, for if it 
 was an Indian, there would be no need of his being 
 so sly about it." 
 
 "All right; it was just there in front of where 
 we are standing," added Ned, pointing to a dense 
 mass of undergrowth directly before them. "You 
 turn to the left and I'll go to the right, and we'll 
 move toward each other as soon as we get as near 
 the water as we can. By that means we'll stand 
 a chance of finding out what it is." 
 
 The suggestion was acted upon at once. The 
 youths, knowing that a blunder was almost cer- 
 tain to result in their becoming victims to the 
 tomahawk, were as careful and as cautious in their 
 movements as a couple of veteran scouts. Ned 
 Clinton, perhaps by virtue of his prior discovery, 
 seemed to think it was his place to take the lead. 
 As he knew the precise point from which the sus- 
 picious sound came, he moved more directly 
 toward it than did his companion. 
 
THB RIYER FUGITIYES. >0 
 
 Enough light still remained for him to see objects 
 a few rods distant with great distinctness. He 
 had not advanced more than five steps when be 
 became convinced that his first supposition was 
 right, for there was certainly some one crouching 
 in the undergrowth immediately in front, and Ned 
 uttered their familiar signal a soft whistle a a 
 warning to his friend, a rod or two distant, that 
 he had made an important discovery. 
 
 The two had gone into battle with a rifle a peace, 
 and they had brought the weapons away with 
 them ; but they had nothing more. All raw troops 
 are apt to use too much powder in battle, and k 
 so happened that the two lads had not a dosen 
 charges left between them, a fact that made them 
 anxious, since they were more cool and collected, to 
 be as economical in the use of their ammunition as 
 possible. It looked to Ned as if he might then fiixl 
 it necessary to spend some powder, and he therefore 
 raised the hammer of his gun, sank down m a 
 crouching posture, and began stealing his 'way, 
 inch by inch, in the direction of the motionless 
 figure that could be dimly seen through the uncter- 
 growth. 
 
 "I don't know whether he sees me or not/' 
 thought Ned, as he stealthily shoved has rifle 
 
20 THB RIVER FUGITIVES. 
 
 through the grass and bushes in his immediate 
 front. "But I don't mean that he shall get the 
 best of me if there is any way to hinder it." 
 
 There was a strong suspicion in the mind of Ned 
 that the figure which he dimly saw hiding was 
 that of some poor, panic-stricken fugitive, too 
 much dazed and bewildered by the horrors of the 
 day to be able to tell a friend from a foe. It was 
 this suspicion, amounting to almost a belief, that 
 induced Ned Clinton to forget his motto of Ike 
 Wells, the old hunter, to the effect that, when on 
 the scout, every stranger must be set down as an 
 enemy until he was proved a friend. 
 
 "Hello, there?" called out the youth, in a reas- 
 suring though cautious voice. " We are Americans. 
 Do n't be afraid. Who are you ? " 
 
 There was some sort of reply made to this which 
 Ned did not catch, but which threw him completely 
 off his guard. 
 
 "I didn't get what you said," he added, in a still 
 more incautious voice; "but you can be sure we 
 arc friends, so come out and show yourself." 
 
CHAPTER HI. 
 
 THE ENCOUNTER. 
 
 AT this critical juncture Jo Minturn, from his 
 lurking place, only a rod or so away, emitted a 
 low whistle; but the trouble in this case was, that 
 it was a little too cautious. The friend for whom it 
 it was intended heard it not, although his intense 
 curiosity at that particular moment, no doubt, 
 was one reason why he failed to notice that which 
 would have excited his alarm at any other time. 
 It may well be asked how it was that the one who 
 was so much further away should have heard, or, 
 at least, have given, the signal of alarm, when be 
 whose place it was to guard against that very form 
 of danger failed to see it. The answer is, that 
 Jo saw and heard nothing at all ; it was merely a 
 suspicion with him, nothing more. 
 
 "Are you wounded?" asked Ned, as he neared 
 the crouching form and leaned forward in the hope 
 of identifying him. "If there is anything the mat- 
 ter with you, let me know, and Jo and I will do all 
 
 we can for you. This is hardly the place " 
 
 21 
 
SB THE RIYER FUGITIVES. 
 
 T*> the amazement of the young man, the pros- 
 trirte figure at this instant sprang up with the sud- 
 denness of lightning, and gave out that curdling 
 wboop which he had heard so often while the bat- 
 tle and massacre were going on. The action was 
 so utterly unexpected that Ned was paralyzed for 
 tbe moment, as if he did not comprehend what 
 had taken place. This was the very artifice that 
 the Indian had been planning when the youth 
 detected him moving through the bushes. It suc- 
 ceeded precisely as was intended, the few seconds 
 of bewilderment and surprise affording the oppor- 
 twnity for the hurling of his tomahawk, as it 
 seemed that he had expended all his ammunition 
 before he reached this spot. 
 
 Iti the gathering gloom, Ned saw the swarthy 
 arm drawn back, and he caught the gleam of the 
 weapon, as it was raised aloft to strike, or, 
 rather, to hurl with unerring aim, straight 
 at his brain. The sweep of the arm and the 
 glitter of the tomahawk served to arouse Ned 
 to a sense of his peril, and he made a desperate 
 attempt to raise his rifle and shoot the savage 
 before he could drive the deadly missile into his 
 skull. But he had delayed too long to save him* 
 seli 
 
THE RIVER FUGITIVES. 26 
 
 Still, if Ned Clinton had lost his senses, Jo Min- 
 turn had not. The latter, from the first, held a 
 suspicion that something was wrong, and so, in a 
 measure had prepared for the very danger that 
 had come upon his friend. At the moment the 
 Indian sprang to his feet Jo read the whole plot, 
 and he cocked his rifle, muffling the sound as much 
 as possible, for he wanted to make the surprise of 
 the miscreant as complete as the latter had made 
 that of the young man, who stood as one dumb 
 before him. But there was no time for delay, for 
 when the Indian got upon his feet and went to 
 work, he was like a panther in his movements. 
 
 Jo, therefore, did not tarry. When he saw the 
 muscular arm raised he threw up his rifle, and tak- 
 ing quick aim, fired. The distance was so short 
 that it was hardly possible to miss, and simultane- 
 ous with the sharp report of the gun was the wild 
 death-shriek of the savage, who threw his arms in 
 the air and fell forward on his face, with not a 
 spark of life in his body. 
 
 "By George, that was well done, Jo ! " exclaimed 
 his grateful companion, "and you have saved my 
 life. I stood there transfixed for a moment, just 
 as you were the other day when that rattlesnake 
 got his eyes fixed on you." 
 
24 THE RIYER FUGITIVES. 
 
 "That will do, Ned," replied his friend, in some 
 excitement. " We have n't got time to stop to talk 
 now, but must be moving." 
 
 "Why such a desperate hurry, Jo ? It is already 
 quite dark, and there are no other Indians in 
 sight" 
 
 "They'll be here soon enough, you may depend 
 on that." 
 
 "And how do you make that out?" asked his 
 companion, as he followed him down closer to the 
 river. 
 
 "Didn't you hear that yell he let out just as he 
 rose, and drew back to let you have his toma- 
 hawk? Well, you can make up your mind that 
 half a dozen or more heard that, too, and they'll 
 flock to this spot like so many wolves when one of 
 their number signals to the others that he has 
 found a choice bit of prey." 
 
 "You're right, Jo. And we must get out of this 
 place" 
 
 "'Sh! not so loud," whispered his companion; 
 "they're coming now." 
 
 The speaker was right. Both heard, at the 
 instant, a soft, low sound, like the chirp of a bird, 
 and which they knew was a call, intended to be 
 answered by the Indian that had just fallen by the 
 
THE RIVER FUGITIVES. 25 
 
 rifle of Jo Minturn. For obvious reasons, the 
 proper response could not be made to this, and the 
 only wise thing for the young men to do was to 
 vacate the position with as little delay as possible. 
 
 There was not much to be feared from the report 
 of the avenging rifle, as reports were sounding at 
 intervals from all parts of the bloody plain. But, 
 as Jo had declared, it was the result of that yell 
 which they must guard against. Beyond all ques- 
 tion, one or more redskins were stealing upon 
 them, and Ned and Jo, as they reached the edge of 
 the Susquehanna, knelt down and stepped into 
 the water. 
 
 "Shall we swim across? " asked the latter, in a 
 whisper. 
 
 "We'll have to go out into the river, anyway, 
 for if we move up or down, we are sure to be 
 headed off, but it is best to halt on the island. I 
 don't believe there are many there, and there are 
 plenty of places where we can hide till it becomes 
 darker, and then we'll pull out and strike for the 
 shore again." 
 
 "All right; here we go." 
 
 They were not a moment too soon, for as they 
 waded out a little farther in the stream, they 
 heard the same signal that had attracted their 
 
2(5 THE RIYER FUGITIVES. 
 
 suspicion at first. But this time it sounded directly 
 behind them, from the very spot that they had 
 occupied but a short time before. The Indians 
 were there, and it seemed almost impossible that 
 the two fugitives should escape observation. 
 
 It occurred to both that there was less danger 
 of being seen if they separated, and, without a 
 word, they sank down until only enough of their 
 heads remained above to permit them to breathe. 
 Then they began moving noiselessly through the 
 water in the direction of Monacacy island, the 
 outlines of which were barely visible. Their rifles 
 very nearly caused their betrayal, as it was neces- 
 sary that they should be shifted over their shoul- 
 ders, so as to allow them the unrestricted use of 
 their arms. 
 
 Ordinarily, this was a very slight piece of work, 
 executed in a minute or so, but the labor was 
 immeasurably increased when they were in the 
 water, where they were not only anxious to do it 
 in a guarded manner, but at the same time to keep 
 the stocks above their heads, so that the weapons 
 would be ready for use when they should leave the 
 river again. Both succeeded better than they had 
 reason to expect, and diverging, they swam toward 
 the island which had become, for the time being, a 
 
THE RIYER FUGITIVES. 27 
 
 land of refuge to them. Their paths were so far 
 apart that they almost immediately lost sight of 
 each other, and each went on his own hook. 
 
 Ned Clinton had no more than gotten fairly 
 under way, after adjusting his gun, when he heard 
 the Indian signal repeated for the third time, and, 
 with a shiver of dismay, he caught a sound that 
 he was sure was made by some one entering the 
 water. 
 
 "As sure as I live they have started after us," he 
 muttered, as he increased his speed, not forgetting 
 to work his way with the stealth that he had used 
 at the beginning. 
 
 At the same moment he glanced over his shoul- 
 der, toward the place he had just left. It may 
 have been fancy, and it may have been fact, but he 
 was quite sure that he saw several dark forms 
 in the act of entering the water, and, of course, 
 for no other purpose than to pursue him and his 
 friend. 
 
CHAPTER IV. 
 
 IN THE SUSQUEHANNA. 
 
 WHETHER Ned really saw the Indians or not, as 
 they entered the river behind him, is a small mat- 
 ter. Within the succeeding three minutes he became 
 certain that he was pursued by the very beings 
 from whom he and his friend had been fleeing for 
 the last hour or more. The Indians had found the 
 dead body of their former comrade, and under- 
 stood what it meant. Some of the whites had 
 managed to escape, in spite of the persistency with 
 which the invaders had kept up the massacre, and 
 they were now inspired by the feeling of revenge, 
 added to their own natural cruelty of heart. 
 
 Ned would have felt little fear of a single Indian, 
 had he been permitted to meet him under anything 
 like equal conditions ; but he was confident that 
 several were after him. Even if there was only 
 one, it would have been a piece of folly for him to 
 engage in a personal encounter, so long as there 
 was a possibility of avoiding it. Ned naturally 
 concluded that the redskins would think that he 
 
 28 
 
THE RIYER FUGITIVES. 29 
 
 was making for the island, where so many had 
 already taken refuge, and in the hope of mislead- 
 ing them, he turned and struck out for a point 
 below the land itself. 
 
 Having progressed a few rods in this manner, he 
 held up, for the purpose of learning what his ene- 
 mies were doing. The young man was a splendid 
 swimmer, and he had no fear that, if it were neces- 
 sary, he could keep himself afloat an hour or 
 more. It was quite dark by this time, for which 
 he was thankful ; for had the Indians been able 
 to see them from the shore, they would have ended 
 the tragedy, so far as the two friends were con- 
 cerned, by sending a bullet through the head of 
 each. 
 
 Supporting himself with only his nose and eyes 
 in the air, Ned looked anxiously back toward the 
 shore he had left but a few minutes before. For a 
 brief space he saw nothing; but, as all swimmers 
 know, sound is carried with greater distinctness 
 under than above the water, and he heard the 
 soft rustling noise which is an invariable accom- 
 paniment of the most skillful swimmer's efforts 
 when making his way ever so cautiously through 
 the current. 
 
30 THE RIYER FUGITIVES. 
 
 "They are coming, that's certain," muttered 
 Ned, still holding himself motionless, and using 
 his sight and hearing as best he could. "They 
 vrill pass me very near, but they can't hear me, 
 I am sure, and I hope they won't see me, either. " 
 
 The thought had scarcely taken shape in the 
 mind of the fugitive, when he caught sight of 
 what looked like a cocoanut moving over the sur- 
 face of the water, and which he was certain was 
 the "cocoanut" of one of his pursuers. That 
 was more than enough, and he quietly dropped 
 oat of sight altogether, and swam several yards 
 beneath before coming to the surface. 
 
 When the distended blood-vessels could bear no 
 more, he pushed his nose upward, took in a draught 
 of the life-sustaining air, and looked about him. 
 The first glance disclosed the head about as near 
 as before, and he was wondering how that could 
 be, when he reflected that it was not the one from 
 which he fled, but a second Indian, following a 
 little to the right of the former. 
 
 "So there are two of you," he said to himself, 
 edging away, without going under a second time. 
 ' ' Yes, and there comes a third, and there is no telling 
 how many more." 
 
THE RIVER FUGITIVES. 81 
 
 Poising himself like an eagle over the mountain 
 crag, he waited and watched, ready at any 
 moment to drop under again, the instant it should 
 appear necessary. His purpose was to find out 
 the precise number of their pursuers, and he ran 
 a great risk in order to do so ; but after waiting 
 several minutes without detecting any more, he 
 made up his mind that he had seen the last. 
 
 "Just three, " he muttered, as he cautiously 
 resumed his swimming in the same course fol- 
 lowed by them. "That wouldn't make a very 
 uneven sort of a fight, if we could meet them on a 
 fair field ; but the first thing they would do when 
 they caught sight of us would be to let out a yell 
 that would bring half a hundred down on us; so 
 I guess we'll give them the go-by, if they will let 
 us." 
 
 He paused, for at that moment his trained ear 
 caught a repetition of the sound that had alarmed 
 him, and told him that some one was in the water 
 near him. Ned accepted this as a warning that he 
 was treading too close, so to speak, on the heels 
 of his red enemies, and he slackened his efforts, 
 which were so slight in the first place. Still the 
 rustling continued, and he looked anxiously ahead 
 in the gloom, and was unable to distinguish any- 
 
33 THB RIVER FUGITIVES. 
 
 thing of the swimmer who, as was very evident, 
 must be the cause of this same slight noise. 
 
 "That's queer, "he thought. "According to that 
 sound, he is pretty close by, and yet I'll be shot if 
 I can see anything of his head on the water." 
 
 Long and bitter experience teaches the brave 
 man to become the skillful, patient and successful 
 scout, and Clinton was in the act of receiving a 
 lesson that would never be forgotten. Strange, 
 that in peering round in the gloom for the author 
 of the slight but excessively annoying sound, 
 proving beyond all doubt that one of his dreaded 
 enemies was somewhere close at hand, it did not 
 occur to him that it might proceed from the most 
 dangerous point of all behind him. Yet such was 
 the fact. Ned's faculties were strung to that 
 pitch that he noticed the peculiar increase in the 
 rustling that showed that it was approaching. 
 
 "I wonder whether he is swimming under the 
 water?" he asked himself with a shudder, as the 
 redskin still failed to show up. "If he comes at 
 me that way, it will be hard work." 
 
 With the suddenness of the lightning's flash the 
 whole truth burst upon. The Indian was 
 approaching from behind. Turning his head, Ned 
 saw him so near that he was in the very act of 
 
THE RIYER FUGITIVES. 36 
 
 raising his hand to bury his bloody knife into his 
 shoulder. The white youth was without any 
 knife, and his gun was of no use to him. That 
 which the endangered fugitive did was the result 
 of instinct more than reason. 
 
 He sank beneath the surface, doing it so quickly 
 and cleverly that the blow of the Indian was frus- 
 trated, and the savage knew not where to feel for 
 him. Under such circumstances, he did what was 
 the most natural. He waited for him to rise, 
 holding the weapon aloft, ready to complete his 
 work at the very moment the head came within 
 reach. The savage must have felt sure of his 
 victim, for he did not utter that yell which comes 
 so natural to all of his kind when they catch 
 sight of a foe, and think it possible they may need 
 a little assistance in disposing of him. 
 
 But when Ned Clinton went beneath the surface 
 of the stream he felt that his life depended upon 
 his doing something more than merely diving. 
 The redskin was seeking his death, and the time 
 had come for him to prove what he was made of. 
 Which is precisely what he did do; for, without a 
 moment's hesitation, he struck out the instant he 
 was under, not away from but toward his foe. 
 
34 THE RIVER FUGITIVES. 
 
 The two were so close that only a stroke or two 
 waa required to bring them in collision. The 
 Delaware -was looking keenly around in the gloom 
 for his victim, when his legs were suddenly seized 
 near the knees, and he was jerked under. Being 
 an Indian he was a good swimmer ; but the most 
 skillful of Paul Boytons may be taken off his 
 guard. The redskin, as he dipped below, gave a 
 gasping inspiration that was the worst thing he 
 eould do, for it caused him to "ship" a large 
 amount of water, and, scarcely knowing what it 
 meant for the first second, he made such a frantic 
 clawing of the arms that the knife dropped there- 
 from. He was placed on the same footing as his 
 assailant so far as weapons were concerned, while 
 he was temporarily at a disadvantage, owing to 
 the flurry in which he was thrown by the strange 
 manner in which he had been assailed. 
 
 Fortunately, Ned Clinton comprehended his 
 vantage-ground in this respect, and he possessed 
 the sense to use it, without an instant's delay, 
 which, probably, would have wrested it from his 
 grasp. He aimed to keep the Indian under until 
 he should drown, as there was every reason to 
 believe he could do. The preliminary strangling 
 thai the Delaware had undergone contributed 
 
THE RIVER FUGITIVES. 36 
 
 materially to this end. When Ned felt the vigor- 
 ous savage growing weaker in his grasp, he was 
 strengthened by the fact, and, almost strangling 
 to death himself, he still kept the hot poisoned 
 air in his throbbing lungs, until he shoved the 
 brawny wretch still lower, and succeeded in rais- 
 ing himself upon his shoulders into the life restor- 
 ing air above. 
 
 With the inhalation came renewed strength and 
 confidence, and he forced the Indian still lower, 
 holding him there with the strength of a giant. 
 In a few seconds all was still ; but Ned did not let 
 the redskin up, fearing that he was counterfeiting 
 death, so as to throw him off his guard. But in 
 a few more moments the Delaware became quiet, 
 as if made of lead. Then he dropped still lower, 
 and was seen no more. 
 
 "I got along a good deal easier with him than 
 I expected/' murmured Ned, as he resumed his 
 careful and deliberate swim in the direction of the 
 island. 
 
 The purpose of the fugitive was now to join Jo 
 Minturn, who had preceded him to Monacacy, 
 and for whose safety he was greatly concerned, on 
 account of the trio of Indians whom he had seen 
 following after him. Common prudence wottfd 
 
36 THE RIVER FUGITIVES. 
 
 have dictated another course. Knowing that the 
 island was swarming with Indians and Tories, 
 all engaged in searching it from one end to the 
 other for victims, there surely was little to com- 
 mend in the way of a refuge. But the fact that 
 Jo Minturn was there was enough to lead Ned in 
 the same direction; for the two had been bosom 
 friends from their earliest boyhood, and, when 
 they marched out of Forty Fort that hot sum- 
 mer afternoon, it was the determination of both 
 to stand by each other to the death. Leaving 
 this profound friendship out of view, there was 
 another powerful reason that would have led Ned 
 Clinton in the same course, and that was the fact 
 that Jo was the brother of Rosa Minturn, but 
 of that hereafter. The young man was quite con- 
 fident that he had command of his own actions, 
 and although the other redskins might miss the 
 warrior, it was not likely that they would attrib- 
 ute his disappearance to the right cause and 
 seek to avenge it. 
 
 "Jo will be looking out for me and I for him, 
 and both of us for the redskins, so we ought to 
 be able to take care of ourselves hello ! " 
 
 At this moment, when the swimmer was begin- 
 ning to felicitate himself on the shape matters 
 
THE RIVER FUGITIVES. 37 
 
 were taking, lie was alarmed by seeing the heads 
 of three Indians who had passed by him when 
 he halted and waited for the fourth warrior. It 
 was plain from this that they were expecting the 
 one who was never to come ; and the instant Ned 
 caught sight of them, they also detected him, for 
 one of them uttered an exclamation that was 
 intended as a sort of summons. 
 
 Ned did not lose his self-possession under these 
 trying circumstances, but as he was barely visible, 
 with his identity as yet unsuspected, he once more 
 sank out of sight, and by a few vigorous move- 
 ments, placed himself so far beyond the point 
 where he went down that he was beyond the 
 range of their vision when he came up again* 
 This fortunate advantage he increased with as 
 much celerity as was compatible with his own 
 safety. 
 
CHAPTER V. 
 
 A DREADFUL DEED. 
 
 FOR awhile, matters went a great deal more 
 smoothly with Jo Minturn than they did with his 
 old friend, who had fallen behind in the swim for 
 Monacacy island. As they had set out to reach 
 this island it seemed to Jo that the sooner they 
 did so the better it would be for them. Accord- 
 ingly, after he struck out and was fairly under 
 way, he kept straight ahead, even though it was 
 apparent that several Indians were only a short 
 distance in the rear, in hot pursuit. Jo was quite 
 swe that he could make his way through the 
 water as rapidly as any of his pursuers, and for 
 this reason he kept it up, although his friend Ned 
 waa beyond his sight. 
 
 The result looked as if Jo had taken the wiser 
 coarse after all; for the actions of Ned kept the lit- 
 tle company of Delaware Indians longer in the 
 water than would have been the case had they 
 sped straight onward in pursuit. And so it came 
 about that, when Jo touched bottom and was 
 
 38 
 
THE RIVER FUGITIVES. 89 
 
 ready to begin wading, he paused and looked 
 searchingly around, and saw nothing at all of his 
 enemies. 
 
 "Beat them swimming after all," with a littk 
 natural pride over his imagined exploit. "It's a 
 pity Ned didn't do the same, instead of waiting, 
 in the belief that he can outwit them. I am satis- 
 fied that we must have a little more experience 
 before it will be safe for us to try to beat the sav- 
 ages and Tories at that game." 
 
 The young man was in doubt for a moment or 
 two as to whether he should stay where he was 
 and wait for his companion, or withdraw a little 
 from the shore. But it occurred to him that the 
 pursuing Dela wares were likely to leave the water 
 at that same point in which event his situation 
 would prove any thing but a safe one. He therefore 
 moved back a step or two, where in case it became 
 necessary, he could avail himself of the shelter 
 of the undergrowth. 
 
 He was not a moment too soon in doing so. He 
 had just reached the spot when the figure of a man 
 rose from the water less than a rod distant and 
 hurried into the bushes a few yards from the shore, 
 where he sank down like one who was hiding 
 from pursuers. The precise point at which he 
 
4O THB RIVER FUGITIVES. 
 
 emerged -was a dozen feet below where Jo was 
 standing, and the first emotion of the young scout 
 on seeing him was that of surprise that he had 
 failed to observe him when he was in the river 
 itself. 
 
 The incident taught him the wisdom of his action 
 in withdrawing from his exposed position. Jo was 
 convinced that the man was one of the fugitives 
 trying to escape from the Tories and Indians, but 
 where the situation was so critical, he hesitated to 
 approach or hail him, and it was well he did so 
 refrain. For the individual, whose manner showed 
 that he was wearied and exhausted, had scarcely 
 dropped into his hiding-place, when his pursuer, 
 also unseen by the young scout, stepped from the 
 river and proceeded in a direct line toward him. 
 This man was also white, and the inference was 
 fair that he was a Tory one of those renegades 
 as cruel and merciless as their copper-colored allies 
 without the same palliation for their diabolical 
 enmity of the settlers of Wyoming valley. 
 
 "If that's your game," muttered Jo, "I'll take 
 a hand in the business, myself, for I can stand see- 
 ing a white man killed by an Indian better than 
 looking at a white man slaying one of his own 
 race," 
 
THB RIVER FUGITIVES. 41 
 
 Jo tmsltmg his rifle from his back, and brought 
 it round to the front, so that it would be ready for 
 instant use, and he followed the wretch with the 
 stealthy tread of an Indian. Enough light 
 remained for him to distinguish the Tory search- 
 ing the bushes and undergrowth for the fugitive, 
 who must have watched his approach with the 
 most poignant feelings of terror. Guided by a 
 cruel fate, the Tory gradually neared the hiding- 
 place of the fugitive, who, seeing that discovery 
 was inevitable, came forth and threw himself on 
 his knees before his enemy. 
 
 "Spare me, Brother John ! " pleaded the terrified 
 fugitive, for it was his own brother to whom he 
 was kneeling "spare me, and I will be your serv- 
 ant as long as I live! " 
 
 "That is all very well," was the inhuman reply, 
 "but what business have you to be a rebel? " 
 
 "I was only fighting for my family and my home, 
 and we have been defeated and enough of our peo- 
 ple killed." 
 
 "Not while one of the rebels still lives; there has 
 not half of them been killed yet." 
 
 "You surely wouldn't kill your own brother, 
 John! Let me live, and I will do anything in the 
 world for" 
 
42 THB RIVER FUGITIVES. 
 
 Further words were cut short forever by the 
 explosion of the rifle almost against the head of 
 the poor wretch, who fell backward, killed by the 
 bullet of his own brother. And just here lest our 
 readers may think we are indulging in unwarrant- 
 able exaggeration we may state that the incident 
 just given is a fact as clearly established as the 
 massacre of Wyoming itself. The name of the 
 fratricide was John Pencil, and of his brother, 
 Henry. It is said that the Indians themselves 
 were shocked at the unnatural crime, as they 
 well might be. There is something instructive in 
 the subsequent fate of the fratricide, which is also 
 strictly authentic. 
 
 The crime was so atrocious that it became known 
 to all the survivors of the fight, and John Pencil 
 never dared to return to Wyoming valley; but, 
 after the Revolution, went to Canada, where he 
 settled in the wilderness with a number of other 
 refugees. While living here, he was twice chased 
 by wolves, and on each occasion was saved by the 
 Indians. The superstitious redskins at last came 
 to believe that a retributive fatality was follow- 
 ing him, and they refused to go to his assistance 
 when he was beset a third time by the ravenous 
 
THE RIVER FUGITIVES. 43 
 
 beasts of the forest, and a short while after he was 
 set upon again, and literally torn to pieces and 
 devoured by the howling wolves fit end for such 
 a miscreant. 
 
 And what was Jo Minturn doing while this 
 frightful crime was being perpetrated ? When he 
 comprehended that the two men were really 
 brothers, he could not believe the fugitive was in 
 danger; but as the few words that passed between 
 them foreshadowed the atrocious crime, he raised 
 his own gun with the resolve to shoot the Tory 
 before he could fire. The aim was taken and the 
 trigger drawn, but the dull click that followed 
 proved that his ammunition had become so wet 
 during his swim in the Susquehanna that it was 
 useless. But, impelled by his burning horror, he 
 raised the hammer and aimed, and pulled the trig- 
 ger again, only to be chagrined beyond measure 
 by a second failure. Ere he could repair the error 
 the fatal shot was fired, and the deed done before 
 his eyes. 
 
 Determined that the monster should not escape 
 the death that he had earned, Jo clubbed his gun 
 with the purpose of braining him where he stood ; 
 but at this critical moment the young patriot dis- 
 
44 THK RIYER FUGITIVES. 
 
 coTcred that lie had been seen by several Indians, 
 who were so close upon him that his danger was 
 greater than at any time during the terrible fight 
 and massacre. Nothing but instant flight could 
 save him. 
 
CHAPTER YL 
 
 GLOOMY FOREBODINGS. 
 
 SUCH being the case, Jo made a desperate attempt 
 to elude his sleepless enemies by a tremendous leap 
 to one side, and a furious run for the river, which 
 was but a short distance away. Like most of the 
 young men of his day and neighborhood, he was 
 very active upon his feet, as one needed to be who 
 ran a race with a party of Delawares or Mohawks. 
 The fugitive was only a short distance from the 
 water, but he took a diagonal course, so as to 
 keep in the shelter of the undergrowth as long as 
 possible, his belief being that by this means he 
 could secure a chance to double, and perhaps to 
 leave the redskins behind. 
 
 The young scout was seen at the instant he 
 started, as he was apprised by a series of shouts 
 and yells, telling that the pursuers were close at 
 his heels. Jo, however, was well acquainted with 
 the length and breadth of Monacacy island, and 
 thus at the beginning he possessed a slight advan- 
 tage over his pursuers. That availed him scarcely 
 
 45 
 
46 THB RIYER FUGITIVES. 
 
 anything, unfortunately, as they kept so dose to 
 his heels that it seemed impossible for him to dodge 
 out of sight even for an instant. But, for all that, 
 Jo Minturn escaped his pursuers by a means that 
 was as singular as it was rare. 
 
 He was running with might and main, when it 
 struck him that his only chance would be by mak- 
 ing a running leap into the Susquehanna. With 
 this purpose in view he made a sudden and sharp 
 turn toward the river, but had taken scarcely a 
 step when he caught his foot in some sort of a 
 Tine, and he fell violently to the ground. Almost 
 on the very spot where he fell was another fugitive 
 in hiding. This poor fellow supposed that his ene- 
 mies had detected him, and, with a cry of terror, 
 he sprang to his feet, and dashed off for dear life, 
 the redskins keeping on directly after him, without 
 any suspicion of the manner in which the identity 
 of the two had been changed. 
 
 The only thing that prevented their discovery 
 of the curious fact was the partial stunning that 
 Jo received. It caused him to lie motionless long 
 enough for the Indians to pass by him in their pur- 
 suit of the man who ought to have lain still where 
 he was resting when he was broken in upon so 
 unexpectedly. With quick returning consciousness 
 
THE RIYER FUGITIVES. 47 
 
 came to Jo the perception of what had taken place, 
 and he was grateful indeed; resolved, too, that 
 the advantage thus gained should not be thrown 
 away by any subsequent indiscretion of his. 
 
 Cautiously rising to his feet, he looked around 
 and listened. Gazing across to the shore, and up 
 and down the valley, he still saw the glare of burn- 
 ing buildings, and heard the crack of the death-deal- 
 ing rifles. Ever and anon he caught the savage 
 yell of some of the Indians who were sweeping up 
 and down the valley in search of more victims, 
 their inhuman thirst nourished by what it fed 
 upon. Looking in whatever direction he chose, 
 there was little to attract in the way of a refuge 
 from danger. 
 
 The whites were fleeing for life on both sides 
 the river, and there were many in hiding on Monac- 
 acy island where he was resting himself for a 
 few minutes. The only course that promised any- 
 thing at all like safety was in long and continued 
 flight that is, until they should pass beyond the 
 neighborhood altogether. That he would not 
 hesitate a moment to do, if he could only secure 
 the company of his friend, Ned Clinton, from 
 whom he had parted in the Susquehanna. How 
 to rejoin him was the question he was revolving 
 
4S THE RIVER FUGITIVES. 
 
 in his own mind. Troublesome thoughts were 
 beginning to disturb the young fugitive fears 
 which, until then had had no opportunity to make 
 their existence known. 
 
 "What more probable than that Ned has fallen 
 by the hands of some of the Tories and Indians ! 
 Our poor folks are lying dead everywhere in the 
 bushes, on both shores of this island, and their 
 bodies are floating down the river for miles. The 
 ground must be covered all the way between 
 here and Forty Fort, and I wonder how things 
 are looking there." 
 
 In the last sentence he gave utterance to a 
 dread that had been creeping into his heart for 
 the last half hour, seeming to be stronger as it 
 reappeared after some of the frightful perils 
 through which he was compelled to fight his 
 way. 
 
 "I remember that the fate of the fort depends 
 on us; and as we have been utterly routed, of 
 course the fort must go to-morrow. That will 
 place everything in the hands of Colonel John 
 Butler, and I hope the folks will be safe, but I 
 can't feel sure of it." 
 
 This was the terror that had been gradually 
 growing ever since the defeat of the patriot troops 
 
THE RIVER FUGITIVES. 40 
 
 in the valley, and which was such a torment to 
 the young man. Very naturally he tried to argue 
 himself into the belief that his fears were 
 unfounded. 
 
 " I suppose that maybe he could n't keep these 
 Indians and Tories back, after the flight of our 
 men," continued Jo, without succeeding in con- 
 vincing himself that such was the case; "but 
 when the fort surrenders, it will be to him and 
 his white soldiers. The colonel will then be in a 
 position to make his wishes respected, and he will 
 see to it that no excesses are allowed. There are 
 old men, women and children, and such of the 
 fugitives as have managed to dodge the Indians 
 and Tories so there will be nothing done but the 
 surrender because there is nothing else to do. 
 But a/terthe surrender what then?" 
 
 This was the question that constantly presented 
 itself, and which he could not answer in any way 
 that tended to quiet his anxiety. Jo knew, as 
 well as did everybody else, that his sister Rosa, 
 who was at the fort with her mother and decrepit 
 father, was of such beauty of form and feature 
 that she would attract attention anywhere, and 
 much more among a band of Tories and rene- 
 gades, commanded by such a man as Colonel 
 
50 THE RIVER FUGITIVES. 
 
 John Butler. Jo Had more than suspected for 
 some time past that Ned Clinton looked with 
 affectioamte reverence upon his beautiful sister, 
 and there was none to whom he would have seen 
 her betrothed with more genuine pleasure than to 
 him. He was a soldier in the Continental army, 
 or, rather, wai about to be; for, a native of 
 Wyoming, and attached to one of the most 
 widely respected patriot families of the place, 
 he was on the point of starting out to join the 
 army under Washington, when he was induced to 
 wait awhile by the danger that impended over 
 the valley. 
 
 If Ned held Rosa Minturn in sach exalted 
 esteem, he had not revealed it to any one, not 
 even to her; but Jo, who was his constant com- 
 panion, had such good opportunity to discover 
 the truth that he would have been blind had he 
 failed to do so. But he, too, kept it to himself, 
 only helping matters along in a sly way by some 
 insinuating remark in the presence of his sister 
 relating to the bravery and nobility of charac- 
 ter of Ned. Jo was considerably smaller in size 
 than Ned, and it was arranged that he should 
 enter the military service of his country in a 
 year. In the present emergency he was only too 
 
THE RIVER FUGITIVES, 0*1 
 
 eager to do his utmost for the defense of his own 
 loved ones. But Ned -was also young, and be 
 could afford to wait awhile before making hiss 
 love known to her whom he regarded as above 
 any of her kind upon the broad earth. It wa* 
 time for war, and he would spend the interval 
 until peace should come again in proving himself 
 worthy of her love. 
 
 "Colonel Butler, "continued the youth, referring 
 to the British commander, "is a regular officer, 
 and will act as such, for he has a reputation 
 behind him, and is responsible to higher authori- 
 ties." 
 
 He recalled that the leader of the Britidb 
 forces a year or two previous, when the Revolu- 
 tion broke out, was a government functionary 
 under Sir William Johnson. When he fled to 
 Canada, his family fell into the hands of the 
 patriots, and were exchanged for the wife and 
 children of Colonel Campbell, of Cherry valley. 
 He was exceedingly active in the wars on the bor- 
 der, and commanded a regiment of rangers in con- 
 junction with Brandt and his Mohawks, and he 
 was a dreadful scourge to the patriots of Tryoa 
 county. It would seem, therefore, in spite of the 
 savage nature of the British leader, that tb 
 
52 THE RIVER FUGITIVES. 
 
 women and refugees in Forty Fort were in no per- 
 sonal danger; but, to bring the matter down to a 
 fine point, Jo dreaded the effect of the beauty of 
 Rosa upon Butler and his associates. 
 
 War is barbarous, as the patriots had already 
 learned, and what was to hinder Colonel Butler, 
 if he took a fancy to the forest beauty, from claim- 
 ing her as his share of the spoils of the victory ? 
 The question was a dreadful one, in all its sugges- 
 tiveness, but at the same time it was one that Jo 
 felt must be met, and, if possible, answered 
 promptly. 
 
 "It will be just like those redcoats to pick tip 
 Rosa and run off with her, for there is nothing to 
 hinder them, if they want to do so, and there can't 
 be any doubt that lots of them will be smitten 
 with her the minute she shows herself. Ah ! if only 
 the old scout Ike Wells was here, or I don't know 
 but I would just as lief have 'Red Jack the 
 Mohawk;' for he is a good friend of ours, and 
 knows how to circumvent the redskins better than 
 any white man can. But what's the use of wish- 
 ing? " added the young scout, rousing at the per- 
 ils that must be met promptly, if at all. "I might 
 stand here all night or for a week and do nothing 
 but wish, and that is all the good it would do me. 
 
THE RIVER FUGITIVES. 63 
 
 I think I'll try to reach the fort, and see what can 
 be done. Wells is off somewhere with Washing- 
 ton, I suppose, in New Jersey, so it's no use of 
 looking for him here, and Red Jack is on duty tip 
 in New York state, I believe ; so we must depend 
 on Heaven and ourselves." 
 
 He walked cautiously a few steps in the direc- 
 tion of the river, and then paused and listened. 
 The same sounds were in the air, but he had 
 become accustomed to them, and was listening for 
 evidences of danger closer at hand. Everything 
 in his immediate vicinity was still; and, though 
 there might be a skulking Delaware or Mohawk 
 within arm's length, he made up his mind to shift 
 his quarters without any more delay. 
 
 His anxiety was to find his friend, Ned Clinton, 
 and, with that object in view, he picked his way 
 with great care to the side of the island com- 
 manding a partial view of the river which he 
 had left but a short time before, and where he 
 hoped still to see his comrade swimming cautiously 
 toward him. Looking out on the dark surface of 
 the mildly flowing stream, he stood for several 
 minutes as motionless as the broad stone upon 
 which one of his feet was resting. If any one were 
 within a rod or so he was quite sure of detecting 
 
54 THE RIVER FUGITIVES. 
 
 .; but the most searching scrutiny failed to 
 show anything upon which he could build any 
 hope. 
 
 "Ned must know that I did all I could to reach 
 tfce island, and that if I am anywhere above 
 ground I must be here. I hope that nothing has 
 happened to him." 
 
 Any one would suppose that Jo would have felt 
 greatly concerned for the safety of his comrade, 
 and it cannot be denied that he was anxious; but 
 at the same time he had an abiding faith in the 
 skill as well as the bravery of the daring young 
 cout, who had shown what he could do over and 
 over again, when encompassed by peril on every 
 band. 
 
 "Hello, Ned, is that you?" suddenly asked the 
 watcher in a guarded undertone, as a figure 
 appeared at his side from the water." 
 
 "I believe so," was the reply, as his friend joined 
 him. "I propose that we now try to reach the 
 fort to see how the folks are." 
 
 "I am with you," was the glad response. 
 
CHAPTER VH. 
 
 THE FOREST ROSE. 
 
 THE morning succeeding the massacre of Wyo- 
 ming rose bright and beautiful over the lovely val- 
 ley, which looked all the more frightful from the 
 appalling scenes it had witnessed but a few hours 
 before. Within Forty Fort were consternation 
 and distress; for of all the representatives of the 
 numerous settlers there was scarcely one who had 
 not to mourn the loss of some father, brother or 
 son, who had marched out the day before, to the 
 music of drum and fife, with heart beating high 
 with patriotic resolve, and bounding with the 
 belief that the horde of redskins and Tories were 
 to be routed and scattered like chaff by the whirl- 
 wind. And those who remained behind, to watch 
 and pray for the success of the brave defenders, 
 could not but share in a large degree this confi- 
 dence. 
 
 How woeful beyond description, then, was the 
 disappointment that was borne to them, when a 
 few terrified and bleeding fugitives came rushing 
 
 55 
 
66 THE RIVER FUGITIVES. 
 
 back with word that the patriots were routed, 
 and the invaders were ravaging the valley and 
 massacring all upon whom they could lay hands ! 
 We pass over the horrors of that ghastly night, 
 when the weeping and helpless ones watched all 
 through the long dark hours for the coming of 
 those who were never to come again; but who, 
 even while their loved and sorrowing ones were 
 looking and hoping against hope, were either 
 struggling vainly against the foe or more merci- 
 fully, perhaps, were already beyond the power of 
 torture and pain. 
 
 As has been stated, Colonel Denison proffered 
 to the Tory Butler the terms of surrender, that 
 Colonel Zebulon Butler had drawn up the night 
 before, previous to his flight to Wilkesbarre. We 
 have a copy of these articles of capitulation 
 before us as we write. The articles are seven in 
 number, and substantially agree that the settlers, 
 upon condition of surrendering to the chivalrous 
 representative of his majesty, King George III., 
 shall be allowed to occupy their farms peaceably, 
 and the lives "of the inhabit ants shall be preserved 
 entire and unhurt." To these articles of capitu- 
 lation the name of John Butler, the British colonel, 
 
THE RIVER FUGITIVES. 67 
 
 and Nathan Denis on, the patriot commander, are 
 attached. 
 
 In accordance with this agreement, the gates of 
 the fort were thrown open, and Butler, at the 
 head of the Rangers, and a Seneca chief at the 
 head of the Indians, marched in. The arms of 
 the men were stacked, and given by Butler as a 
 present to the Indians with the remark, "See what 
 a present the Yankees have made you." 
 
 Among the patriots in the fort at this time were 
 Lorimer Mint urn, a gentleman of means, but so 
 old and decrepit that he was physically unable to 
 march out with the force that went forth to bat- 
 tle. He had insisted upon bearing a gun, and 
 taking part in the fight, but, when Colonel Butler 
 saw his helplessness, he refused to allow him to 
 go with them, and so, much against his will, he 
 was compelled to remain behind. With him were 
 his wife, Susan, and his daughter, Rosa. By a curi- 
 ous combination of circumstances, all the relatives 
 of Ned Clinton were fortunately absent at this 
 critical period, on a visit to some of their con- 
 nections in Wilkesbarre. 
 
 A hundred years ago the Wyoming valley con- 
 tained, as it does now, some of the sweetest and 
 fairest daughters the sun ever shone upon, and 
 
68 THE RIVER FUGITIVES. 
 
 there was no one who was sweeter and 
 than the young and beautiful Rosa Minturn. 
 
 She was the twin of her brother and therefore 
 about seventeen ; but in mind,in amiability,in grace 
 of movement, and, indeed, in all the charms that 
 make womanhood so winning and attractive, she 
 was all that is seen in those whose years outnum- 
 ber hers. The lustrous blue eyes; the wealth of 
 waving hair, as black and glossy as the raven's 
 wing; the pearly teeth; the tint of the rounded 
 cheeks ; the willowy frame ; the musical voice and 
 laugh, these, added to a simplicity of character 
 and an indescribable charm of manner, made 
 Rosa Minturn a girl who could not fail to attract 
 attention, and win admiration, no matter where, 
 or under what circumstances, she might be seen. 
 
 There was only one person in the Wyoming val- 
 ley who was insensible of the beauty of Rosa, 
 and that was herselfcertainly the most appro- 
 priate one that could have been named. True, 
 some ardent admirer now and then gave expres- 
 sion to the wonder excited by her remarkable 
 attractiveness ; but the forest beauty accepted the 
 florid compliments more in the light of a general 
 acknowledgment to her sex than as a personal 
 tribute to hersel 
 
THE RIVER FUGITIVES. 
 
 On the day of the surrender Rosa was busy 
 passing to and fro with her parents, and striving 
 to wean her mind from the contemplation of the 
 horrors of the past and present by interesting 
 herself in the details of the yielding up of the 
 fort. 
 
 In one respect she and her folks had been 
 favored above most of those who were in the 
 refuge with them. They had received intelligence 
 from one of the settlers, in whom they placed 
 implicit trust, that the son and brother Jo, in 
 company with Ned Clinton, had succeeded in mak- 
 ing off when it became apparent that the fortunes 
 of the day were turned irretrievably against 
 them and they could accomplish no good by stay- 
 ing and fighting longer. Confirmed in so much 
 good tidings, the parents and friends found it very 
 easy to believe that the young scouts were able 
 to take care of themselves, and they were confi- 
 dent that the two had reached some place of 
 safety long before. 
 
 All the hum and buzz of the surrender were 
 under way, and Rosa was standing a little apart, 
 gazing upon the scene and occasionally exchang- 
 ing a word with her mother, seated near, as to 
 their own arrangements for taking up their 
 
60 THE RIVER FUGITIVES. 
 
 quarters again in their own home. It was 
 natural that she should feel some interest 
 in the British Colonel Butler, and when he was 
 pointed out to her, she scrutinized him more 
 closely than any one else, with the exception of 
 the Seneca chief that led the Indians into the 
 fort. 
 
 If there were better-looking men than Colonel 
 Butler, there were also worse- appearing, from 
 which it will be inferred that he was a person 
 without any very striking characteristics of 
 appearance, which was the fact. He showed a 
 slight inclination to corpulency, though not 
 enough to disfigure him, as his military training 
 had imparted a quickness of movement not 
 usually seen in one who had reached middle life; 
 but no one could look upon the face of the 
 Briton by adoption, without being unfavorably 
 impressed, for there were signs not of coarseness 
 alone, but of positive cruelty of disposition. 
 More than one settler, when he met for the first 
 time the cousin of the leader of the patriots, 
 wondered how it was that he agreed to receive 
 the surrender of the fort at all, for he seemed to 
 be one who would enjoy the braining of the 
 
THB RIYER FUGITIVES, 61 
 
 helpless women and children as much as Thayen- 
 danaga, the Indian chief, himself. 
 
 Colonel Butler, the Tory, wore no beard, except- 
 ing that which had grown within two or three 
 days; his nose was large and unshapely; his 
 under jaw heavy and suggestive of his combative, 
 bulldog disposition; his face broad, especially 
 between the eyes, so that in this respect he bore 
 considerable resemblance to a common type of 
 the cruel Indian. Add to the "points" already 
 mentioned the coarseness of the skin, which, to 
 one standing near, suggested the ravages of small- 
 pox, the cold, piggish appearance of the eyes, and 
 a set of shaggy, broken teeth, and our readers 
 have all that is necessary to say of his personal 
 appearance. 
 
CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 DANGEROUS ADMIRATION. 
 
 ROSA MTOTURN, as we have already said, was 
 standing somewhat apart in the fort, watching 
 the details of the surrender, as they passed under 
 her own eyes, the time not having come as yet in 
 which her own folks should make their prepara- 
 tions to return to their home. It seemed to her, 
 since the terms of the capitulation had been 
 agreed to, that there was no need of further 
 delay; but her father simply replied that they 
 would wait until matters settled down a little, 
 and most of the Indians should depart. 
 
 And just there the old gentleman was wise, for 
 his experience in the French and Indian war had 
 given him a knowledge of the character of the 
 Indian, which he could not forget at a critical 
 time. He doubted very much whether his family 
 and those around him were safe anywhere jttst 
 then, but he was quite confident that the fort 
 came nearer supplying that protection than any 
 
 62 
 
THE RIVER FUGITIVES. 63 
 
 other place they could select, which was the 
 reason for his staying there. 
 
 At the moment when the eye of Rosa was first 
 arrested by the figure of Colonel Butler, the latter 
 was standing just outside the fort, with his arms 
 folded, in conversation with Colonel Denison, 
 from whom he had received the surrender of the 
 post. The Tory was somewhat the taller, and 
 seemed to look down and listen to the words of 
 the patriot, who was talking quite vigorously. 
 The latter gesticulated Tery freely, swinging his 
 arms almost in the face of his listener, while his 
 eyes snapped with anger. 
 
 Colonel Denison was protesting against the 
 outrages committed by the Tories and Indians 
 with all the dignity of outraged manhood. 
 The face of Colonel Butler was marked by a cyn- 
 ical smile, that had been there for several minutes, 
 so that it resembled that which is seen upon the 
 face of a man suffering from a cramp, the main 
 difference in this case being that there was a grim, 
 sardonic expression, as if the conqueror was 
 rather pleased than otherwise at the accounts of 
 the numerous atrocities that were being poured 
 into his ears. Finally, he yawned, as if growing 
 tired. 
 
64 THE RIYER FUGITIVES. 
 
 "Well, well, colonel," he said, with the grin still 
 there, and displaying his tobacco-stained teeth, 
 "these things must happen, you know, and why 
 make such a rumpus about them? " 
 
 "I do n't see why they need take place at all," 
 was the instant response of the patriot. "If 
 civilized nations must go to war, there is no 
 reason why they should transform themselver 
 into barbarians!" 
 
 "Well, no, you would think not, but the thing 
 can't always be helped, you know. It is yon who 
 have committed the greatest blunder." 
 
 "How is that?" 
 
 "By rising in rebellion against King George, 
 one of the most humane and Christian monarchs 
 the sun ever shone upon." 
 
 The countenance of Denison flamed tip, for he 
 could not but regard these words in the light of 
 an insult, when the respective situations of these 
 participants were borne in mind. Military 
 officers, as a rule, are not noted for the sweetness 
 of their dispositions, and hot words came to 
 the lips of the patriot. But he suppressed 
 them, under tlac reflection that the safety of the 
 women, men, and children might be very easily 
 involved in the indiscretion of their commander. 
 
THB RIVER FUGITIVES. 66 
 
 "It will be easier to decide as to who Has made 
 the mistake when a few more years shall have 
 passed." 
 
 "No one but a fool can doubt the complete 
 extinguishment of this rebellion within a year or 
 so from now." 
 
 "It happens, then, that the country abounds 
 with fools, and the number seems Kkely to 
 increase." 
 
 "It has always been the case. I have no doubt 
 that if the people were left free to say what they 
 wished, they would declare the rebels should lay 
 down their arms, and that ragamuffin of yours, 
 Washington, ought to be hanged so high that all 
 the world might see him, and remember the lesson. 
 He will soot] be caught, and made to dangle 
 between heaven and earth." 
 
 It would require a man of a very sluggish nature, 
 or one whose patriotism was dead, to listen to 
 such a slur upon one of the greatest and best men 
 the world ever knew he who was "first in war, 
 first in peace, and first hi the hearts of his country- 
 men . " Had the two officers been al one, or had the 
 fate of no one beside himself depended on the result 
 of Colonel Denison's words and actions, he would 
 
66 THE RIVER FUGITIVES. 
 
 have checked the slur, ere it was finished, with a 
 blow. 
 
 "It is idle for you and me to discuss this ques- 
 tion," replied Denison, holding his anger down as 
 best he could. "I concede to you the right to do 
 your own thinking, and claim the same preroga- 
 tive for myself. We are banded together in a sol- 
 emn compact to fight to the end for our liberties, 
 and we do not believe merely, but we know, that 
 we are performing a high duty before heaven. If 
 it is possible for you to think you do right to 
 enslave us, why, I will do my best to fancy that 
 you are not particularly to blame for your clouded 
 understanding. As to Washington, I cannot listen 
 to any reflection upon him from anyone. 99 
 
 It would be impossible to describe or picture the 
 intense passion with which this patriotic but dar- 
 ing declaration was made. Denison spoke in a 
 low voice, rather lower, in fact, than usual, only 
 varying the ominous undertone by a slight 
 emphasis ; but, as he uttered his reply, he looked 
 straight into the eye of the Tory, and there was a 
 lurking, quivering fire in his own eye, such as is 
 seen in the orb of the jungle tiger when he crouches 
 for his fatal spring. Colonel Butler gazed into the 
 
THE KIYBR FUGITIVES. 67 
 
 countenance of the officer with an expression of 
 disgust, but there was something that so "backed 
 up" the daring words, that he held down the 
 exasperating expression that was on the end of his 
 tongue. Instead, thereof, he laughed. 
 
 "See here, my fiery rebel, what's the use of yon 
 and me talking over a matter that we can never 
 agree upon if we keep it up to the crack of doom ? 
 I have a question that I want to ask you." 
 
 "I am ready to hear it," responded Denison, 
 appreciating the wisdom of the Tory in steering 
 clear of the collision that was so imminent. 
 
 "For the last ten minutes or so, I have noticed 
 a young lady standing off yonder who has kept 
 her eye upon me pretty steadily. In short, she 
 shows very plainly that there is something about 
 me which has caught her notice. Don't look too 
 suddenly, for I do n't want to stop her pleasant 
 occupation. Who is she ? " 
 
 The cooling indignation of Colonel Denison was 
 instantly turned to disgust at hearing a married 
 man speak in the style of one who was not too old 
 to be his own daughter. Nevertheless, he chose to 
 give the insolent information asked for. 
 
 "That young lady is Miss Rosa Minturn, the 
 
68 THE RIVER FUGITIVE*. 
 
 daughter of one of the most prominent citizens of 
 Wyoming." 
 
 At the moment of making this reply, the speaker 
 purposely fixed his eyes upon the fair object, in 
 such a pointed way that she could not fail to 
 understand that ste was the one who was 
 referred to. 
 
 "You ought to have been more careful, colonel," 
 said Butler, in an impatient tone. "She has taken 
 the alarm, and is walking away." 
 
 "Like all pure-minded young ladies, she is embar- 
 rassed to find herself the object of admiration." 
 
 "She is certainly a remarkable beauty." 
 
 "And as good as she is handsome," added Deni- 
 son, who would not withhold the tribute due the 
 young lady. 
 
 "Then I'll be hanged If she isn't a phenomenon 
 of goodness! " exclaimed the redcoat, his gaze fol- 
 lowing the object as she moved quietly out of their 
 field of vision. 
 
 "Men like you and me, colonel, who have fami- 
 lies of our own, cannot fall to be pleased when we 
 have the privilege of meeting those whom we can 
 hold up as models to our daughters." 
 
 The fine irony and rebuke contained in these 
 
THE RIVER FUGITIVES. 69 
 
 words, were lost upon the brutal Tory, whose eyes 
 were still fixed upon the spot where he had last 
 seen the object of his sudden admiration. He mut- 
 tered, as if speaking to himself: 
 
 "I must see more of that beautiful young 
 rebel!" 
 
CHAPTER IX. 
 
 A QUARREL. 
 
 THE sudden turning of Colonel Denison's head, 
 accompanied as it was by a peculiar expression of 
 the speaker, while he was in conversation with 
 the Tory Butler, was the first apprisal Rosa Min- 
 turn received that she was doing an imprudent 
 thing in thus scrutinizing the leader of their ene- 
 mies in so pointed a manner. Her face flushed 
 crimson as she saw the eyes of Butler follow those 
 of his informant, and she turned on her heel and 
 lost no time in making herself invisible. 
 
 There is an instinct in woman that warns her of 
 the approach of danger, and she felt as if she 
 would give worlds had she refrained from attract- 
 ing the attention of the Tory by her own actions. 
 But, as that could not be recalled, she resolved, as 
 the next best thing, to keep out of his sight alto- 
 gether, refraining from showing herself, as much 
 as possible, until after the departure of the invad- 
 ers from the valley. This would have been no very 
 difficult matter, provided she had not drawn the 
 
 70 
 
THB RIVER FUGITIVES. 71 
 
 attention of the Tory to herself and awakened a 
 determination on his own part to see her further, 
 in short, to cultivate her acquaintance. 
 
 And so, as Rosa passed outside the fort, and 
 sought to lose herself from the sight of her too 
 ardent admirer, the latter did not wait long, but 
 followed her. This was done in an apparently 
 
 aimless manner; for Butler wished to make it 
 
 f 
 
 appear that he was merely lounging about, with 
 no other purpose than to watch the actions of 
 those under his command. He was especially 
 desirous of not alarming the object of his search 
 by too great precipitancy. In fact, he acted, just 
 as if he had gone out to show off his handsome 
 form for her admiration, while he was not anxious 
 to see any one himself. But there was an eager 
 look in his face as he gazed around upon the motly 
 swarm of people constantly coming and going. 
 
 "She doesn't appear to be in sight," he muttered, 
 after he had searched among the group for several 
 minutes for the one who had so captivated him at 
 first sight. "Denison tells me that she is modest, 
 bashful, and all that sort of thing. Well, I'm sure 
 I've no objection, for I'm blessed she is just the 
 prettiest lot of homespun that I've seen for a long 
 time. I wonder where on earth she could have 
 
73 THE RIYER FUGITIVE*. 
 
 taken herself so quick. From the way she gaped 
 at me, there is no doubt she was impressed. 
 That's one reason why I take so much pains with 
 my uniform, for it?s just the thing to catch the eye 
 of a young girl like her, even though it's getting 
 pretty well worn. There is something in a soldier, 
 especially if he is a brave officer, that they don't 
 seem able to resist. I am sure that it will be an 
 easy thing to win her love, and the taking of her 
 away as a prisoner will be still easier. A fellow 
 might as wett enjoy himself in this world, and, 
 indeed, it becomes the duty of him to do all the 
 injury to the enemies of King George he can- 
 though I don't mean to harm a hair of her head. 
 Ah, no, the dear girl! But I was just thinking 
 that the old folks, as a matter of course, would 
 make a great fuss if their rosebud were plucked 
 by a British colonel and carried away, and 
 suck a result, bringing distress, would be my 
 bounden duty to my king." 
 
 Colonel Butler was growing quite confidential 
 with himself; and as he stood staring round the 
 space before him, where the Tories, Indians and 
 patriots were passing to and fro, as if in review, 
 his gaze flitted here and there in his search for the 
 
THE RIVBB. FUGITIVES. 76 
 
 fair one, who seemed to grow more beautiful and 
 attractive the longer she kept from his sight. 
 
 "Rosa Minturn, I am told, is her name. WeH, 
 that's pretty, but it can't be compared to her. 
 Minturn, Minturn," he repeated to himself, 
 musingly. " I know most of the families in the 
 valley, but I don't recall him. Now, if that dog 
 of a cousin of mine, Zeb, that fought us so hard 
 hadn't slid out to Wilkesbarre, I could have found 
 out all I wanted to from him, after which I would 
 have had him shot as sure as I'm a living man, 
 and I would have pleased my superiors by doing 
 so, too." 
 
 When a man is very eager to meet some one, 
 and is kept waiting, he is apt to lose his temper; 
 and Colonel Butler, who was not possessed of an 
 angelic disposition, was growing angry. For 
 awhile lie smothered his wrath for fear the beauty 
 of his face might be marred when Rosa should 
 catch the next view of it; but as this glimpse 
 was a long time coming, he became so impatient 
 that he was compelled to give expression to his 
 feelings. This, as might be supposed, came at 
 first in the shape of an imprecation, which all but 
 himself and the recording angel failed to hear. 
 
76 THE RIYER FUGITIVES. 
 
 "It beats everything!" he added, "that all 
 that I don't want to see are passing back and 
 forth, and them that I do want to look upon ain't 
 visible. Ill be hanged if I don't stand here all 
 day, if it's necessary, to see her ! " 
 
 The time was ill for any one to approach the 
 colonel, but as it so happened, Colonel Denison, of 
 all others, was the one who appeared at his elbow 
 at this moment, and gently touched him. 
 
 "I am sorry to trouble you, Colonel Butler, but 
 the Indians under your command are becoming 
 worse every minute, and there is reason to fear 
 that blood will soon be shed." 
 
 "What's the matter now?" growled the Tory 
 leader, wheeling about and scowling at him. 
 
 "The Indians, who seem to belong to all the 
 tribes of the Six Nations, are pillaging the houses 
 of the settlers, and when I venture to remonstrate 
 with them, they only grin in my face and appear 
 to care nothing for my threat to complain to 
 you." 
 
 "If they do n't care for such a threat, what is 
 the use of your coming to me with your whining, 
 then?" 
 
 "To have it checked at once, as due to the 
 
THE RIVER FUGITIVES. 77 
 
 capitulation which you and I signed, and which 
 has been fulfilled to the letter by me." 
 
 Angry as was the Tory, he saw it would not do 
 to throw this appeal entirely aside, coming as it 
 did from the officer with whom he had treated, 
 and whose sword he had received. 
 
 "I'll see what can be done to stop it," replied 
 Butler; "but the blood of the Indians is up, and 
 there are so many of them that I don't believe 
 they can be controlled." 
 
 "A colonel should never assume command of 
 any body which he cannot control." 
 
 The Tory turned upon the patriot, his face 
 working, for the rebuke was a cutting one, and all 
 the more so from its unquestionable truth. The 
 enraged Butler answered by assuring Denison he 
 might go to the hottest place known, and then 
 suddenly paused and glowered fiercely in his face, 
 as if to hear what he was going to do about it. 
 
 There was but one course open for a gentleman. 
 Colonel Denison was unarmed and on parole. 
 Without a word he turned his back upon the 
 conqueror of Wyoming, and walked away from 
 him. Thus ended all intercourse between the two 
 officers. Butler started after the patriot, as if he 
 
TS THB RIYER FUGITIYBS. 
 
 expected to see him turn and come back, bat he 
 was disappointed. 
 
 **I expected the Indians would kick up a moss 
 about this time; it's the way they hare of making 
 war, and those who resist them must be prepared 
 to pay the piper." 
 
 When a few minutes more had gone by he 
 moved his position, concluding that it was best 
 for Mohammed to go to the mountain, as there 
 were no signs of the mountain calling upon him. 
 
 "The Iroquois may tomahawk every rebel in 
 the valley women, children and all for ought I 
 care, so long as they don't disturb any of the 
 glossy tresses of my charmer." 
 
 An hour had passed since he had seen that won- 
 drous face and form, and her continued absence 
 led him to begin to suspect that perhaps, after all, 
 there was a purpose in her remaining so long 
 invisible. 
 
 "I don't know what it can be," be said to 
 himself, as he reflected over the matter; "trot 
 whatever it is I will soon find out." 
 
CHAPTER X. 
 
 RATHER TOO KIND. 
 
 COLONEL BUTLER carried out one of his threat*, 
 at least. Finding that the prospect of seeing 
 Rosa Mmturn was slight, so long as he held his 
 first position, he changed it. But a mere change fail- 
 ing, also, to bring her to light, he resorted to inquiry 
 or stratagem. The first point he played was to 
 httut up old Mr. Minturn, who was full of apprehen- 
 sions of the trouble from the Indians. His house 
 stood rear the fort, and he was leaning on hk 
 cane in front of the building, with one or two of 
 his neighbors, as if he were dubious whether it 
 wottld do to attempt to occupy it for some time 
 yet. They varied their occupation by stealing 
 furtive glances at a group of Mohawks lounging 
 about the settlement under the influence of liquor, 
 and whom the patriots were anxious to avoid. 
 
 When the little party of white men saw the 
 Tory colonel approaching, they saluted him, and 
 Mr. Minturn ventured to ask whether the savages 
 
 79 
 
80 THE RJYER FUGITIVES. 
 
 might not be put under a stricter surveillance, so 
 that the danger could be nipped at the bud. The 
 reply of Butler was a signal to Minturn to come 
 to one side, so they could converse without being 
 overheard. 
 
 "You must have discovered," said he, in a confi- 
 dential manner, "that there are more Indians than 
 white soldiers, and I see that they have managed 
 to get hold of some liquor somewhere; so there'll 
 be trouble. We shan't be able to control and keep 
 them down." 
 
 "Great heavens!" exclaimed the horrified old 
 man. "What is to become of us, then, if you can't 
 do anything with them ? If you will give us our 
 arms back again, we'll take care of ourselves." 
 
 "That I would do if they were not already in 
 the hands of the Indians. However, there is no 
 reason for you to fear any harm to yourself and 
 family." 
 
 "Pardon me; but I fail to see why we are not in 
 as great peril as the rest of them." 
 
 "We shall be able to take care of some of the 
 rebels, and I promise you that I will see that no 
 harm comes to you and yours." 
 
 "I am sure I am deeply grateful for your kind- 
 ness," replied the old gentleman, somewhat at a 
 
THE RIVER FUGITIVES. 81 
 
 loss to understand why it was he had been singled 
 out for this mark of leniency. " But I wish you 
 could extend your authority far enough to save all 
 whose lives hare been intrusted to your keeping." 
 
 "So do I; but as that is clearly impossible, I 
 will do the next best thing save all those whom I 
 can. I understand that you have not been quite 
 so outspoken in your denunciation of his majesty 
 as many of your neighbors around you." 
 
 This was something after the order of the wolf 
 and the lamb. The Tory felt that he must make 
 some show of reason for the step he had decided 
 to take, and he threw out this feeler, entertaining 
 no doubt that the listener would greedily snap at 
 it as a piece of diplomacy. But he underrated the 
 sturdy patriotism of the old man, who answered, 
 without a moment's hesitation : 
 
 "I cannot consent that you should grant indul- 
 gence or kindness under false pretenses on my part. 
 I am sure that of all the settlers of the Wyoming 
 valley there is not one who has been more bitter 
 and severe than I in my denunciation of the brutal 
 attempt of your king to subjugate the colonies of 
 America. This much I must say in deference to 
 truth itself. I cannot lie, even for the sake of sav 
 
S2 THE RIVER FUGITIVES. 
 
 ing my own life, and the Hves of those who ae 
 dearer to me than all the wea?M besides." 
 
 "At any rate," continued tke TWEJT, TOtib a fane 
 effort to make his action appear eistet, "I 
 understand that you have comported yourself 
 more like a gentleman than the majority o/ your 
 neighbors." 
 
 "That would be an arraignment f the motives 
 of my friends, to which I cannot in justice submit, 
 without protest. No, sir; you must class us all 
 together in that respect." 
 
 Unable to explain satisfactorily what ke had 
 decided to do, the Tory had to resort to the only 
 thing left at his command. 
 
 "Rest content with the assurance that I have 
 the best of reasons for showing a more careful 
 protection of the families of yourself ad several 
 of your neighbors. This is your house, I believe? " 
 
 "It is." 
 
 "Very well; how many members are there in 
 your family ? " 
 
 "I have a wife and daughter. My son is away." 
 
 "Where are the lady members? " 
 
 "I saw them a few minutes ago, but cannot ay 
 where they are just now." 
 
THE RIVER FUGITIVES. 86 
 
 "Hunt them up as soon as you can, and stick 
 others as you can accommodate comfortably Mt 
 your residence. When you have done so, I wffl 
 have a guard placed before the house and no ooe 
 shall interfere with you." 
 
 "I am sure I am greatly obliged to you for yoor 
 kindness, of which I shall avail myself without 
 delay." 
 
 "Do so, and good-bye for the present." 
 
 And, saluting the little group, the members of 
 which had been allowed to hear the last words, 
 Colonel Butler withdrew. In the course of tbe 
 next half hour, several families had installed them- 
 selves in the house of Mr. Minturn and among 
 them were his wife and daughter. Later he 
 received a call from no less a personage than Coio- 
 nel Nathan Denison, the guard being in the act of 
 assuming charge of the premises at that moment. 
 After saluting the inmates, the colonel called Mr. 
 Minturn aside and talked very earnestly with hkn. 
 At the end of a few minutes he said: 
 
 "You may be safe here, but, if you wifl tabe the 
 advice of a friend, you will not let your daughter 
 Rosa stay until to-morrow." 
 
 "What shall I do?" asked the sorely trcrobfed 
 
84 THB RIVER FUGITIVES. 
 
 old man, fully appreciating the warning he had 
 received. 
 
 "Send her to Wilkesbarre to-night." 
 
 " But who will take her there ? " 
 
 "I will find some one, and, if I fail to do so, I 
 will escort her myself." 
 
 "Very well. It shall be done, if the thing is pos- 
 sible." 
 
 "Say nothing to anyone about it till the time 
 arrives, which will be several hours after dusk." 
 
 The agreement having been made, Colonel Deni- 
 son took his departure, little dreaming what was 
 to come to pass before Rosa Minturn should be 
 allowed to start on her flight through, the wilder- 
 ness to avoid the Tory colonel, 
 
CHAPTER XI. 
 
 THE PLAN. 
 
 THE shades of night closed over Wyoming val- 
 ley, and still no one knew of the intention of Lori- 
 mer Minturn, except himself and Colonel Denison. 
 The good officer while carefully avoiding any 
 direct contact with Colonel Butler, managed 
 to keep his eye upon his movements and sat- 
 isfied himself that the contemplated flight of 
 Rosa Minturn was absolutely necessary for 
 her safety. His knowledge of the unscrupulous 
 Tory, aside from what he had witnessed during 
 the day, convinced him that the man would not 
 hesitate a moment to carry the girl back with 
 him. But he believed that daring and nerve would 
 speedily place her beyond her enemy's reach. 
 
 His great desire was to obtain the proper per- 
 son to take charge of the undertaking; for, 
 although ready to do it himself, he was sensible of 
 his own disqualifications. There were plenty whom 
 he could call to mind, but, unfortunately, they 
 
86 THE RIYER FUGITIVES, 
 
 were not within reach. There was the old scotrt, 
 Ike Wells, whom he had not seen for -weeks past ; 
 bet, superior to him, and indeed to all others, was 
 the famous friendly Mohawk, Lena-Wingo, or Red 
 Jock, as he was more generally known among the 
 whites. This singular Indian had been one of the 
 most deYOted and faithful friends of the settlers 
 fiw a half dozen years, and had performed deeds 
 m their service almost incredible. Especially on 
 tfce bloody field of Oriskany he had imperiled his 
 life over and over again for the sake of the 
 wretched fugitives, whose situation was fully as 
 terrible as their fellow sufferers at Wyoming. But 
 no one could tell where Red Jack was. There were 
 mmocs among the Tories and Indians that he had 
 *ecently fallen by the hand of that dusky miscre- 
 ant Brandt, but none of the patriots believed it. 
 Par ail that, he had not been seen in the Wyoming 
 THey for days, and so Colonel Denison dismissed 
 bun from his mind with a sigh of regret. 
 
 Sext to these, in the estimation of the officer, 
 cooie Ned Clinton and Jo Minturn, who, if the 
 reports could be believed, were still prowling some- 
 where, keeping out of the way of the Indians and 
 Torks. They were brave with a spirit of adven- 
 ;, added to which was the feet that one was 
 
THB HIYKR FUGITITKft. 87 
 
 the brother and the other the warm friend of the 
 yotmg lady ; so there could be no question abottt 
 their readiness to engage in anything of the kind 
 for her sake. But they, too, were absent, and 
 unlikely to return until the in vaders should 
 draw from the valley. 
 
 "So it looks as if I shall have to take charge of 
 the business myself," said the colonel, as be 
 revolved the matter in his mind for the twentietlt 
 time; "and if I do I'll go through with it, or some- 
 body will get hurt. Colonel Butler hates me ac 
 bad as he does his own cousin, and he will go fco 
 any lengths to square accounts for my interference 
 in an affair of his heart. If I was n't actuated by 
 a wish to befriend such a good girl as Rosa, whom 
 I have known from her infancy, the prospect of 
 checkmating such a scoundrel as he would be all 
 the motive I could need." 
 
 It was certain that the Tory leader held not 
 the remotest suspicion of the trick that was 
 being arranged, for there was no reason that 
 could possibly suggest itself to his miad. He stIM 
 believed the young lady had been charmed by her 
 first sight of him, and was only acting in 
 accordance with the shy, coy disposition which 
 he had been given to understand was a part oher 
 
88 THE RIVER FUGITIVES. 
 
 nature. When she came to learn what extraordi- 
 nary care he had taken to guard herself and family 
 from disturbance, she would be filled with grati- 
 tude. It was more than likely that she would fall 
 on her knees; or, what would be infinitely more 
 agreeable to the old scamp, would throw her 
 arms around his neck, and, with streaming eyes, 
 call down the blessings of Heaven upon him for 
 his noble generosity in her behalf. Nothing, 
 therefore, was further from his thoughts than 
 that this little bird-of-paradise would beat the 
 bars of her cage, and, breaking out, fly away 
 beyond his reach. Such being the case, the parties 
 planning the piece of strategy were possessed 
 of every opportunity they could ask, except the 
 selection of the proper one to prosecute it through 
 to the end. 
 
 Although Colonel Butler scowled upon Denison 
 more than once when he saw him going to or 
 returning from the house which was the great 
 attraction to him, yet he was too politic to inter- 
 fere, when it was plain the patriot was a particu- 
 lar friend of the family. The villain could afford 
 to wait awhile before stepping in and spoiling that 
 game. 
 
THE MVBR FUGITIVES. 89 
 
 The night was well advanced when Colonel 
 Denison and the father of Rosa called her and her 
 mother into an apartment where they were secure 
 against interruption, and made known their 
 whole plan, which could not but create dismay 
 when first heard. The mother, more than the 
 daughter, was disposed to oppose such a wild 
 scheme as the departure of the child in the night, 
 when it was necessary to cross the river and make 
 a journey of several miles through the wilder- 
 ness before they could reach a place of safety. 
 But a few pointed words from Colonel Denison 
 convinced both the ladies so thoroughly of the 
 purposes of the Tory, that they were not only 
 ready, but eager, that the imperiled one should be 
 off. 
 
 " Having satisfied you of the necessity," said 
 the colonel, with a quiet emphasis that could not 
 be mistaken, "it only remains to agree upon the 
 precise means." 
 
 "You will go with me?" said Rosa, with such 
 an evident dread that the officer had arranged 
 for her to make the journey alone that the others 
 could not forbear a smile. 
 
 "I had strong hopes all day that I could find 
 some one better qualified than I, but the very men 
 
90 THE RITBR FUGITIVES. 
 
 wbom I want, and to whom only I would entrust 
 jour escort Red Jack, the Mohawk, old Ike Wells, 
 and Ned Clinton and your brother Jo are beyond 
 reach, and so we'll have to get along without 
 tfcem. Consequently, I must elect myself com- 
 aaander-in-chief of the retreating party. There- 
 fore, Rosa, if you will accept me as your escort, I 
 irifl see you safely through, if the thing be 
 among the possibilities.*' 
 
 ** I would rather have you than any one in the 
 world/' replied the young lady, with the trusting 
 simplicity of her nature. 
 
 Colonel Denison bowed gracefully in acknowledg- 
 ment of the compliment to his friendship and 
 honor, which was not misplaced. 
 
 "It is natural that you should look upon the 
 vetttere with a little shrinking; but I have spent 
 a good deal of time in thinking it over, and I can- 
 not see that there is anything very formidable 
 about it. We will cross the river within a mile 
 from this point" 
 
 "But how?" interrupted Rosa, who was natu- 
 rally anxious to learn all about the expedition in 
 which she was to play so important a part. 
 
 **I believe you are an excellent swimmer? " 
 
THE RIVER FUGITIVES. 91 
 
 "I have swam the Susquehanna, but I don't 
 want to do it at night if it can be helped." 
 
 "Nor is it my intention that you shall. We 
 shall have little trouble in finding a boat that will 
 bear us safely " 
 
 "Oh, yes," interrupted Rosa, again, in her 
 impulsive way. "I know the exact spot where a 
 canoe is drawn up in the bushes on the bank/' 
 
 "And, if necessary, you can manage the pad- 
 dle." 
 
 "Give me the chance, and I will show you." 
 
 "In short, I don't see why you are not fitted 
 to make the journey without any companion at 
 aflL But that is all fixed, as I told you a minute 
 ago. When across, we have less than five miles 
 to travel, and as Rosa knows every foot of the 
 way, we will reach Wilkesbarre before daylight." 
 
 " You are sure that Butler suspects nothing of 
 this?" asked the father, in a low voice. "And 
 none of the guards either ? " 
 
 "It is impossible. Hello! What's that?" 
 
 At that moment there was a gentle knock at 
 the door. As Colonel Denison sprang up and 
 opened it, an Indian stood before them. 
 
CHAPTER XIL 
 
 A VALUABLE ALLY. 
 
 THE consternation of the little group was over- 
 whelming when the door was opened and they saw 
 an Indian in his war-paint standing before them, 
 his black, serpent-like eyes glittering as he looked 
 down in the faces of the dismayed group. 
 
 All believed that this warrior was one of the 
 guards, that had been set by Butler to spy out the 
 doings of the conspirators, and who had been sent 
 at this moment either to arrest or scatter them. 
 For a few seconds not a word escaped any of the 
 whites. They stared at each other, seemingly 
 overcome to that extent that they could not com- 
 mand their utterance. 
 
 The Indian was very tall, and of thinner frame 
 and more handsome features than are generally 
 seen among his race. His face was so thickly cov- 
 ered with a compound of paint that, had he been 
 an Adonis himself, he would have appeared fright- 
 ful to the ordinary observer; but the patriots had 
 
 long since become so accustomed to the most for- 
 
 02 
 
THB RIVER FUGITIVES. 93 
 
 bidding-looking creatures of his kind, that they 
 were not impressed in this respect. The redskin 
 was the first to break the silence. 
 
 "Ami welcome?" 
 
 The instant these words were spoken, in good 
 English, and in a low, cautious voice, Colonel Den- 
 ison gave a gasp of delight, and sprang toward 
 the door. 
 
 "Give me your hand! Heaven itself has sent 
 you, of all others, for I have been praying for your 
 coming all day. Do n't you recognize him, friends ? 
 This is Red Jack, our Mohawk scout, worth a 
 dozen men at any time." 
 
 On being introduced in this fashion, the noted 
 redskin grinned, showing a set of teeth as white, 
 even and beautiful as those of Rosa Minturn. At 
 the same time, he took a step forward, and softly 
 closed the door behind him. Every white person 
 present was acquainted with the famous Mohawk 
 scout, and they instantly gathered about him, 
 taking his hand, telling him, in cautiously modu- 
 lated tones, of their pleasure at seeing him at this 
 time. 
 
 He was a great favorite with Rosa herself, for 
 whom he had shown an attachment from her ear- 
 liest girlhood. He had taken her many a mile in 
 
34 THE RIYER FUGITITBa. 
 
 his canoe, before the tide of war swept through 
 the valley; he had shown her how to handle the 
 long ashen paddle, and had taught her to fire the 
 rifle with a skill scarcely second to that of the 
 ordinary hunter. Rosa had accompanied the 
 Mohawk many a time on long excursion* into the 
 forest, the confidence of all the settlers in the 
 friendly Indian being perfect, as he had proven his 
 loyalty on so many occasions and in so marked a 
 manner that there could be no doubting it. 8uch 
 being the case, it followed that Lena-Wingo, or 
 Red Jack, was held in special abhorrence by the 
 redskins of the Six Nations, or Iroquois, who were 
 among the most faithful allies of the Tories, fight- 
 ing in the interest of the sovereign of Great Brit- 
 ain. It was known that for years the Indians had 
 been seeking the life of Red Jack, and Brandt had 
 even offered a reward to any warrior who would 
 bring him the scalp of the remarkable scout. 
 
 No one besides Red Jack himself could guess ho w 
 often the attempts had been made against his life. 
 Nor would it be safe to hazard a conjecture as to 
 the number of times that, in the depths of the 
 great wilderness, he had been attacked by some 
 sinewy warrior ambitious of winning the distinc- 
 tion of killing so distinguished a character a* the 
 
THE RIVER FUGITIVES. 
 
 renegade Mohawk, as he was called by his own 
 people and the white miscreants who had turned 
 against their own race. 
 
 After Red Jack had shaken the hands of his 
 friends over and over again, with his face on the 
 grin all the time, Colonel Denison asked : 
 
 "How did you manage to get inside, Jack? 
 Colonel Butler has a guard around the house, and 
 the Tories know you so well that I should have 
 been sure of their stopping you." 
 
 "Don't know Jack all the time," he answered, 
 signifying that he possessed more than one plan of 
 disguising his manner and appearance, so that his 
 worst enemy and best acquaintance could not 
 recognize him, particularly if he was favored with 
 the darkness of the night beside. 
 
 "I see," said the colonel "I see, but where harve 
 you been? We have had bad times in the 
 valley" 
 
 ' 'Jack know all about it, " he interrupted. "See 
 Seneca Injun he tell me." 
 
 "And you were missed, I can assure you." 
 
 "Didn't know Butler come here," said Jack, in 
 his quick, jerky fashion. "Jack was coming down 
 from Cherry valley meet Seneca he tell him aH 
 abot it he hurry here." 
 
96 THE RIVER FUGITIVES. 
 
 This remark, it may as well be stated, strength- 
 ened a suspicion that Colonel Denison, in common 
 with others, held, to the effect that, although Red 
 Jack was practically outlawed by his race, yet he 
 had more than one friend among them, who 
 apprised him of many movements intended to 
 work him ill. But the officer was careful to keep 
 his suspicion from the Mohawk himself. Red 
 Jack made some inquiries of the whites as to the 
 fate of their friends particularly of the two 
 young men, Ned Clinton and Jo Minturn and he 
 was not a little pleased to be told that there was 
 every reason to believe they were out of danger. 
 Colonel Denison then proceeded to tell the scheme 
 for placing Rosa Minturn beyond the reach of the 
 Tory leader the girl, of course, to be put in care 
 of the Mohawk. The latter stood in the middle 
 of the room, looking down into the face of the 
 colonel while he was unfolding the scheme. When 
 it was finished, he nodded his head to signify 
 that he understood what was expected of him. 
 
 "All right, all right; Jack will take her to 
 Wilkesbarre. He knows the way. He lead her 
 there to-night." 
 
 Rosa was the most delighted one of the party, 
 for, despite the enthusiasm with which she 
 
THE RIVER FUGITIVES. 97 
 
 received the announcement of the colonel that he 
 was to be her escort, she was more pleased over 
 the companionship of the Mohawk than she could 
 be with any one else, for the reason that she knew 
 that no five men were as competent as he. This 
 was the whole thing in a nutshell, and so great 
 was her trust in her dusky friend that she looked 
 on the expedition much as she did upon her former 
 excursions into the wilderness. The night was 
 clear. There was a partial moon, and the air was 
 just cool enough to make it pleasant without or 
 within. So she was rather desirous of being 
 under way. 
 
 The long slowly ticking clock in the corner 
 showed that the fan-like hour hand was close on 
 the figure eleven. It was time, therefore, that 
 some move was made to carry out the programme, 
 for at that season of the year the nights were 
 short and the fugitives likely to need all the hours 
 remaining to them. It was agreed, therefore, 
 that in the course of the next ten or fifteen minutes 
 the start should be made. 
 
 Red Jack, when he had the whole scheme of 
 Colonel Denison, said that he would vary it 
 considerably. Instead of crossing the Susquehanna 
 at the point designated by the officer, he intended 
 
98 THB RIVER FUGITIVE*. 
 
 to keep on up the stream till he passed aboT 
 "Queen Esther's Rock," as it has since been 
 christened, for the reason that there was less like- 
 lihood of their attracting the notice of their 
 enemies above than below the place named. After 
 going over, he was inclined to favor a circuitous 
 route instead of a direct one to Wilkesbarre, and 
 he thought it likely that he would push back to 
 the mountain range to the southeast, before mak- 
 ing it. 
 
 It will be understood that the house of Mr. 
 Minturn was simply guarded from disturbance 
 from the outside, there being no intention of 
 interfering with the freedom of the inmates. At 
 the same time there was no restriction put upon 
 the movements of those who desired to call at the 
 house. The task which was projected was, there- 
 fore, so far as appearances went, quite simple in 
 its character about the only difficulty consisting 
 in getting away without the departure being 
 Moticed. The faint moonlight, the presence of the 
 two sentinels pacing up and down in front, and 
 the single one keeping faithful ward at the rear of 
 the premises, surrounded the work with some 
 labor, but all were confident it could be accom- 
 plished with little danger. 
 
THE RIYER FUGITIVES. 96 
 
 Red Jack, having entered as a messenger from 
 Colonel Butler to the owner of the place, it was 
 advisable that he should pass out again in the 
 same guise. The plan fixed upon, therefore, was 
 for him to stalk boldly out of the front door and 
 make his way to a well known oak, standing just 
 outside the small cluster of settlements, and 
 scarcely a couple of hundred yards from the fort 
 itself, where he would await the coming of Rosa. 
 When she should reach that point, the rest of the 
 journey, to their minds, would be clear sailing. 
 
 Within five minutes of explanation of the whole 
 plan the Mohawk passed out of the front door, 
 with as proud a step as if he were the leader of 
 the Iroquois himself, who had been holding an 
 important council of war with his commander. 
 He made his way to the appointed rendezvous, 
 where he prepared to wait with the calm patience 
 of his race, willing, if necessary, to stay there the 
 night through, without the first twinge of dis- 
 satisfaction at the delay of others. The plan of 
 Rosa was simple, and, no doubt, the best one 
 possible. She intended to throw her ghawl ore* 
 her shoulders and walk out of the front door jtut 
 as the Mohawk had done, but to make her way 
 with more caution to the old oak, taking 
 
100 THE RIVER FUGITIVES. 
 
 that she was not watched or followed by anyone. 
 The stratagem to be employed by her was to 
 imitate the gait of her mother so closely that it, 
 together with her makeup, would lead any one to 
 take her for her parent. It was characteristic of 
 the affectionate and reverent nature of the girl 
 that she should feel some repugnance against doing 
 this, on the ground that it savored of something 
 like burlesquing the gait of her mother, though, 
 of course, her scruples were speedily overcome. 
 
 It was certainly strange how matters shaped 
 themselves that night. Everything was in readi- 
 ness when all were startled by a knock upon the 
 outside door, the room in which they were sitting 
 being separated from the main reception apart- 
 ment. 
 
 "Stay where you are, and don't speak," said 
 Mr. Minturn, rising to his feet, "and I will attend 
 to the call. I don't understand who can want to 
 see me at this late hour." 
 
 On repairing to the door and opening it, who 
 should the old gentleman see before him but Colo- 
 nel Butler himself? 
 
 " Good-evening, " said the Tory, with a laugh, 
 as he extended his hand. "I was going by when 
 
THE RIVER FUGITIVES. 101 
 
 I observed a light, and thought I would drop in 
 and see how things are with you." 
 
 "Good-evening, Colonel Butler," said the host, 
 speaking in a loud voice, so that those in the inner 
 room might know who their unwelcome guest was. 
 14 It is rather late, but come inside." 
 
 With many apologies for disturbing the settler 
 at this late hour, the Tory stepped within and 
 took a seat. And there he sat for a full hour, till 
 midnight came and passed, talking to the patriot, 
 who was obliged to do his utmost to dissemble 
 his impatience, while he answered his impertinent 
 questions, as best he could, regarding his family, 
 and more particularly about his daughter, his 
 apparently trivial inquiries bearing an unusual 
 significance in view of the incidents of the day. 
 At last he rose to go, promising to do himself the 
 honor of calling on Rosa the next day. 
 
CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 THE FLIGHT. 
 
 first arrangement contemplated that Colo- 
 Denison should act as the escort of Rosa Min- 
 until she was well by the fort, after which 
 she could readily pass the intervening distance 
 without any attendant. But, while Butler was in 
 tAie adjoining room, this plan was changed. The 
 patriot officer believed that the enemy was likely 
 to hold the house under surveillance for an hour 
 or two to come, on the principle of the smitten 
 lorer finding pleasure in looking upon the residence 
 of her who holds possession of his heart. 
 
 No man is so foolish and "spooney" as the one 
 who has no right to be so, and the colonel showed 
 a commendable knowledge of human nature when 
 he gttarded against the too close attention of the 
 individual whom they were seeking to avoid. 
 Nothing would look more natural than to see the 
 eommander of the vanquished forces acting as the 
 e**ort of the lady of the house, when going off 
 QW JKHMC errand, in the dead hour of the night. 
 
 102 
 
THE RIYER FUGITIVES. 106 
 
 But as the Tory, sooner or later, must discover 
 that the bird had flown, so he was almost sure to 
 find out the precise means by which it had been 
 done, and he would be the more convinced of the 
 plot if able to recall the fact that he had seen the 
 rebel colonel and her together on the night at the 
 disappearance. 
 
 Something less than a half hour after the depart- 
 ure of Butler, the lights in the house of the Min- 
 turns were extinguished, as if the inmate* had 
 retired for the night. Within the next ten minute* 
 the figure of an old woman, as it appeared, tame 
 out of the front door, and stooping, as if with old 
 age and weakness, began walking slowly in the 
 direction of the fort, the intention being to turn oft 
 and pass behind it before approaching near enough 
 to attract the notice of any of the Tories and 
 Indians that seemed to be wandering everywhere, 
 despite the late hour of the night. 
 
 Rosa was so full of the scheme that she was in 
 danger of betraying her assumed character, by 
 returning to her natural elastic walk, but she tried 
 her best to keep in mind the parting instructions 
 of Colonel Denison, who, with her parents, wee 
 watching her, as long as she continued visible, 
 from an upper window. She speedily disappeared 
 
104 THE RIVER FUGITIVES. 
 
 in the darkness, and those whom she had left 
 behind could only pray for the success of the 
 scheme, which had now progressed too far to be 
 recalled. 
 
 When Rosa passed outside the gate, she almost 
 ran against the sentinel who was pacing back and 
 forth on his beat. So near was the collision, on 
 account of the man turning at that moment, that 
 she gave utterance to a slight exclamation of fear, 
 upon which the sentinel raised his hat and apolo- 
 gized. 
 
 "Pardon my rudeness, miss. It was uninten- 
 tional!" 
 
 The fact that he addressed her as a young lady 
 alarmed Rosa, and led her to believe her folks were 
 mistaken as to the flight not being suspected. But, 
 without doing anything more than to bow, she 
 resumed her walk, still stepping off far more act- 
 ively in her excitement than was prudent or safe. 
 Her heart throbbed violently, for the undertaking 
 assumed a more formidable character than before, 
 and the cries of marauding Indians many of 
 whom were at no great distance caused her to 
 shiver with terror and stare fearfully around, 
 expecting to see the ones whom she dreaded as she 
 did death itself. 
 
THE RIVER FUGITIVES. 105 
 
 She had reached a point midway between her 
 home and the rendezvous, when, to her dismay, 
 she caught sight of several straggling forms 
 almost directly before her, and only a rod or two 
 distant. She stopped in her rapid walk, uncertain 
 what she ought to do, for there seemed littlechoice 
 between going back and pressing forward. If the 
 men attempted to insult her, she could turn about 
 and flee to the protection of the sentinels in front 
 of her own door. But she wished to avoid this 
 return, if possible, for the reason that the night 
 was already so far advanced that time was becom- 
 ing incalculably precious, and she believed that, if 
 she lingered much longer by the way, the whole 
 project must fail altogether. 
 
 While she stood wavering and undecided, the 
 moving figures seemed to swing off to one side and 
 out of her path. She instantly resumed her walk 
 in the direction of the oak, still timid, hesitating 
 and holding herself ready to turn about and flee 
 like a bird the instant the marauders ventured to 
 approach her. In the gloom of the night the fair 
 fugitive was unable to tell whether the dreaded 
 parties were Indians or Tories, and, in fact, it 
 made little difference to which race they belonged, 
 as one set was about as bad as the other. 
 
K>6 THE RIVER FUGITIVES. 
 
 Approaching a few steps nearer, she was able to 
 aiake oat that there were three of them, and they 
 were white men, it following, of course, that they 
 belonged to the Tory band of Colonel Butler, and 
 they were as much to be dreaded as if they were 
 so many Mohawks. Still further, they were under 
 the influence of liquor to that extent that they 
 were lolling against each other, and indulging in 
 maudlin snatches of song. As yet they showed no 
 signs of having seen the trembling girl, who was 
 stealing along so timidly, and watching every 
 fijorement on their part; but there was no telling 
 when they would catch sight of her. 
 
 Under the circumstances, Rosa was well able to 
 nm a great deal faster than they, but in her not 
 unnatural dread, she feared that they would fire 
 their guns at her, or else call some one to their 
 assistance and secure her capture before she could 
 return to the protection of the guards she had left 
 behind, or could reach the waiting Mohawk under 
 the shadow of the oak. Urged onward by the 
 knowledge that the night was fast wearing away, 
 sfoe crept still nearer them, who were staggering, 
 first upon one side of the path and then upon the 
 other, but, provokingly enough, refusing to leave 
 it ffoar altogether for her to pass. 
 
THB RITER FUGITIVES. 107 
 
 Finally it occurred to the fugitive that, by mak- 
 ing a little detour, she could flank them without 
 attracting their notice. With this purpose, she 
 moved toward the left, and succeeded in reaching 
 a point almost opposite, when they saw her. 
 
 "Hello! " muttered one of the trio, straightening 
 up; "what have we here? It looks to me like some 
 pretty young rebel." 
 
 There it was again; the men, drunk as they 
 were, saw that she was not an old woman, as she 
 had been trying to appear. As the words were 
 uttered, the three took a step toward the object of 
 their interest, showing that they meant to satisfy 
 their curiosity as to the identity of the person 
 who was abroad at this unseemly hour of the 
 night. It was no time to play the part of the old 
 lady, for if she ever needed all her nimble-footed- 
 ness, this was the time and here was the place. 
 Rosa did not pause to make reply, but, without 
 appearing to run, she walked as rapidly as she 
 could, as though from a natural hurry instead of 
 fleeing from the party. 
 
 "Hold on there !" called out a second person, 
 who was less under the influence of liquor than 
 either of the others. "Hold on there, I say, young 
 
108 THE RIVER FUGITIVES. 
 
 The only effect of this summons was to increase 
 the speed of the girl, who was as terrified as it was 
 possible for her to be and still retain her senses. 
 The walk became a run, seeing which the three 
 men immediately started in full chase after her. 
 
 "Just see her spin along! " exclaimed one of the 
 pursuers, who was leading the others. "She goes 
 like a deer. Stop, I say!" he added, in a still 
 louder voice. "If you do n't, I'll fire at you." 
 
 This was the last feather, and the frightened 
 Rosa sped away with all the speed at her com- 
 mand. There was fleetness in such a gait, and she 
 speedily left the Tories behind, seeing which, one 
 of them attempted to fire his musket over the head 
 of the fugitive, but missed striking her by a nar- 
 row chance. 
 
 Rosa was speeding in the direction of the tree, 
 where she knew the Mohawk was awaiting her, 
 and she was sure of making it in time, when, to 
 her dismay, a fourth Tory suddenly appeared 
 before her, directly in her path I 
 
CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 LENA-WINGO STEPS TO THE FRONT. 
 
 FOR one moment Rosa Minturn despaired, as 
 the figure of the man appeared in the path before 
 her. 
 
 "Have no fear, my dear Rosa; I will protect you 
 from all harm." 
 
 It was the voice of Colonel Butler the very 
 man whom she was fleeing from. The knowledge 
 gave her nerve again, and she rallied, and darting 
 to one side, attempted to flank the man; but 
 Butler had recognized her, and did not propose 
 to let her slip through his grasp in this fashion. 
 
 "My dearest Rosa, I beseech you not to try to 
 run away from a friend ; it's I, Colonel Butler, the 
 one that loves you more than all the world 
 beside, and that you admire so much. Just put 
 yourself in my care, and it will be all right." 
 
 But he was the one in whose care she did not 
 mean to place herself, and she abated her exertions 
 not in the slightest. It seemed, however, as if a 
 fatality were following her, for just as she was 
 
 109 
 
110 THE RIVER FUGITIVES. 
 
 sttrc of escaping him altogether, her foot tripped 
 in something, and, although she did not fall, she 
 saved herself so narrowly, that when she recovered, 
 the Tory stood before her, with arms outspread, 
 ready to enfold her within them the moment the 
 took a step forward. It appeared useless to 
 straggle any longer, and the poor girl paused, 
 dismayed and despairing, neither advancing nor 
 retiring. 
 
 H My darling, why so frightened, when I am 
 here to protect you ? Could you not know that 
 I am ready to offer my life for you, even to save 
 your ears from rude words ? " 
 
 The gushing old zany had his arms outspread 
 and was in the act of stepping forward, with the 
 purpose of throwing them around the defenseless 
 fugitive, when a dark form darted out from the 
 shadow of the oak which stood near at hand, 
 and sped with astonishing swiftness directly 
 toward the Tory. The latter's ears caught not 
 the step, which was like that of a shadow ; but 
 Rosa saw the figure and she recognized the 
 Mohawk. Still she did not feel safe, as the dis- 
 charge of the weapon and the shouts had created 
 such an uproar and excitement, that a dozen men 
 were hurrying toward the scene, and there were 
 
THE RIYER FUGITIVES. Ill 
 
 dottbtless others who would appear in the aoc- 
 ceeding few minutes. But when the Mohawk 
 tried to travel he knew how to do it, and he was 
 on his mettle just now. 
 
 Colonel Butler was in the middle of his gushing 
 harangue, with his arms upraised and outspread, 
 ready to clasp the beautiful figure before him, 
 when one of his wrists was seized and he was 
 whirled half way round as violently as if smitten 
 by a cannon-ball, the spinning, top-like movement 
 bringing him face to face with the Mohawk, 
 whose painted countenance seemed to be a-gleani 
 with the flame of passion. 
 
 "Let her be go back save yourself 'tis LetM- 
 Wingo that speaks." 
 
 If these words needed any additional emphasis, 
 they were given in the shape of a long knife that 
 gleamed in the moonlight. One of the many 
 curious and apparently contradictory character- 
 istics of the famous friendly Mohawk was his 
 repugnance to shedding the blood of his enemies. 
 As a rule, a savage does not wait for the simplest 
 kind of a pretext, but takes to murder as a duck 
 to water ; and when it is remembered that this 
 warrior knew that hundreds were hunting hint 
 down as though he were a mad dog, this pecol- 
 
112 THE RIVER FUGITIVES. 
 
 iarityis all the more remarkable. There were 
 scores of Tories and redskins that had fallen by 
 his hands, but in every case with an occasional 
 exception it was a clear matter of self-defense on 
 his part, where there seemed no other way of 
 saving his own life. There were one or two 
 instances where, under great provocation, he had 
 restrained the strange impulse of mercy that 
 seemed ever present with him, but of these we will 
 speak at another time. 
 
 When Red Jack, or Lena-Wingo, went into the 
 deadly business, however, there were no half-way 
 measures about it. The scalp was bound to come, 
 and there were wild stories told of the number of 
 those ghastly trophies he had hid away some- 
 where in the mountains. In the present instance 
 he held Colonel Butler at his mercy, but he had 
 not the remotest intention of hurting him. 
 
 The Tory knew the terrible redskin before he 
 announced his name, and he was never more 
 scared in all his life. 
 
 "Hello, Red Jack; is that you? " he asked in a 
 quavering voice, that he meant to make appear 
 cordial. * ' Somebody has alarmed the young lady, 
 and I was about to protect her when you came 
 up. Do you want to take her in charge ? " 
 
THE RIYER FUGITIVES. 113 
 
 "I take her you go." Then turning to the 
 trembling Rosa, the Mohawk added, "Run yon- 
 der don't wait." 
 
 The fugitive was on the point of making a start 
 on her own account when this order was given. 
 She therefore bounded off like a frightened fawn, 
 urged on by the sight of the rapidly gathering 
 reinforcements. The friendly Mohawk stood 
 facing about so as to cover her flight, looking 
 unflinchingly upon the whites and Indians who 
 were hurrying to the spot. Colonel Butler, quick 
 to discover that he was granted freedom of action, 
 began edging away from the dangerous fellow at 
 his elbow, feeling anything but safe so long as he 
 was within striking distance. 
 
 It took but a few seconds, inasmuch as Lena- 
 Wingo did not attempt to follow, he having no 
 purpose of injuring him, as we have already 
 shown. The moment the Tory colonel felt safe, 
 and saw several of his own soldiers at his back, 
 he called out, in the trumpet-tones of battle : 
 
 "Sieze him! Don't let him escape! It is Red 
 Jack, the Mohawk ! Ten pounds to the man who 
 makes him a prisoner! " 
 
 Butler had two objects for the capture of the 
 extraordinary Mohawk. In the first place, he was 
 
114 THE RIVER FUGITIVES. 
 
 wanted on general principles, for the great injury 
 he had done the royal cause, but it was plain that 
 he was in the act of taking away the "light of his 
 eyes " from Wyoming and that was like death 
 itself, all of which will explain the excitement and 
 anxiety of the officer to prevent the red scout get- 
 ting away at this time. 
 
 As he uttered his command, one or two took a 
 step toward the defiant Mohawk, who, with his 
 drawn knife and rifle > calmly awaited their com- 
 ing. 
 
 "Lena-Wingois alone," he said, noticing their 
 hesitation. "There are whites there are red men 
 before me. Why do they not come and take me ? " 
 
 This was a tantalizing threat, but it did not spur 
 the parties addressed, and Butler became furious. 
 
 "Are you all cowards !" he demanded, "that 
 you are afraid to seize a single man? " 
 
 The soldier standing next him was impudent 
 enough to say : 
 
 "If our colonel will lead us in the attack upon 
 the Old Scratch himself, we'll follow." 
 
 " But I have no arms ! " fairly shouted the raging 
 officer, "or I would cut him down! " 
 
 The soldier had seized a sword, as be started to 
 
THE RIVER FUGITIVES. 116 
 
 rush to the spot, and he reached it to his com- 
 mander. " Here you are ! " 
 
 The weapon was thrust so unexpectedly into the 
 hand of Butler that he was fairly caught, and, 
 frightened as he was, he strode valiantly toward 
 the defiant Indian, calling to his soldiers : 
 
 "Come on, you cowards, and I will show yoti 
 your duty ! w 
 
 Just then the Tory turned his head, expecting to 
 see Lena-Wingo in full retreat, but, to his dismay, 
 the Indian was actually stealing toward him, in a 
 crouching position, as if tired of waiting for the 
 combat to open. 
 
 It was more than Tory flesh and blood could 
 stand, and Butler wheeled about, and stooping 
 down, as if to avoid a descending blow, leaped 
 back among his allies, several of whom indulged 
 in a contemptuous laugh at the exhibition. At the 
 same instant Lena-Wingo vanished. 
 
 "We'll have him yet!" exclaimed Butler. "Be 
 has started for Wilkesbarre with the lady, and he 
 shall be headed off and shot before he CAB reach 
 the place." 
 
CHAPTER XV. 
 
 IN THE WILDERNESS. 
 
 WHEN the redskins saw that the famous scout 
 had fled the fact gave them a courage which they 
 had not felt up to that time. They were all adepts 
 at trailing a foe, and they saw, as if by instinct, 
 that the chance was in their favor for outwitting 
 the dreaded scout. The latter was incumbered 
 with the care of a young lady, which must neces- 
 sarily impede his movements, and give them an 
 opportunity to get in a treacherous shot when he 
 was unprepared for it. This was a purely Indian 
 business, and none but Indians took part in it. 
 
 Colonel Butler gave out that he would liberally 
 reward the one who brought him the scalp of 
 Lena-Wingo, or Red Jack, and he would double 
 the amount provided the miss in his charge was 
 also returned to him. Some six or eight redskins 
 started in pursuit and the Tory awaited their 
 return, impatient that he had been so stupid as to 
 allow the bird to slip from his grasp. 
 
THE RIYER FUGITIVES. 117 
 
 If the great Mohawk scout was reckless in his 
 bravery, he was also wonderfully skillful and 
 shrewd with it all, and none knew better than he 
 precisely what he was doing. He ran a hundred 
 yards or more in his quick, noiseless way, until, 
 having reached the point where he expected to find 
 Rosa Minturn, he paused, and uttered a slight 
 whistle. 
 
 He had hardly done so when his keen ear caught 
 a rustling behind him, and he turned like a flash, 
 ready for friend or foe. 
 
 "Is it you, Jack? " was asked in a soft whisper. 
 
 ' ' It is Jack, ' ' was the answer, in the same guarded 
 manner. 
 
 "I was afraid you were in trouble." 
 
 The Mohawk replied with a grin, invisible in 
 the gloom. 
 
 "Are we ready to go on?" continued the fair 
 fugitive. 
 
 "Yes, we go on. Follow me keep close don't 
 make noise." 
 
 Rosa walked as carefully as she could, but it 
 was impossible to imitate her leader, who seemed 
 to possess the power of making his way through 
 the forest without a particle of noise. As he raised 
 and put down his moccasin, the girl could not 
 
118 THE RIVER FUGITIVES. 
 
 detect the faintest possible rustle, nor was any- 
 thing of the kind noticeable when he parted the 
 ltshes in his path. 
 
 They were now in the wilderness, for the Wyo- 
 ming valley, a century ago, might have been called 
 a wilderness as a whole, compared with its condi- 
 tion to-day. 
 
 The Mohawk knew he would be followed by half 
 a dozen of the most experienced and skillful war- 
 riors of his own tribe ; but he cared nothing for 
 that. It would not be the first time, by long odds, 
 and he rather welcomed the thing, as likely to pre- 
 vent the flight from becoming monotonous. 
 
 But the sly fellow said nothing of the kind to his 
 companion, for he did not think she was likely to 
 Agree with him, and she might well question his 
 prudence. The only evidence that Jack gave of 
 fears of pursuit consisted in his occasionally stop- 
 ping and standing as motionless as a rock, while 
 Rosa could barely make out in the night that his 
 face was turned, and he was looking over her head 
 back into the gloom, depending more upon his 
 wonderful power of hearing than anything else. 
 
 Rosa listened, too, as best she could, but the 
 srflenee of the tomb to her was not more profound. 
 A. few minutes before, all was excitenient and 
 
THE RIVER FUGITIVES. 119 
 
 uproar in the vicinity of the fort, but ther* 
 nothing now to show that any one living person 
 was within miles of where the two were standing. 
 The curdling sounds of rapine and murder tlie 
 war-whoop of the redskins and the shouts of Ifce 
 no less bloody Tories these had died out for tlie 
 time, and were heard no more. But, for all that, 
 the minions of the night were abroad, stealing 
 like so many panthers approaching their p*ty. 
 They were groping here and there through tbe 
 wood, listening for some evidence of the precise 
 whereabouts of the Mohawk who had dared ta 
 defy them to do their worst. 
 
 Every time the guide paused he raised his hand 
 as a warning to Rosa that she must not attempt 
 to speak, and she knew too much what the dan- 
 ger of disobeying the command might lead to, to 
 forget the warning. All the sound she heard was 
 the throbbing of her own heart, which she was stwe 
 must attract the notice of Jack, standing at Her 
 side, though he also refrained from opening hie 
 mouth. 
 
 The second time they paused in this manner, the 
 silence to Rosa was as profound as at first, but the 
 action of the Mohawk showed he had detected 
 something suspicious ; for he silently reached ot 
 
120 THE RIVER FUGITIVES. 
 
 his hand and took hers, accompanying the move- 
 ment with a soft " 'Sh ! " which checked the query 
 that was already on her lips. Holding her hand in 
 his own, he turned off at almost a right angle to 
 the course they had been following up to that 
 moment. The turn was to the right and was fol- 
 lowed but a few seconds until it brought them to 
 the edge of the river. 
 
 The broad Susquehanna was flowing calmly and 
 smoothly in the faint moonlight, as though it had 
 not witnessed the dreadful scenes that had taken 
 place on its banks but a short time before. The 
 stillness continued unbroken, but Jack was listen- 
 ing in the close, attentive way that showed he was 
 expecting something. Nor was he disappointed ; 
 for within the next five minutes the sound of a 
 paddle was heard so distinctly that his fair com- 
 panion noticed it and turned to her guide as if to 
 ask, by her manner, whether he had caught it. 
 
 There could be no failure on his part, and when 
 she turned he repeated his "'Sh!" to prevent her 
 speaking. At the same time he drew her back a 
 few feet further from the water and placed himself 
 between it and her. Both held these same positions 
 for a few minutes longer, and then Rosa, who was 
 listening and looking -with all the ears and eyes 
 
THE RIVBR FUGITIVES. 121 
 
 she had, again caught the sound of a paddle in the 
 water. Jack instantly recoiled, and extending his 
 long, bony arm toward the river, whispered : 
 
 "Look." 
 
 Dimly visible was a canoe, in which several 
 Indians were seated, while one of them plied the 
 single paddle with such care that, had not the two 
 been listening, they would have heard nothing of 
 it. The meaning of the whole thing was so plain 
 that Rosa read it without any help from her saga- 
 cious companion. Their pursuers, believing they 
 were making for Wilkesbarre, had sent a number 
 of scouts across to head them off, leaving, of 
 course, enough on his side to prosecute the search 
 unremittingly. The two stood and watched the 
 boat with its suggestive occupants until it grad- 
 ually faded out in the gloom of the night, when 
 they relaxed their position of intense attention. 
 
 "Now we go up river," said he, breaking the 
 quiet for the first time since starting fairly upon 
 their flight. 
 
 "Where to?" she asked, glad, like all her sex, 
 to avail herself of the chance to use her tongue. 
 
 "A little way," was the rather vague answer. 
 "Tread light walk still make no noise like 
 lack." 
 
THE RIYER FUGITIVE*. 
 
 "Ill do my best, but I can't do as well as you, 
 and you know it, Jack, and I don't believe any 
 one else can do so either." 
 
 -Try." 
 
 They advanced with great caution, for there 
 was every reason to believe a number of their ene- 
 mies were close at hand, and a single inadvertence 
 aright betray them. 
 
 It was not the purpose of the Mohawk to cross 
 the river for some time yet, and he cautiously 
 poshed on, making unimportant progress until 
 the gray light in the east told of the coming day. 
 JL halt was then made, and they waited where 
 they were for all of an hour, when they pressed 
 stealthily forward a short distance further. Before 
 they could go beyond, they became the unwilling 
 witnesses of a scene so appalling that even Lena- 
 Wtngo, the Mohawk, who had looked upon every 
 imaginable atrocity, was shocked. 
 
CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 QUEEN ESTHER. 
 
 TETB Mohawk and Rosa paused amid the dense 
 undergrowth, and the red scout softly parted 
 it in his front and peered through. The girl 
 was several feet behind him and she did not dare 
 to approach without permission, although her 
 curiosity was great, for she was assured by his 
 manner that he had discovered something of 
 importance to both of them. 
 
 For the space of five minutes, perhaps, the 
 Indian did not stir a muscle; but, during this 
 time, the girl heard sounds beyond them. There 
 were confused voices, those, no doubt, of their 
 enemies, and some sort of a busy scene was going 
 on directly before the eyes of the watcher. By 
 and by Lena-Wingo turned his head, so that he 
 faced the girl who was watching him so closely, 
 and silently beckoned to her. Rosa was at his 
 side next minute, crouching like one who knew 
 the need of the utmost caution. 
 
 123 
 
124 THE RIVER FUGITIVES. 
 
 " Make no noise, " -whispered her friend. " Watch 
 much won't hurt." 
 
 The scene that Rosa gazed upon she remembered 
 to her dying day. If Lena-Wingo could have 
 comprehended the sensations that were produced 
 upon the fair fugitive by the sight, he would never 
 have permitted it; but he was an Indian, and 
 could not be expected to comprehend such things. 
 
 On the brow of a high steep bank, which, no 
 doubt was the ancient shore of the Susquehanna, 
 is a boulder, rising about a foot and a half from 
 the ground. It is a sort of conglomerate, com- 
 posed principally of quartz, and is still an object 
 of great interest to tourists. Gathered around 
 this rock were sixteen white men, who had been 
 taken prisoners at the battle of Wyoming and 
 were doomed to die by the hand of a single 
 woman. This woman was Catherine Montour, 
 better known, perhaps, as Queen Esther, for whom 
 the rock referred to is named. 
 
 This extraordinary creature was a half breed 
 who had been well educated in Canada, and she 
 was a favorite with the best society in Philadel- 
 phia before the Revolution. And yet, in that fair 
 bosom ibeat a heart as fiendish as that of any of 
 the Tories or redskins. She followed in the train 
 
THB RIVER FUGITIVES. 125 
 
 of the invading army that entered Wyoming, and 
 committed atrocities that are incredible. These 
 were mainly done, it is said, in revenge for the 
 loss of a son who was shot by a scouting party 
 a few days before. But there are other well 
 established tales of this Hecate, which can be 
 explained on no other ground than absolute fiend- 
 ishness of heart, that found its supremest delight 
 in witnessing the torture of a fellow creature, if 
 she could only be sure that in his veins flowed the 
 blood such as was partly in her own. 
 
 Queen Esther, by virtue of her office among the 
 Iroquois, where she was looked upon as a verita- 
 ble queen, she occupying a palace, as it was 
 called, at the head of Seneca lake, where the 
 town itself was named Catherine in her honor, 
 assumed the office of executioner. The sixteen 
 white men who had been taken at the massacre 
 were arranged around this rock. They were all 
 placed under the charge of a strong guard of 
 Indians, whose business it was to place the victims 
 in position to receive the finishing stroke from the 
 feminine iury. At the moment Rosa Minturn 
 gazed out from her hiding place beside the friendly 
 Mohawk, three men had already fallen by the 
 death maul and hatchet of Queen Esther. 
 
THE RIVER FUGITIVES. 
 
 The sixteen prisoners were first stood tip in a 
 row, within a rod or so from the boulder, which 
 they faced, so that they saw all that passed. 
 When the queen was ready, the first man was led 
 forward, and seated on the rock, still guarded by 
 a strong force of Indians, who were guarding 
 against any attempt to escape. The woman, as 
 soon as the victim was ready, took her station 
 directly in front, and, chanting a low monotone 
 that sounded like the humming of the gale 
 through the cordage of a vessel at sea, she sank 
 the hatchet, with one sweep, in the brain of the 
 man before her, chanting her dirge, or death-song 
 the while. 
 
 The whites seemed stupefied and helpless as by 
 a spell of horror, which rendered them incapable 
 of resistance. When one of them was conducted 
 forward, he walked as meekly as a lamb, and sat 
 down, never stirring after the warrior stepped 
 back so as to allow the queen the room she 
 wanted. Sometimes the white man looked up 
 into the face of his executioner without raising 
 his unbound hands; sometimes he made an 
 instinctive attempt to ward off the blow. Again, 
 if the victim happened to be gazing downward at 
 the time he was placed in position, he generally 
 
THB RIVBR FUGITIVES. 127 
 
 continued in that posture until the fatal blow bad 
 descended. One sweep of that swift arm -was 
 generally sufficient, the keen edged tomahawk 
 sinking into the skull as if driven into the yielding 
 earth itself. As soon as the blow was given, the 
 man, as a rule, sagged heavily downward and 
 rolled off the rock, and was dragged out of the 
 way to make room for the next victim. 
 
 The first glance that Rosa Minturn obtained of 
 this scene showed that three victims had already 
 fallen and that the fourth was being led forward. 
 The girl recognized him as one of her nearest 
 neighbors, and there was a certain bravery and 
 stoicism in the action of the man that at any 
 other time would have won the admiration of the 
 Indians themselves. The two who had him in 
 charge stopped at his side as if they intended to hold 
 him in place; but his lips were seen to move as if he 
 said something, probably of protest, that they 
 seemed to understand. They looked into each 
 other's faces, as if consulting, and then stepped 
 back and left him alone upon the rock, with the 
 avenging fury standing before him, tomahawk in 
 hand, waiting until all was ready before she struck 
 the blow. 
 
128 THE RIVER FUGITIVES. 
 
 There was no shrinking or trembling there. 
 The patriot stretched out his legs as coolly as if 
 seated in the old tavern at Stroudsburg, and 
 threw one foot over the other, just as if he were 
 composing himself to tell some story to a crowd 
 of gossips. Then he folded his arms in the same 
 deliberate fashion and turned his head to one 
 side and looked up into the face of the Indian 
 queen, as if to ask why she was delaying the 
 funeral. His lips were seen to move again by the 
 watchers, although it was impossible for them to 
 hear what the words were. The queen heard 
 them, however, and paused a moment in the dis- 
 mal chanting of her dirge, looking down at the 
 face turned unflinchingly up to her own. For one 
 second this tableau impressed itself upon the 
 vision of the observers. The dozen men standing 
 in a row, stolid, despairing and woe-smitten, 
 guarded by twice as many armed Indians; the 
 painted warriors gathered around and looking 
 upon the execution; the victim seated on the 
 broad rock; the Indian queen standing directly 
 in front, with uplifted hatchet, poised and ready 
 to strike all this formed a picture which no per- 
 son, fortunately, is called upon to view twice in a 
 lifetime. But it lasted only a moment. The 
 
THE RIVER FUGITIVES, 129 
 
 death-song that had been suspended for the 
 instant, was resumed. The upraised tomahawk 
 was seen to flash for a second as it was whirled 
 over the head of the raging fury, and good, 
 honest, brave Elijah Hapegood, rolled over and 
 off the stone, his skull cloven in twain. 
 
CHAPTER XYH. 
 
 A STRUGGLE FOR LIFB. 
 
 THUS the awful tragedy went on until eleven 
 men had fallen before the hatchet of Esther, 
 Queen of the Iroquois. The twelfth man was one 
 named Hammond, who was placed upon the rock 
 to receive his death blow. 
 
 Among the very few awaiting their turn was a 
 brother of this victim, named Lebbeus, who was 
 standing near a friend named Joseph Elliott, the two 
 being noted for their great fleetness of foot. Every 
 eye was fixed upon the scene, the Indian jailers 
 apprehending no attempt to get away, as the 
 tragedy was nearly over and no effort at escape 
 had been made as yet. When Hammond saw his 
 brother placed upon the rock, and the savage 
 queen preparing to strike the blow, he said in a 
 low voice to Elliott, who was standing close by 
 his side: 
 
 "Let's try h." 
 
 "All right I Go ahead!" 
 
 130 
 
THB RIVER FUGITIVES. 131 
 
 Both bounded away at the same instant, the 
 suddenness of the movement freeing them from 
 their captors without a struggle. It was the 
 belief of both the fugitives that they would be 
 shot dead while running, and they preferred such 
 a death to that which their companions had suf- 
 fered, or were doomed still to suffer. But the des- 
 perate bound that they made was so unexpected 
 to the Indians, that, for the few succeeding min- 
 utes valuable beyond price to Hammond and 
 Elliott no gun was fired, the redskins simply 
 trusting to their legs to overtake the fleeing 
 whites. 
 
 Hammond was greatly surprised that no shot 
 was sent after them, but concluded that the 
 Indians believed in their own superior fleetness so 
 well that they did not think there was any doubt 
 of the recapture of the fugitives. The latter had 
 run but a short distance when they were wise 
 enough to separate, there being a better chance in 
 doing this than in staying together. 
 
 Both ran like deer, and the pursuers did not seem 
 to notice that they were gradually veering away 
 from each other. Hammond headed up-stream, 
 but had run only a short distance when he looked 
 over his shoulder and saw the redskins were shap- 
 
182 THE RIYER FUGITIVES. 
 
 ing their course with the expectation of shutting 
 off the fugitives before they could reach Forty 
 Fort. This was favorable, as it showed that the 
 Indians, discovering the fleetness of the two white 
 men, had thrown up the direct pursuit, and, feel- 
 ing certain that the fugitives were aiming to make 
 the fort, the redskins started to "cut across lots/' 
 and capture them in that way. 
 
 The instant Hammond detected their plan he 
 headed still more directly up-stream, and, spurred 
 on by the belief that there was a chance for life, 
 exerted himself to the utmost, and ran with aston- 
 ishing swiftness. While going at this furious gait, 
 his toe caught in a vine, and he went forward on 
 his hands ; and so great was his speed, that he 
 rolled over and over before he could check himself. 
 When at last he did come to a full stop, he found 
 he had been plunged, head first, into the dense top 
 of a fallen tree, where he was so well hidden that 
 he concluded to stay there, for the time being at 
 least. 
 
 He had lain but a few minutes, when the Indians 
 who had run to head off the return to the fort 
 missed the fugitives and entered the woods to look 
 for them. Hammond heard their stealthy foot- 
 steps near him and he was in despair. His violent 
 
THE KIVBK FUGITIVES. 133 
 
 exercise caused such a beating of the heart and 
 hastening of the breath, that he was sure he would 
 be betrayed by that means. No one can imagine 
 his feelings as he detected the soft tread of the 
 moccasins passing near him, and now and then 
 caught a glimpse of forms through the interstices 
 of the leaves. To top it all, one of the Indians act' 
 ually drew the bushes aside almost directly over 
 his head, but the twilight that reigned in such 
 dense shadow prevented the fugitive being seen, 
 and a moment afterward he went away. 
 
 Hammond did not dare to stir from his hiding- 
 place until all was still. Then he stole cautiously 
 out and made his way to the river, which he swam 
 to Monacacy island, where he paused to rest a few 
 minutes, but he was afraid to remain there, as he 
 knew it had been used already to such an extent 
 by the fugitives that he would not be safe. Accord- 
 ingly, he entered the water again, with great care, 
 and swam to the other shore. There he felt quite 
 secure, but he continued his flight until he reached 
 Wilkesbarre, where he was safe against further 
 molestation from his vengeful enemies. 
 
 Matters had been more lively, if possible, with 
 Elliott, who made his daring attempt to escape at 
 
134 THE RIVER FUGITIVES. 
 
 the same time. The latter was fully as fleet of foot 
 as his friend, and, like him, discovered that the 
 redskins were seeking to cutoff his return to Forty 
 Fort. He, too, shaped his course for the river, 
 aiming, however, for a point so far removed from 
 the destination of Hammond that they failed to 
 see each other while pursuing their flight. 
 
 When Elliott struck the Susquehanna, it was 
 below Monacacy, and he swam out to the bar on 
 the lower portion. It was his purpose, as the dis- 
 tance was quite short, and he was an excellent 
 swimmer, to make the whole way under the sur- 
 face, and when he calculated that he had 
 gone far enough, he came up, with his head well 
 out, but found he was still considerably short. 
 The Indians had not lost sight of him either, as he 
 discovered the next minute, when the sharp crack 
 of several rifles sounded on his ear, and a twinge 
 in the shoulder made him aware that he was 
 wounded. 
 
 For a minute or two he believed it was all up 
 with him, and that he was doomed to die; but the 
 recollection of the scene from which he had fled 
 nerved him to another desperate effort, and, by an 
 almost superhuman endurance, he succeeded in 
 
THB KIYBR FUGITIVES. 135 
 
 reaching the eastern shore, with the width of the 
 Susquehanna between him and his enemies for the 
 time. Elliott deserved good fortune for what he 
 had attempted, and it came to him. While he was 
 wondering how he was to get along with his pain- 
 ful and bleeding shoulder, he discovered a horse 
 quietly grazing near at hand. 
 
 "Thank heaven!" he exclaimed. "If I can 
 catch him, I am saved ! " 
 
 The animal showed no fear when he approached 
 it, and in a few minutes he had his hand upon his 
 mane. But there was neither bridle nor saddle, 
 and he could not get along very well without the 
 former, with which to guide the steed. As the 
 best thing that could be done, he stripped the 
 bark from a hickory-sapling, and from this made 
 ? rein that answered very well. The absence of 
 the saddle was a small matter, and once upon 
 the back of the beast, he headed him toward 
 Wilkesbarre, and compelled him to do his best. 
 
 The fort was reached in safety, and a short 
 while afterward Hammond came in and greeted 
 him. The surgeon at the fort dressed the wounded 
 shoulder, and the next morning Elliott made his 
 way to Catawissa, with his wife and child, in a 
 
186 THE RIYBR FUGITIVES. 
 
 canoe, managed by a lad. There he was well 
 taken care of, and he and Hammond lived many 
 years afterward to tell their children of their 
 wonderful escape from the fury of Queen Esther.* 
 
 The incident described above is simply a fact and nothing 
 more. The two men there named Lebbeus Hammond and Joseph 
 Blliott as is stated, lived a number of years after. There is a 
 possible variation in the exact time of the incident, as given by 
 the writer. 
 
CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 A LABYRINTH OF PERIU 
 
 WHAT more dreadful scene for man or woman 
 to look upon than the one we have attempted to 
 describe? Poor Rosa Minturn was held to the 
 spot, transfixed by a strange fascination that 
 comes over the strongest man, when confronted by 
 some dread for which he has had no time to make 
 preparation. Even the iron-hearted Mohawk, 
 Lena-Wingo, who had looked upon and faced by 
 himself all the known barbarities of war, was 
 scarcely less impressed by the sight of Queen 
 Esther's fury, and he neither moved nor spoke for 
 several minutes. 
 
 Strangely enough, it was Rosa herself who first 
 recovered from the stupefying spell that held her 
 faculties bound for the time. With a mournful 
 sigh, like that of the victim who manages to 
 shake off the subtle power the rattle-snake some- 
 times weaves around him, she rallied, and com- 
 prehended her situation. What was to prevent 
 some of those Indians from coming in the direc- 
 
 137 
 
138 THE RIVER FUGITIVES. 
 
 tion where she and her guide were so imperfectly 
 concealed? And what possible escape could 
 there be, in such an event, from the fury of the 
 Hecate? 
 
 Such were the questions that the brave girl put 
 to herself, and she knew, too, that nothing could 
 please Catharine Montour and her red allies more 
 than to cause these two fugitives to take the place 
 of the couple that had fled. But whether such was 
 the fact or not, she felt that she could no longer 
 gaze upon the shocking scene. At the risk, there- 
 fore, of offending Lena-Wingo, she reached out 
 her hand and gently touched his arm. He started 
 and looked into her pale face. 
 
 "Come," said she in a whisper; "don't let us 
 stay here any longer ! " 
 
 "No, no," he answered in a strange, startled 
 way; " 'tis bad make girl feel bad Lena-Wingo 
 bad man bring you here he sorry we go way 
 'Sh! make no noise." 
 
 The two were themselves again, and they began 
 their retrograde movement in the same stealthy 
 manner that they had advanced to the spot. The 
 confusion resulting from the flight of Hammond 
 and Elliott was at its height just then, and as the 
 greater part of the Indians had dashed off in 
 
THB RIVER FUGITIVES. 139 
 
 pursuit, there was danger that some of them 
 might come upon these two, who were striving so 
 carefully to leave the perilous neighborhood. 
 
 None could know this better than the Mohawk 
 himself, and he threaded his way with as much 
 pains and stealth as if he were entering a camp of 
 his enemies who were watching for his coming. 
 He kept his fair companion as close to him as 
 possible, and at every step or two he paused, and 
 looked around, showing by his manner that he 
 felt the danger was as likely to come from one 
 direction as another. Nor was a whit of this 
 extraordinary precaution thrown away. Indeed, 
 nothing else could have saved them ; for, without 
 intending to do so, the Mohawk had led his 
 gentle friend into a labyrinth of peril which he 
 regretted on her account. 
 
 They had advanced less than a hundred feet from 
 the last starting point, and the guide had paused 
 again, as was his practice, when his keen ear 
 detected the approach of something before Rosa 
 herself could know it. With his warning " 'Sh! " 
 he stooped down as low as possible, and looked 
 around with a slight nod of his head for her to do 
 the same. The girl did so on the instant, and the 
 cracking of a twig at that moment told her the 
 
140 THB RIVER FUGITIVES. 
 
 meaning of the precaution. She glanced toward the 
 point from which came the suspicious sound, and 
 seeing nothing, looked again at the Mohawk. 
 
 He had gathered his feet under him, so that, if 
 necessary, he could make a bound, without rising 
 to a standing posture, and his hand rested on his 
 knife in a way that was suggestive. The Indian 
 was at bay, and he was as cool, too, as if seated 
 by his own camp-fire in the depths of the forest. 
 There was a peculiar gleam in his black eye, and 
 he looked very much like a man whom it would be 
 dangerous to disturb. But the stealthy footstep 
 drew steadily nearer and nearer, until discovery 
 was inevitable. 
 
 The sound showed that the enemy was closer to 
 Rosa than to Lena-Wingo. Unpleasant as was 
 this discovery, the girl did not dare to change her 
 position, as the slightest movement was likely to 
 betray them. But, if she was aware of the prox- 
 imity of her enemy, so was her companion, who 
 was there to protect her, and he was ready to do 
 it with his life, at all times. He had his keen eye 
 trpon the point from which came the gentle rustling, 
 and he was not to be taken off his guard. 
 
 Rosa Minturn was gazing in her fixed manner, 
 when she caught sight of an object, the meaning 
 
THE RIVER FUGITIVES. 141 
 
 of which she did not understand. It was on 
 ground, among the leaves, and not more than ten 
 feet from where she was crouching in terror from 
 the Indian drawing steadily nearer each second. 
 Her first supposition was that it was the head of 
 some serpent gliding over the leaves ; and as it 
 was coming toward her, she turned to Lena- 
 Wingo and silently pointed at it, as if to ask 
 him what should be done. The Mohawk nodded 
 his head, but did not open his lips. He meant to 
 say that he saw it, and would attend to whatever 
 it might do. 
 
 When he nodded his head, he supposed that it 
 was also understood by the young girl, though it 
 was not. The object, as it appeared to her, was 
 composed of several sharp glittering points that 
 sparkled in the dim light of the shade as if they 
 were jewels, or, what seemed more likely, the eyes 
 of some kind of reptile. The thing whatever it 
 was whisked into view, remained silent a minute, 
 and then vanished, only to reappear as abruptly 
 as before. When it came in sight the last time it 
 was closer than before, and was so distinctly 
 shown that the frightened girl recognized it. 
 
 It was the fore-part of an Indian moccasin! 
 The action of the foot-gear proved still further 
 
143 THB RIYER FUGITIVES. 
 
 that it covered the pedal extremity of a warrior, 
 who was picking his way with such extreme care 
 as to show that he knew he was almost in the 
 presence of some enemy. Most probably, he 
 thought he had come, or, rather, was coming, 
 upon the lurking-place of one of the fugitives that 
 had made the desperate flight from the bloody 
 rock of Queen Esther. He was, therefore, moving 
 here and there, until he could determine the pre- 
 cise point where the patriot was in hiding, natu- 
 rally seeking, at the same time, to keep his own 
 movements from the knowledge of the fugitive 
 himself. Screening his body in this careful man- 
 ner, he exposed a few inches of his moccasin, with- 
 out knowing that by that means he revealed his 
 position as well to the watchful Lena-Wingo as if 
 there were no intervening bushes to hide the rest 
 of his person from view. 
 
 For perhaps a dozen seconds, nothing but this 
 tell-tale motion of the beaded work showed itself. 
 The Indian was using eyes and ears, looking 
 here and there with the sharpness of a veteran of 
 the woods, while he listened intently that the fall- 
 ing of a leaf would have been heard by him. But 
 nothing was seen or heard by the enemy that could 
 add anything to what he already knew. It was 
 
THE RIYBR FUGITIVES. 1*3 
 
 necessary, therefore, that he should make another 
 slight change of position. Without stirring either 
 foot, he bent his body forward, and pulled the 
 bushes apart. 
 
 Rosa Minturn, happening to turn her head at 
 the same moment, warned by a subtle instinct of 
 danger, saw the painted face of a Seneca warrior 
 within arm's length of her own. 
 
CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 AN ENEMY AND YET A FRIEND. 
 
 THE sight of the painted countenance of a Sen- 
 warrior, suddenly thrust through the parted 
 bushes within a foot or two of her fair face, was 
 a shock to Rosa Minturn, but she did not scream 
 or make any outcry that might have revealed their 
 situation to other enemies who were within a 
 short distance. With a slight gasp that could not 
 have been heard more than a rod away, she placed 
 her hands over her face and threw her head for- 
 ward toward Lena-Wingo, appealing to him to 
 save her from the fury of the redskin who had dis- 
 covered her. She was sure that the next minute 
 the two Indians would be closed in deadly encoun- 
 ter; but, to her amazement, several seconds 
 passed. During that time seemingly much longer 
 than it really was neither the Mohawk nor the 
 Seneca stirred a muscle! When the suspense 
 became unbearable, Rosa turned her head to learn 
 what it all meant. 
 
 144 
 
THE RIVER FUGITIVES. 145 
 
 A strange spectacle met her eye. The two red- 
 skins, representing the extreme of sentiment 
 among their own race, were looking in each other's 
 face, and making some sort of signs with their 
 fingers. And, furthermore, the first glance of Rosa 
 told her the astonishing fact that there was no 
 anger in the eyes that encountered each other in 
 the wood on that summer morning. No ; Lena- 
 Wingo, representing the white race, as may be 
 said, and the Seneca, fresh from the scene of one 
 of the most inhuman massacres of the patriots, 
 with his passions inflamed by what he witnessed 
 and at which he helped, were face to face. It 
 would naturally be supposed that the deadliest 
 kind of a fight would instantly follow, but they 
 were as gentle as two cooing doves. 
 
 We have said in another place that Lena- Wingo 
 had kis friends among his own race warriors 
 who would befriend him stealthily scarcely 
 aware that there were any except themselves so 
 disposed toward him. These redskins would 
 assist him when it could be done without risk to 
 themselves, but in the presence of others there 
 were no more savage foes than they. 
 
 When Rosa raised her head the Seneca seemed 
 
 to feel that he was running more risk than was 
 10 
 
THB RIYER FUGITIVES. 
 
 prudent by allowing his countenance to be seen 
 at such a time by a third party, who might have 
 some future chance of giving evidence against 
 him. Accordingly, he withdrew his face, vanishing 
 so suddenly, and apparently in such trepidation, 
 that to any one who understood the situation 
 the scene could not but be amusing. 
 
 Rosa was quick-witted enough to understand 
 the simple fact that the strange Indian had played 
 the part of a friend, even if she failed to compre- 
 hend the precise reason why he did so; and some- 
 thing in the manner of the Mohawk told her 
 further that he sympathized with the dread of the 
 Seneca. The girl, therefore, said nothing, acting as 
 if she supposed that the redskin had withdrawn 
 from their presence through personal fear of a col- 
 lision with the dreaded Red Jack, or Lena-Wingo. 
 But, if such were the fact, the first thing the 
 Mohawk would have done, after getting the 
 opportunity, would have been to change his 
 quarters, so as to prevent his enemy coming back 
 with reinforcements. Instead of that, the scout 
 showed a disposition to stay where he was for a 
 time longer, at least, for several of the Indians 
 that were looking for Elliott and Hammond were 
 so near that it would have been about impossible 
 
THE RIVER FUGITIVES. 147 
 
 for the fugitives to move without betraying them- 
 selves. 
 
 The strange forbearance or friendship of the 
 Seneca did not end with his simple retreat, after 
 discovering the hiding-place of Rosa and her guide, 
 as the latter knew it would not, but it was shown 
 in the most effective way. The Seneca was less 
 than a dozen yards from where he left the two in 
 hiding, when he met a couple of warriors stealing 
 toward the same spot, confident of finding one of 
 the fugitives that had made the dash for freedom. 
 It was only the work of a moment for the Seneca 
 to explain that he had "bored out that well," 
 and it was no use of digging there for anything 
 in their line. And so the Indian turned away, and 
 with him went two others that were drifting in 
 that direction. 
 
 This general turning back caused a change in the 
 line of the search of a portion of the party for the 
 runaway fugitives, and possibly contributed in 
 this indirect manner to their ultimate escape. 
 Lena-Wingo was not slow to comprehend the 
 situation and he resumed his flight, prosecuting it 
 in the same careful manner as at first. The longer 
 this retrograde movement continued, the more 
 secure did he feel that he and his charge were safe 
 
148 THE RIVER FUGITIVES. 
 
 from disturbance. By signs that were unmistaka- 
 ble to him, he knew that the search for Ham- 
 mond and Elliott had taken another course from 
 that which placed Rosa Minturn in such peril for 
 a time, and so he was left free to prosecute his 
 way in his own peculiar fashion. 
 
 There was one fact that did not escape the 
 sagacious Lena-Wingo at this time. During all 
 the flurry, resulting from the flight of the two 
 men, while the redskins were darting and stealing 
 here and there through the woods and under- 
 growth, the Mohawk had not seen a single red- 
 skin that had started from Forty Fort the night 
 before, by orders of Colonel Butler, to capture 
 him and Rosa Minturn. It will be remembered 
 that the two had watched a canoe crossing the 
 Susquehanna a short time after the flight began, 
 but the pursuers were not foolish enough to send 
 all the force detailed for this special work in one 
 direction, on the grounds that it was probable 
 that the fugitives had gone that way. Some of 
 them must still be on the west side of the Susque- 
 hanna. What, therefore, was the meaning of their 
 failure to show up when in the vicinity of the 
 massacre by Queen Esther? 
 
THE WVBR FUGITIVES. 
 
 Where the forest was tramped in all directions 
 by such a number of fleeing men and their pursuers, 
 anything like a systematic trailing of the Mohawk 
 and the maiden was out of the question. The 
 conclusion that Lena-Wingo educed from this 
 fact was that, although a few of his own followers 
 were on his side of the river, yet they had become 
 convinced that the parties they were hunting had 
 either crossed the stream or were making ready 
 to do so, and consequently they were watching 
 for them at the river side. 
 
 There were two courses of action left open for 
 him. The first was to keep on up the left bank of 
 the Susquehanna until a point was reached where 
 it could be passed without much danger of d- 
 covery, and the other was to ascend far enough 
 to feel pretty sure of keeping out of the way of 
 any skulking redskins, and then to cross at night. 
 There was not much choice between these two 
 horns of the dilemma, for both rendered it impos- 
 sible to reach Wilkesbarre before night should 
 come again, and there was little difference in the 
 danger attending each. 
 
 Lena-Wingo had a habit of thinking and decid- 
 ing quickly upon a course of action, and it dkl 
 not take more than a minute or so for him to 
 
150 THB RIVER FUGITIVES. 
 
 make tip his mind to remain on the left bank until 
 night. He foresaw that the real difficulty still 
 was before him, for the Indians who had gone 
 over to intercept his flight to Wilkesbarre would 
 guard the approaches thereto with all the skill at 
 their command. They would discover in some 
 way that he had not reached his destination, and 
 scattering through the woods which surrounded 
 the station at that day on all sides excepting the 
 river, would leave no means untried to prevent 
 his doing so. But this was the sort of work 
 to which he had been accustomed for years, 
 and it had not lost its attraction. 
 
 However, he felt the responsibility of the care of 
 the fair girl, whose life had been intrusted to him, 
 and this rendered him more anxious than could 
 have been the case under other circumstances. 
 Bat, having decided upon his course, it was neces- 
 sary that he should attend to another duty. 
 
CHAPTER XX. 
 triujui BCTT. 
 
 LEXA-WDCGO quickly explained the 
 duty that CMimcd his attmtiom As they 'were to 
 
 it 
 
 that something in the way of food should be 
 secured, with which to prepare themselves for the 
 work before them. Rosa protested that the diffi- 
 culty was too great to be encountered, and was 
 sore that she could get along without anythtcgto 
 eat. Had the Mohawk been alone, he wonld aot 
 have thought the m^rf-frM- worth a thought. He 
 _ ;. : 
 
 trail, without a monthfuL But lie knew how the 
 case stood with his fair *^*^** p """ and he 
 irriesT? 
 
 "Must hare eat girl get weak can' 
 row boat.** 
 
 ATI throi^^n. the wToming TaUey f more IMAM a 
 score of mDes at length, were scattered the dm J 
 ings of 3Ulkis,bgtitwasnottoberipcf (rd that 
 
lift THB RTYER FUGITIVES. 
 
 any of the owners were at home. Those who had 
 not taken refuge at Forty Fort had fled to Wilkes- 
 barre, or some other place of safety. In most 
 instances, nothing of their stock was to be found. 
 At such a time, too, it would have been useless to 
 kunt for game, and the maiden was justified, there- 
 fore, in looking upon the attempt to procure the 
 food as one not only of great difficulty, but of 
 equally great danger. But there was nothing to 
 be gained by attempting to combat the Mohawk 
 when he once decided upon his course. 
 
 The movements of the two for an hour had 
 resulted in placing them so far outside of the rov- 
 ing bands of pursuers that they possessed some- 
 thing like freedom of action. Lena-Wingo stepped 
 off more rapidly, and with a greater swiftness and 
 confidence than before. He went along with his 
 old loping stride, which cost his fair companion 
 qttite an effort to equal. As they progressed they 
 partly left the woods, frequently coming out into 
 the open, cleared spaces, where they were naturally 
 exposed to the view of any who might be in the 
 vicinity. 
 
 At such times, Rosa was a prey to a dread which 
 s4ie could not conceal. It seemed to her that noth- 
 ing was more natural than that some of their 
 
THE RIVER FUGITIVES. 100 
 
 enemies were lurking in the neighborhood, in which 
 event it was the easiest thing in the world for them 
 to pick off both her and her companion by means 
 of a stealthy rifle shot. She strove to convince 
 herself that Lena- Wingo would not run such a risk 
 when he had her under his protection, but the 
 knowledge of the daring, reckless nature of the 
 man shut off much comfort from that source. 
 
 This kind of progress was kept up for a consid- 
 erable time longer, when they paused near a smal 
 house that had evidently belonged to one of the 
 humblest settlers in the valley. The building itself 
 was quite small, with a still smaller barn attached, 
 but there were signs of thrift visible all around, 
 several acres being under cultivation, while the 
 garden belonging to the house showed plainly 
 that a neat and industrious housewife had once 
 presided there. But the occupants were gone- 
 whether massacred or whether they had fled could 
 only be conjectured. Be that as it may, another 
 thing was also patent all their live-stock was 
 gone as well. 
 
 If the owner, learning of the storm that was 
 approaching, had hied away to quarters which be 
 considered safer than the fort, further down the 
 valley, he had been deliberate enough in what be 
 
154 THE RIYER FUGITIVES. 
 
 did to drive off his animals with him. And yet 
 Lena-Wingo showed by his actions that he counted 
 upon obtaining something there in the way of 
 food, for he made the first halt since starting on 
 the search proper. 
 
 "Do you expect to find something to eat?" 
 asked Rosa. 
 
 "Eat there," was the answer. 
 
 "But it may contain Indians or Tories, Jack," 
 she replied, glad of the chance to put in a dis- 
 claimer against his headlong manner of managing 
 his business. 
 
 " You stay here wait, watch. Lena-Wingo go 
 see if Injun there." 
 
 As both were at that moment standing in 
 an open space, where they were peculiarly exposed 
 to the view of anyone approaching or going away 
 from the building, to say nothing of any who 
 might be hiding within, it struck the girl as any- 
 thing but a brilliant piece of strategy ; but before 
 she could protest, he motioned her to follow him 
 to a small clump of trees near at hand, where 
 something like concealment could be obtained. 
 There she felt more secure, and promised to stay 
 where he left her, and to keep the best watch pos- 
 sible. 
 
THE RIVER FUGITITES. 155 
 
 The Mohawk did not wait a moment after giv- 
 ing her this direction, but started straight for the 
 house, which was about a hundred yards away, 
 walking with his long, loping stride, such as he 
 used when he felt that the way before him was 
 comparatively free from danger. 
 
 "He is so reckless that he is sure to get into 
 trouble," muttered Rosa, as she watched him from 
 her partial concealment. 
 
 The next instant Lena-Wingo reached the hum- 
 ble structure, which was two stories in height, 
 with two windows on the side toward her. Her 
 heart throbbed when she saw him enter the door, 
 and she felt that the critical moment had come 
 for her as well as for him. 
 
 If she was filled with fear and apprehension when 
 he vanished in the house, what were her feelings 
 when she saw the very next minute the figure of a 
 redskin at the upper window ? Yet there was no 
 mistake about it. The sash was raised, for the 
 weather was midsummer, as will be remembered. 
 The redskin not only appeared at the opening, but 
 he stopped and looked out. 
 
 "He is lost! " she thought. "Why was he not 
 more careful ? All is lost I " 
 
166 THE RIVER FUGITIVES. 
 
 To her horror, the Indian the next instant 
 showed by his action that he was looking in the 
 direction where she was standing. Still worse, he 
 was actually making signals that must be meant 
 for her. What should she do ? If he had seen her 
 and he assuredly had there was no means of 
 escape, for, as close as was the wood, the fleet- 
 footed savage could readily overtake her before 
 she could go far. 
 
 "What can he mean by beckoning to me?" the 
 affrighted maiden asked herself, sorely puzzled 
 indeed. 
 
 "Oh, now I understand! " 
 
 A moment later she was laughing at her former 
 fears ; for she recognized the redskin as no other 
 than Lena-Wingo, who was doing his utmost to 
 tell her the way was open and she might approach 
 with safety. After such notice it need not be said 
 she did not let the grass grow under her feet. 
 
 It was strange that now, when her great fear 
 was removed, that she became sensible of the fact 
 that she was in need of food, and felt like com- 
 mending the prudence of her guide in stopping for 
 that purpose. 
 
 The Mohawk was at the door to meet her, and 
 lost no time in explaining that the dwelling was 
 
THE RIVER FUGITIVES. 
 
 not only free from their enemies, but he had fount* 
 enough food to afford a substantial meal. He 
 proved the truth of this by producing a whole loaf 
 of bread, that was left in the pantry by the owner 
 in his flight, but the most thorough search failed 
 to discover anything else. But the maiden was 
 thankful to have even that, and the two seated 
 themselves and completed their strange meal. 
 
 The Mohawk was in excellent spirits, in spite of 
 the fearful scene they had witnessed only a short 
 time before, and he indulged in some facetious 
 observations that brought a smile to the face of 
 Rosa more than once, despite herself. But he 
 could not shake off a haunting fear that came 
 again and again, and, when the dinner was 
 finished, found expression: 
 
 "Jack, suppose some of them should come and 
 and find us here?'* 
 
 "Injun won't come. Bat all want. We all alone 
 here" 
 
 The broken sentence was not yet completed when 
 the speaker stopped short in his utterance. Well 
 he might. For at that moment they heard, beyond 
 a doubt, the sound of their enemies approaching 
 the bouse, and they were close at hand, too. 
 
CHAPTER XXL 
 
 A STRANGE ESCAPE. 
 
 NEVER did the Mohawk show his wonderful self 
 possession and marvelous resources to better 
 advantage than when he made the discovery that 
 a party of the Indians whom he was seeking to 
 avoid were approaching the house in which he 
 and Rosa Minturn were seated, and were already 
 so close that it was impossible to escape by flight 
 No man is so wise that he does not at times make 
 some mistake, and the Mohawk, although keen 
 above his kind, had committed an error that 
 threatened fatal consequences. 
 
 He had told his companion that there was no 
 danger of disturbance from their enemies, and he 
 really believed there was not, for the house was so 
 far removed from the tract swept over by the 
 Tories and Indians that the supposition was a 
 reasonable one. The conclusion was a correct one 
 on general principles; but there was the possibility 
 that always hangs over every one a chance turn 
 
 168 
 
THE RIYBR FUGITIVES. 159 
 
 in affairs, by which the peril would be precipi* 
 tated. 
 
 The visit of the redskins was an accidental one. 
 for they, too, committed the error of supposing 
 there was no one in the dwelling at least, belong- 
 ing to the party whom they were hunting. Had 
 there been a suspicion of anything different, those 
 within -would never have been apprised of the 
 approach of their foes, except when too late. 
 
 The Mohawk had scarcely checked himself in his 
 utterance, when he darted his hand forward, 
 seized the wrist of the startled girl and drew her 
 from the chair in which she was sitting. Without 
 a second's pause, he hurried to the foot of the 
 stairs, leaving the door open at the bottom, so 
 that the Indians could ascend if they chose, with- 
 out the least hindrance. In her trepidation, the 
 girl reached out to draw the door shut after them, 
 but the Indian would not allow her to touch it 
 and hurried her upstairs, into the room from 
 which he had signaled to her to come when she 
 was waiting outside. 
 
 All that time and it seemed long the two 
 could catch the sound of voices on the outside, so 
 there could be no mistake about their enemies 
 being close at hand, the peculiar intonation tell- 
 
160 THE RIVER FCGITlVIiS. 
 
 ing Lega-Wingo that they belonged to his own 
 race. Once within the room above, the girl was 
 led part way to the window, halting just where 
 she could not look outside, and he whispered, 
 "Stay there!" 
 
 She nodded her head to signify that she under- 
 stood and would obey, and one long silent stride 
 carried the lank body of the Mohawk to the win- 
 dow, out of which he peeped at the coming 
 savages, concealing himself from sight with little 
 trouble. The view only confirmed what his ear 
 had told him. Some six or eight Iroquois were 
 within the small yard surrounding the house, 
 grunting and talking in a way that proved they 
 had scarcely a thought of danger, or of finding 
 any of the settlers in a place which showed at 
 the first glance that it had been deserted long 
 since by the owners. 
 
 It was a puzzle to Lena-Wingo why these warriors 
 had paused here, and he made up his mind there 
 was really no good cause, but that the call was 
 merely a chance one. They were a band that had 
 probably been attached to a larger one ravaging 
 through the valley, or they were returning from 
 some unusually long pursuit of the fugitives. As 
 the day was very warm, it might be they had 
 
THB RIYBR FUGITIVES. 163 
 
 topped to rest, in obedience to some whim. But 
 all this was conjecture, and the great concern of 
 the scout was as to how he was to get himself 
 out of an exceedingly bad dilemma. 
 
 He saw that the Iroquois were about entering 
 the house, and, having no fear of disturbance 
 from the whites, they did not place a guard on 
 the outside to watch for eavesdroppers, nor to 
 prevent the flight of any who possibly might be 
 waiting within. The Mohawk watched them as 
 a cat watches a mouse, not allowing the slightest 
 movement to escape him. It was this total lack 
 of suspicion on the part of the visitors that 
 opened the way for the display of the peculiar 
 powers of Lena-Wingo. 
 
 Still keeping his own head concealed, he was 
 able to tell, by using eyes and ears, the precise 
 moment when the last enemy entered the room 
 below. As soon as they crossed the threshold 
 they would see the signs of the feast that had 
 taken place so recently, and their suspicions 
 would be aroused at once. At the very instant 
 the last of the "Six Nations," as the Iroquois 
 were called, had passed within the door the 
 Mohawk seized Rosa Minturn by the arms. 
 Before she could comprehend what he was trying 
 
164 THB RIVER FUGITIVES. 
 
 to do, he had forced her through the window she 
 assisting the second she saw his purpose and 
 holding her for a second or two by the hands that 
 her dress might settle in shape, and she might also 
 prepare for the fall, he let go. She dropped the 
 few remaining feet, striking so lightly that she 
 was not injured in the least. 
 
 Up to this time not a word had been exchanged 
 between the two nor was there now. As soon as 
 Rosa's feet struck the ground, she looked up to 
 her dusky friend for guidance. He pointed to the 
 clump of trees in which she had stood concealed a 
 short time before, as the direction for her to 
 follow. As proof that there was no time for 
 loitering, he not only pointed in that direction, 
 but he shot his finger a half dozen times with a 
 rigor that could not be misunderstood. 
 
 It seemed to the frightened girl that it was sure 
 death to make the attempt, but it was the same 
 to remain, and she did not hesitate. She headed 
 straight across the intervening space, and ran 
 with all the speed of which she was capable. It 
 seemed to her that after drawing in her breath, at 
 the moment of starting, she did not breathe 
 again until the trying run was ended. She did 
 not dare to look over her shoulder, for fear that 
 
THE RIVER FUGITIVES. 165 
 
 it might delay her steps. She was in that state 
 of dread in which she expected every minute to 
 hear the crack of a rifle aimed at her, or the sud- 
 den cry announcing she was discovered, and the 
 fatal pursuit begun. 
 
 When it is remembered how peculiarly exposed 
 she was to such discovery, it will seem almost 
 incredible that she should escape; yet she did, 
 and there was the soundest philosophy for her 
 doing so, wherein lies the secret of that readiness 
 of resource for which Lena-Wingo was dis- 
 tinguished. When Rosa sped across the open 
 space, there were two windows in the room 
 which the Iroquois had entered, and from which 
 they could have seen the frightened fugitive had 
 they but looked out at that critical time. No one 
 understood this better than the Mohawk, and he 
 prepared for the danger. He was certain, also 
 that just as soon as the warriors stepped within 
 the house, their attention would be arrested by 
 the signs of the recent occupancy of it. 
 
 They would approach the little deal table, upon 
 which were the remnants of the feast, and they 
 were sure to spend several minutes in finding out 
 what it all meant. These precious minutes were 
 the ones which the Mohawk intended should be 
 
A 
 166 THE RIVER FUGITIVES. 
 
 used by the girl in reaching shelter. The simple 
 question with the dusky scout was whether the 
 time allowed for this strange means of escape 
 would be sufficient for the fleet-footed girl. 
 
 He watched her flight across the open space, and 
 his dark eye kindled with admiration at her swift 
 progress, for it struck him that she would need 
 only a little more training to hold her own with 
 some of the warriors themselves. The sagacity of 
 the Mohawk was shown in the fact that the brief 
 period upon which he counted for the safe flight of 
 die girl proved sufficient for that purpose. 
 
CHAPTER XXII. 
 
 BIGHT AGAINST ONE. 
 
 PROBABLY at no time since the Mohawk had 
 undertaken to conduct Rosa to a place of safety 
 was his anxiety on her account so great as when 
 he stood by the open window of the deserted 
 house, and watched her flight to the shelter of the 
 group of trees a short distance away. While be 
 viewed her motions, he also watched those of the 
 redmen below. His keen sense of hearing, together 
 with his intimate knowledge of their characteris- 
 tics, enabled him to decide what they were doing 
 almost as well as if he were looking down through 
 the ceiling upon them. 
 
 He knew that the first one who entered theroom 
 caught the signs of the recent occupancy of the 
 place, and apprised the others of the discovery at 
 the same moment. Then, as they followed him 
 stealthily in, they stood like so many bronze 
 images, staring about the apartment, and using 
 their eyes to find the explanation. When Rosa 
 had reached a place of shelter, the time had oome 
 
 167 
 
168 THE RIVER FUGITIVES. 
 
 to dismiss her from his thoughts, and to attend to 
 his own affairs. 
 
 One Indian against eight ! Certainly the odds 
 were alarming, even though the one at bay had 
 the upper position, and was somewhat in the char- 
 acter of a defender. But Lena-Wingo possessed 
 another advantage, on which he relied in a great 
 degree. His enemies did not know who was in the 
 building besides themselves, nor whether there 
 was one or half a dozen. It was his purpose to 
 keep up the deception, and, if possible, to 
 increase it. 
 
 While those below-stairs were still standing 
 motionless, and considering what was best to do, 
 he moved his feet over the floor, softly it is true, 
 but still distinctly enough to be heard by all, the 
 sound being such as would be made by several 
 persons trying to change their position without 
 attracting the notice of their foes. This prelimi- 
 nary strategy was successful. The redmen were 
 alarmed by the conviction that they had entered a 
 house in which were a number of their foes. The 
 question with them, as a consequence, became as 
 to how they should extricate themselves from what 
 looked like a dangerous situation. 
 
 They might make an advance upon the defenders 
 
THE RIVER FUGITIVES. 171 
 
 even if be did not feel sure Rosa Minttirn was in 
 the same building with him. If found impossibk 
 to dislodge the warrior from his defense, there 
 could be little doubt that the attempt would be 
 made to burn him out; so, let events shape 
 themselves as they might, Lena-Wingo considered 
 it certain that lively times were at hand. It was 
 his aim, as a matter of course, to keep his identity 
 concealed as long as possible, and not to allow his 
 enemies to know that he was the single defender 
 of the house. 
 
 Ten minutes after he noticed the sounds that 
 showed the Iroquois were withdrawing, be 
 caught sight of one of them a hundred yards 
 from the building. This was proof that the 
 warrior had gone to that distance for the pur- 
 pose of reconnoissance, and it suggested also that 
 the situation of Rosa Minturn was becoming 
 critical when their enemies were spreading out in 
 the neighborhood. But for the time she must 
 look out for herself, as the scout had his own 
 hands full. 
 
 One of those tedious intervals that often 
 characterized Indian warfare succeeded. For an 
 entire hour a mere spectator would have decided 
 that nothing at all was done. During this time 
 
172 THE RIVER FUGITIVES. 
 
 the Mohawk held his position in the upper room, 
 while the Iroquois maneuvered on the outside, 
 their principal object being to learn something 
 more definite of the number and intention of the 
 garrison. It is hardly necessary to say that in 
 this respect they were disappointed, and the 
 deception was deepened. 
 
 Lena-Wingo, when he caught sight of three of 
 the warriors standing on the edge of the wood, 
 looking inquiringly toward him, and gesticulating 
 in a way that showed they were engaged in an 
 earnest discussion, sent a rifle ball among them, 
 merely to apprise them the garrison was on 
 guard. From the window on the opposite side of 
 the apartment was sent another bullet, after a 
 single Cayuga, who did not seem to suspect his 
 danger, the two balls being fired so near together 
 that not one of the warriors dreamed it possible 
 they could have come from the same gun. In 
 neither case was a warrior killed, for Lena-Wingo 
 did not seek to bring them down, his object hav- 
 ing been obtained by the simple act of firing. 
 
 At this critical juncture, however, an incident 
 occurred that was as great a surprise to the 
 defender of the house as to the assailants. The 
 former had prepared for a desperate struggle 
 
THE RIVER FUGITIYBS. 173 
 
 which would probably be continued into the 
 night, when the diversion came. Lena-Wingo 
 had just reloaded his piece, and was looking at 
 the group of three Indians who were still discuss- 
 ing him, when a gun was fired from a point in the 
 wood not far off, and one of the trio was seen to 
 throw up his arms and fall forward on his face. 
 
CHAPTER XXIII. 
 
 AN UNEXPECTED ALLY. 
 
 WHOEVER fired the gun that brought down 
 one of the three Iroquois had done it in the interest 
 of the Mohawk, for certainly one of his deadliest 
 enemies was laid low thereby. Sagacious and 
 shrewd as was the dusky scout, he was unable to 
 guess who his friend could be. He scrutinized the 
 point from which the shot was fired so long and 
 intently that he ran risk of being detected himself 
 and drawing a shot. 
 
 The crack of the rifle was so unexpected by the 
 Iroquois that it produced consternation among 
 them. The two who escaped him leaped back into 
 the woods, out of sight of the one who had fired 
 the fatal shot. It was not long, however, before 
 the Mohawk discovered them peering from behind 
 the trees in the direction from which came the 
 messenger of death. 
 
 While they were thus employed, two more 
 warriors appeared between the spot where they 
 were standing and the one from which the fatal 
 
 174 
 
THB RIYER FUGITIVES. 175 
 
 bnttet had been sent, apparently unaware of the 
 critical position in which they placed themselves. 
 But they were not long in learning their error, for 
 they were no more than fairly in sight when from 
 the same point on the edge of the forest was seen 
 the little blue puff of smoke, and the report of the 
 gun was scarcely sooner than the death cry of the 
 Indian at whom it was aimed. This was effective 
 work, and Lena-Wingo knew enough to reinforce 
 it without delay. 
 
 Before the comrade of the one that had just 
 fallen could get out of the way, he received a 
 leaden messenger from the gun of the scout, who 
 made his aim no less sure than the one that pre- 
 ceded it. And this was more effective work still ; 
 for it taught the Iroquois that they were 
 " flanked," and caught between two fires. The 
 result was a sort of panic, and those who were 
 still unharmed hurried from the spot, without 
 making any more investigation. Still, after such 
 a repulse, they were likely to return with a larger 
 force, and burn the building that had proved so 
 disastrous to them. 
 
 Lena-Wingo could see no wisdom in staying to 
 take part in the proceedings that were certain to 
 foflow, and he did not stay. Waiting a few 
 
176 THB RIVER FUGITIVES. 
 
 minutes, to give the Iroquois enough time to get 
 fairly under way, the scout vaulted out the win- 
 dow from which he had fired but a minute before, 
 and, without hesitation, started on a rapid walk 
 toward the point from which the two friendly 
 shots had been fired. He had not reached it by 
 several rods when the figure of a young man 
 stepped forth, and smilingly greeted him. 
 
 "Well, Jack," said he, extending his hand, "it 
 seems that I was just in time to do something for 
 you, and I am glad of it. But how was it you 
 were caught in such a fix ? " 
 
 It was Ned Clinton, one of the young scouts, 
 who thus addressed him, and the Mohawk grinned 
 more than usual, as he shook the extended hand 
 and replied : 
 
 "Stop therewith girl to eat Iroquois come 
 girl slip off Lena-Wingo stay Ned come shoot 
 good they run where he come? " 
 
 "Why, Jo and I have been skirmishing through 
 the woods ever since the battle. We started for 
 Wilkesbarre, and had got nearly there when Jo 
 became so worried about his folks that he asked 
 me to try to go back to Forty Fort, and find out 
 whether it was all well with them; I was as anx- 
 ious as he, and we started. 
 
THE RIVER FUGITIVES. 177 
 
 "Well, the woods are full of Indians and Tories, 
 I can tell you, and we had a pretty tough time of 
 it, but Jo succeeded in reaching his own house, 
 where he heard the worst kind of tidings. He 
 found his father and mother, who told him that 
 you started with Rosa last night for Wilkesbarre, 
 to get away from Colonel Butler, and he had sent 
 a lot of Indians in pursuit, and they were afraid 
 you would not be able to make it. 
 
 "It seems that one of the Tories had called at 
 the house and given them the news, adding that 
 Butler had sworn you should be scalped and Rosa 
 brought back, and they were expecting the return 
 of the pursuers every minute, with your scalp, but 
 I guess they'll keep on expecting for some time 
 yet." 
 
 The Mohawk grinned again at this compliment 
 to his prowess, and said : 
 
 "Iroquois hunt for Lena-Wingo scalp many 
 times not got him yet keep on hunt for him." 
 
 "Well, while Jo was in the house, I waited in 
 the woods for him, for I was a little afraid of 
 going in, as there were some of the Tories and 
 Indians that don't love me any more than they 
 ought, and I believed, if they saw both of us 
 
173 THE K1VKR FUGITIVES. 
 
 together, they would be more likely to 
 than if we were apart. 
 
 "Jo's folks wanted him to start with nx after 
 you, thinking we might be able to help you on the 
 way to Wilkesbarre, when you had the girl to take 
 care of. 
 
 "It took Jo a good while to get back to me in 
 the woods, and, when he succeeded, we did not 
 know what to do ; but Colonel Denison had told 
 him that you had said to him before starting that 
 you meant to go pretty well up the river before 
 crossing, and he believed that you had not gone 
 over yet ; so we picked our way tjp stream as best 
 we could, and you need not be told that we had 
 pretty hard work of it, running against some of 
 the warriors twice, and narrowly missing being 
 caught three times, but we managed to reach this 
 place, where, as good fortune would have it, we 
 met Rosa face to face, and she told us the whole 
 story. 
 
 "She had waited and watched, in the hiding that 
 you directed her to, until the redmen were begin- 
 ning to spread out, so that she was in danger of 
 being discovered, when she concluded the only 
 thing she could do to save herself was to move 
 farther back into the woods, and it was while she 
 
THE RIVER FUGITIVES. 179 
 
 was doing so that we met her and beard her 
 story. 
 
 " As it looked as if you were in a bad place, it 
 was agreed that Jo should go on up stream "with 
 his sister a little way, and after putting her in 
 some good hiding-place, he was to come back and 
 help me in trying to assist you. Before he could 
 return, the necessity passed." 
 
 The eyes of the Mohawk sparkled in a manner 
 that proved he was well pleased with the action 
 of the young scouts. 
 
 "You and Jo do well brave men." 
 
 "I do n't know about that, but we were glad 
 enough, I can assure you, to be able to do some- 
 thing for you, who have risked so much, and 
 befriended us and our friends so often." 
 
 "If men all like you," added the red scout, "Col- 
 onel Butler and Iroquois and Tories all drive back 
 no white men scalp and tomahawk we shoot 
 'em all." 
 
 A compliment from a hero like Lena-Wingo was 
 the highest kind of tribute, and the young man 
 blushed like a schoolboy at the consciousness that 
 he had succeeded in winning the good opinion of 
 the brave fellow. But business was on hand, and 
 there was no time for delay. 
 
180 THE RIVER FUGITIVES. 
 
 "Jack, don't you think the Indians we have 
 repulsed will be likely to return again, to drive us 
 off, or, rather, to punish us for this little affair? " 
 
 "Yes soon be here soon come." 
 
 "Then -we had better be on the move." 
 
 "Yes we go we no stay." 
 
 Nevertheless, the Mohawk did not seem to be 
 in a hurry about moving off, though he had just 
 admitted the necessity of doing so. 
 
 The reason was, that he was not only aware 
 they would return, but he was quite certain of the 
 time that would be required to bring them back ; 
 hence he knew the period that it was safe to 
 remain. 
 
 "What would you have done if I had not been 
 able to help you? " asked Ned, noticing his delay, 
 but not desiring to claim any undue credit for the 
 part he had played in extricating the Mohawk 
 from his embarrassing predicament. 
 
 "Stay till night then slip out run away." 
 
 "But suppose they had fired the house? What 
 then?" 
 
 "Lena-Wingo wouldn't let 'em," was the 
 instant reply, with the old flash of the eye. 
 "They come up to house to set fire Lena- 
 Wingo shoot 'em all." 
 
THE RIVER FUGITIVES. 181 
 
 "I have no doubt you would have managed to 
 get along, for if half the stories told about you 
 are true, you have been in a great many -worse 
 scrapes than that." 
 
 "Come, "said the Indian abruptly. "We look 
 for girl and Jo." 
 
 And the two moved off in the forest. 
 
CHAPTER XXIV. 
 
 UNEXPECTED PERDU 
 
 As is frequently the case in these days, the light- 
 ning struck where it was least expected. Neither 
 Lena-Wingo nor Ned Clinton supposed that there 
 was any danger to happen to Jo Minturn, who 
 had taken temporary charge of his sister, and 
 ordinarily, there would not have been. The 
 meeting between the two was of the most affec- 
 tionate character, for, despite the favorable news 
 that reached the sister of the safety of her brother, 
 she could not avoid a certain anxiety when there 
 was such a terrible massacre going on all the 
 time. 
 
 After the greeting between her and Ned, it will 
 be understood that the latter went to the 
 assistance of the Mohawk in the building, when 
 the couple continued in quest of some hiding 
 place for the girl, where she could be left, while Jo 
 returned to the help of Ned in his efforts to save the 
 friendly scout. It was a small matter to discover 
 a place that would answer for the fair fugitive 
 
 182 
 
THE RIVER FUGITIVES. 186 
 
 when there was such a growth of dense bushes 
 and shrubbery. After going several hundred 
 yards, they found themselves upon the banks of 
 the Susquehanna, where Jo proposed that his 
 sister should remain till he could return for her. 
 
 "Of course you will stay right here, Rosa," 
 said he, "and not be tempted away by anything 
 that may be going on near you ? " 
 
 "Not unless I am driven off by some of the 
 Indians or white men." 
 
 "I do n't think you are in any danger from 
 that, for the undergrowth is so thick that one 
 might step on your dress without seeing you, 
 and there is no possibility of any of the warriors 
 trying to follow your trail." 
 
 "I have no fear for myself," replied the girl, as 
 she entered the sheltering woods. "It is more on 
 your account." 
 
 "Me ? " laughed the young man. " What could 
 have put such an idea in your head? Haven't 
 Ned and I learned enough during the last few days 
 to take care of ourselves ? I tell you, Ned is a 
 brave fellow, Rosa, and if it hadn't been for him, 
 you would never have seen me again. But I 
 mustn't stay here to talk, for he may want me to 
 help him out." 
 
184 THE RIVER FUGITIVES, 
 
 Hastily embracing his sister, he kissed her good- 
 bye, and, as he moved away, looked back and 
 threw her a kiss at the moment the intervening 
 shrubbery shut them from each other's sight. 
 
 Just as Jo started, the sound of the last shot 
 of Lena-Wingo told him that something was up, 
 and showed the proper direction to follow to 
 reach his friends. The peculiar phase that the 
 struggle between the Mohawk and his enemies 
 took at that juncture was unsuspected by Jo, and 
 was the cause of his getting into the worst kind 
 of difficulty. 
 
 When the Iroquois became panic-stricken by the 
 fire from front and rear and started in such haste 
 for help with which to avenge themselves on their 
 adversaries, several of them headed directly 
 toward Jo, so that, unless something unexpected 
 by either should intervene, they were sure to 
 meet. Of course neither party was aware of his 
 unfortunate state of the case, and nothing did 
 intervene to avert the meeting. 
 
 Jo was walking quite rapidly in the direction of 
 the point whence came the shooting, when he was 
 startled by the sound of bodies moving through 
 the woods in advance. He abruptly paused, 
 not knowing what it meant. 
 
THE RIVER FUGITIVES. 186 
 
 " What's that, I won" 
 
 There was no necessity of his wondering any 
 farther about the matter, for at that moment the 
 figures of the four Iroquois appeared in the path, 
 less than a hundred feet distant. They advanced 
 so unexpectedly that the lad was entirely unpre- 
 pared for them. Had he been given a single sec- 
 ond's warning, he could have done something, for 
 a large tree was within a yard of the very spot 
 where he had halted. But the redmen caught sight 
 of him at the same instant that he descried them, 
 and, such being the case, concealment was out of 
 the question. 
 
 Obviously, there was but one course open to the 
 youth, and that was to whirl around and run as 
 fast as he knew how. That he did, without stop- 
 ping to consider which might be the wisest step, 
 when there was but the one thing to do. The 
 Indians, as may be supposed, were eager to secure 
 some white man upon whom to wreak a partial 
 revenge for what they had already suffered but a 
 short time before. At the same instant, therefore, 
 that Jo Minturn started to run they began an 
 equally vigorous pursuit. 
 
 The danger to the young scout was imminent, 
 for the Indians were fleet of foot, and were so 
 
186 THB RIYER FUGITIVES. 
 
 close at the instant he began his flight that there 
 was little chance for strategy or maneuvering. 
 With the sheltering shadows of the woods, and 
 the dense undergrowth, he would not have asked 
 a much greater start than he had secured, but the 
 few yards he lacked were the few that it seemed 
 could not be obtained. Feeling that all depended 
 upon his speed, Jo did his utmost. He went tear- 
 ing through the forest like one who knew his life 
 was the prize for which he was contending. 
 
 He could get over the ground with considerable 
 speed when he set about it, and for the first few 
 rods he not only held his own but slightly drew 
 away from his dusky pursuers. 
 
 Indeed he might have gained a chance to attempt 
 some of his tactics, but at the very moment he 
 was meditating doing so, he reflected that he was 
 speeding directly toward the hiding-place of his 
 sister, and was close to it already. If she learned 
 what was going on, she was likely to expose her- 
 self to an equally great danger, in the effort to 
 secure the assistance of the Mohawk or his friend. 
 And if that did not follow, there was the certainty 
 that he would betray her hiding-place to the very 
 miscreants who were hunting her. 
 
THE RIVER FUGITIVES. 187 
 
 This dread caused him to make a sudden tttrn 
 to the left and up the river, but with no clearly 
 defined purpose as to where he was to stop. His 
 first thought was to make for the river, and to 
 plunge into that, trusting to the extraordinary 
 powers of swimming that had served him so well 
 the night before. But his skill in that respect could 
 have availed him nothing but for the favoring 
 darkness, and it was evident to him that the 
 result would be fatal, so far as he was concerned. 
 
 Then he fancied that by shouting at the top of 
 his bent, he would bring Lena-Wingo to his assist- 
 ance, provided the Mohawk was in a situation to 
 respond. But Jo did not suspect these Iroquois 
 belonged to the body that were pressing the red 
 scout so hard,for the redmen were wandering every- 
 where in the forest and through the valley. This 
 plan, likely, would have accomplished its purpose if 
 tried, but it was abhorrent to the fugitive, who 
 felt that it savored of cowardice, and it might 
 give his pursuers more confidence than they now 
 felt, and perhaps bring more of their comrades to 
 the spot. 
 
 Not a shot had been fired as yet by the pursuing 
 Iroquois, nor had they given utterance to a single 
 outcry ; but, feeling that the game was in their 
 
188 THE RIYER FUGITIVES. 
 
 hands, they settled down to the work of securing 
 it. Now and then when the frightened fugi- 
 tive glanced over his shoulder, he saw the war- 
 riors pressing him hard, none relaxing their 
 vigilance in the least. He was encouraged 
 by the belief at first that he was gaining ground, 
 but his heart sank when, a few minutes after 
 making his turn up the stream, he became con- 
 vinced that the utmost he could do was to hold 
 his own. It seemed to Jo that something might 
 be accomplished by swerving in the direction of 
 the spot where he believed Ned Clinton and the 
 Mohawk were awaiting him. In fact, there was 
 nothing else left for him to try, and he tried it as 
 soon as it came to mind. But this scheme was to 
 be of no avail whatever in the peril in which he 
 was placed. 
 
CHAPTER XXV. 
 
 BY this time, the "second wind," as it is called, 
 had come to Jo, and inspired by the belief that 
 there was hope, he indulged in a burst of speed 
 which almost instantly placed him so far beyond 
 the Iroquois that the pursuers and pursued were 
 lost to the sight of each other. This was encour- 
 aging in the highest degree, though it did not 
 establish the safety of the fugitive by any means. 
 He had succeeded in reaching that point where he 
 only needed to get a little further to make his 
 position almost secure, and where, at the same 
 time, he only wanted to halt for a single minute 
 to drop into the clutches of his enemies. Poor Jo 
 strove as never before, and he was quite hopeful 
 that he was drawing away from his foes, when he 
 made another turn to the right, and exactly at the 
 instant of doing so caught sight of a hollow tree 
 before him. 
 
 He recognized it as one in which he had spent a 
 night some time before, when hunting in this 
 
 1S9 
 
190 THB RIVER FUGITIVES. 
 
 section. The interior was large enough to con- 
 tain several men, the opening being on the other 
 side. Without time enough to think of the rash- 
 ness of trusting to such a shelter when the 
 Iroquois were at his heels, the lad dashed around 
 the trunk and crawled within as nimbly as if he 
 was a coon with a pack of hounds after him. The 
 moment that the fugitive was inside, his heart 
 sank, for he felt he had committed a fatal mistake ; 
 but it was two late to withdraw, and he could 
 only wait until they came up and took him 
 prisoner. 
 
 The hole by which he had entered this hollow 
 was some four or five feet from the ground, but 
 of such dimensions that he was able to go in 
 without difficulty. The tree itself was a large 
 one, the trunk being several feet in diameter, so 
 that as he shrank into the furthest part possible, 
 the thought came to him that there was room for 
 two or three more beside him. The interior was 
 as dark as night, the faint sunlight penetrating 
 only a few inches within the opening by which the 
 fugitive had made his way into the strange retreat. 
 
 The instant he was backed against the other 
 side of the trunk, he crouched down so as to 
 place his head below the possible range of light, 
 
THB RIVER FUGITIVES. 191 
 
 and waited for the Iroquois to come and take 
 him ; for he had made up his mind that there was 
 no use of resistance, while, by surrendering, he 
 might gain time for the Mohawk to help him out 
 The lad had scarcely taken his positin, when he 
 noticed a spider busily engaged in spreading its 
 net across the door through which he had come. 
 
 "I suppose I ruined some of his work when I 
 entered in such a hurry," was the thought of the 
 boy, "and he is in haste to repair his house." 
 
 All this, it will be understood, occupied but a 
 very few seconds. As the Iroquois had not abated 
 their pursuit in the least, Jo was scarcely given 
 time to notice the singular work of the spider, 
 when he heard the patter of the moccasins on the 
 leaves, showing that they were close at hand and 
 making straight for his hiding-place. 
 
 The lad felt the faintest possible hope that the 
 redtnen might run by without noticing the open- 
 ing in the tree, as it was not noticeable until they 
 were nearly opposite or beyond. But this hope 
 was dissipated the next moment, when the sounds 
 of the feet showed they had stopped running and 
 were walking a thing they would not do if they 
 believed the young scout still on the wing. 
 
192 THB RIVER FUGITIVES. 
 
 They had observed the large tree with its Invit- 
 ing opening and were too wise to pass it without 
 examination; but, to the great surprise of Jo, he 
 heard them speaking not in their own tongue, but 
 in broken English. 
 
 "He go in dere," said one, no doubt referring to 
 the hole. 
 
 "Yes, we got him," assented another. "He run 
 hard, he crawl in dere to rest we make him 
 rest." 
 
 The warriors no doubt spoke in this tongue that 
 the cowering fugitive might understand them, 
 and suffer all the agony of one who feels that his 
 doom cannot be averted. They indulged in several 
 more observations, relating mainly to what they 
 intended to do when they should haul the poor 
 "Yankee Dog" from his hiding-place. The boy 
 suffered death over and over again, and wished 
 they would draw him forth and end his terrible 
 suspense. He even meditated rising, crawling out 
 and surrendering to them. 
 
 The dreadful trial lasted but a few minutes when 
 one of the Iroquois advanced and looked in. 
 Standing in the light as he did, his painted face 
 was brought out in relief, and Jo was sure that in 
 his experience of the past few days he had not seen 
 
THE RIVER FUGITIVES. 193 
 
 anything to compare with it in hideous atrocity 
 of expression. Before this warrior said anything 
 more, he thrust his head into the opening, with a 
 Tiew of examining the interior and satisfying him- 
 self of the precise position of their Tictim. As he 
 leaned forward with this purpose, the gauzy web 
 that had been spun across the fissure crossed his 
 nose, and he drew back, straightened up, and 
 pinched the meshes between his fingers, calling the 
 attention of the others to the fact, using the lan- 
 guage this time of his own people. 
 
 His companions gathered about him, and for a 
 few minutes there was an earnest consultation. 
 The youngest boy knows, that, as a rule, the 
 spider's web, when torn away, is not instantly 
 replaced certainly not when the author of the 
 ruin is at hand and ready to repeat the destruc- 
 tion; and so, when we see an abundance of spider 
 webs, we take it as evidence that the place has not 
 been disturbed very recently. And this was the 
 exact conclusion reached by the Iroquois when 
 they observed that the hole in the trunk was 
 crossed by the meshes of a spider's web. Nothing 
 was plainer to them than that this retreat had 
 not been visited by any one for some time past. 
 The fugitive whom they were hunting must have 
 
194 THE RIVER FUGITIVES. 
 
 gone by, and was still running for life, while they 
 were frittering away their time under the belief 
 that they were adding to his misery. The web 
 convinced them that they had made a blunder, 
 and, without pausing for further examination of 
 the hiding-place, they resumed the pursuit with 
 greater vigor than before. 
 
 Jo Minturn, therefore, was saved by a spider 
 web. The young fugitive could scarcely believe 
 what had taken place until the Iroquois were gone 
 and he was left alone. The cause of their mistake 
 was too apparent to be overlooked. 
 
 Waiting a few minutes, he peeped out of the 
 opening, and, seeing a clear coast, lost no time in 
 crawling forth from such quarters and leaving the 
 vicinity. 
 
 "That was a wonderful escape," he thought, as 
 he walked along. "It does seem that Providence 
 interferes in a way that no one could dream of. 
 Ten minutes ago I didn't believe there was any 
 possible means for me to get out, except by a mira- 
 cle, and it came." 
 
 God helps those who help themselves, and Jo 
 tried hard to remember that danger was on every 
 hand, and it was never safe to forget it for a 
 moment. The most natural course for him to fol- 
 
THE RIVER FUGITIVES. 195 
 
 low was to make his way back to where he had 
 left his sister, and this he proceeded to do at once. 
 He remembered the place so well that there could 
 be no mistake, and he was in high spirits, anxious 
 to tell his good fortune before he started in quest 
 of Lena-Wingo and Ned Clinton. He reached the 
 spot in a short time, but his consternation knew 
 no bounds when he made the discovery that she 
 was not there I 
 
CHAPTER XXVI. 
 
 ALL ABROAD. 
 
 YOUNG Mintttrn was taken all aback when he 
 reached the margin of the Susquehanna, at the 
 precise spot where he had left his sister, only to 
 discover that she was gone. 
 
 "She promised she would not stir from here, 
 unless she was forced to do so," he said to himself, 
 after repeating the hunt several times, "and it 
 must have been some danger that drove her 
 away." 
 
 Hoping that she might be somewhere in the 
 vicinity, he ventured to pronounce her name sev- 
 eral times in a voice loud enough to be heard a few 
 rods off, but he was apprehensive of the result of 
 such a course, and did not keep it up very long. 
 Nothing of the nature of a response was heard, 
 and the conviction was inevitable that she had 
 gone who could say where ? The most natural 
 supposition was that some of the Iroquois, who 
 seemed to be everywhere, had been guided by evil 
 fortune to her hiding-place, and had taken her 
 
 196 
 
THE RIYBR FUGITIVES. 197 
 
 captive. The thought was disheartening, but the 
 anguish smitten brother was helpless and without 
 any power, so far as he could see, to help her. He 
 could not make sure even of the direction taken by 
 her and her captors. There remained the faint hope 
 that she had discovered the approach of peril in 
 time to take refuge elsewhere, and that as soon as 
 her enemies were gone, would return to her old 
 concealment. It was this hope that prevented 
 the brother from leaving the spot, and threw him 
 into an agony of doubt as to what he ought 
 to do. 
 
 The passage of each minute caused this pos- 
 sibility to become less and less, until at the end of 
 half an hour scarcely any remained. The poor 
 fellow was in a most distressing quandary. A lit- 
 tle while before it seemed that he was the only 
 one who was in a situation from which there was 
 no escape, and now it appeared to him that he 
 was the sole member of the little party who was 
 actually safe from the Tories and Indians. He 
 had not been able, as yet, to go to the help of 
 Ned Clinton and Lena-Wingo, and therefore could 
 know nothing about the manner in which they 
 had gotten out of the beleaguered building. Much 
 as they might need his aid, he felt that his sister 
 
198 THE RIYER FUGITIVES. 
 
 possessed the first claim, as they themselves would 
 insist, if they knew all. 
 
 He made as careful examination of the ground 
 as he knew how, in the hope of gaining some 
 inkling of what had taken place, but his experi- 
 ence in the forest was not sufficient to read these 
 signs as Lena- Wingo would have done, had he been 
 present. The leaves were rumpled as if by the 
 passage of several feet, but it was impossible to 
 distinguish whether it was done by those of a 
 lady, himself, or an enemy. 
 
 "I don't see that I can do anything," he 
 reflected, after his suspense had continued for half 
 an hour; "I shall have to wait till Ned and the 
 Mohawk come here, or hunt them myself, and get 
 them to help me out." 
 
 It was past noon, and he looked upon the 
 approach of night with a dread impossible to 
 describe. 
 
 "If she isn't found before dark," he added, 
 sitting down upon the trunk of a fallen tree, in 
 gloomy reverie, "I shall make up my mind that it 
 is all over with the poor girl. The idea of her being 
 in the hands of the Iroquois is enough to drive 
 me wild. Colonel Butler has sent them to hunt 
 for her, and as like as not, they won't take her 
 
THE RIVER FUGITIVES. 199 
 
 back to him. They are so enraged against all the 
 settlers in the valley that they will tomahawk 
 her as they have done many a time when given 
 prisoners to bring in." 
 
 The brother, it will be seen, was lifted from the 
 highest ground of hope, only to be thrown into 
 the lowest depths of gloom and despair. The 
 thought that he was powerless to do anything 
 to help his beloved sister was almost unbearable. 
 If there was any way, no matter how desperate, 
 for him to strike a blow for her, he would seize it 
 at once; but, as it was, he could only wait and 
 pray for some such opening to come to him. 
 When this suspense had lasted a half hour longer, 
 it became intolerable, and he sprang to his feet. 
 
 "What's the use?" he exclaimed. "I may stay 
 here all day and night, and that will be all there 
 is of it. If Red Jack won't come to me, I'll go to 
 him." 
 
 And with this determination, he strode off in the 
 direction from which came the shots heard some 
 time before. He walked hurriedly, for, since he 
 had made up his mind to take this course, he was 
 impatient with himself that he had delayed so 
 long in setting about it. There could be no 
 mistake about the route he ought to pursue, and 
 
300 THB RIVER FUGITIVE*. 
 
 he did not forget the lesson learned from the 
 spider's web. Despite his haste, he kept a sharp 
 watch for enemies, and now and then came to a 
 halt, that he might look and listen the better. 
 
 "I don't hear or see anything of them," he 
 added, when he had paused in this manner some 
 six or eight times ; "but that's no proof that a 
 score of them are not within a hundred yards of 
 this very spot, waiting till I walk into some of 
 their traps. I wish the Mohawk would show 
 up, for if his help was ever needed, now is the 
 time." 
 
 Picking his way in this careful fashion, it was 
 not long before he became aware that he was 
 approaching an open space, probably the very 
 house and clearing he was seeking. A few rods 
 further, and he stopped, for he had penetrated as 
 far as seemed prudent, and was looking upon the 
 very dwelling from which Rosa had escaped by 
 such a narrow chance, and where the Mohawk, 
 Lena-Wingo, had stood at bay before eight 
 Iroquois, until the diversion created by the com- 
 ing of Ned Clinton gave him the chance to flee. Jo 
 identified it from the description received from 
 his sister, as well as from his own knowledge of 
 its location. 
 
THE RIVER FUGITIVES. 201 
 
 "I don't see anything of them," he said to him- 
 self, after watching the building a short time. "I 
 wonder whether the scout has given them the 
 slip, or whether they have him locked in there? " 
 
 While he was wondering what the stillness that 
 hung over everything could mean, he made the 
 alarming discovery that there were at least a 
 score of Iroquois in the immediate vicinity, with 
 undoubted designs upon the house. These were 
 the reinforcements for which the small party 
 that received the repulse had gone, and they were 
 now on hand. As good fortune would have it, 
 most of them were on the side of the wood nearly 
 opposite to where the lad was standing, well 
 screened by the trees. So long, therefore, as he 
 exercised ordinary prudence, he could keep out of 
 their way and watch their proceedings. 
 
 It will be remembered that Jo had not been 
 given any chance to learn of the clever style in 
 which the smaller party was repulsed by Lena- 
 Wingo and Ned Clinton, and he was held to the 
 spot by his anxiety as to the fate of both. If the 
 two were in the house, then it was very plain to him 
 that they were to go through the hardest kind of 
 struggle to escape their enemies, and it looked as 
 if he was likely to play a part in the programme. 
 
202 THE RIVER FUGITIVES. 
 
 "If Jack is there," he muttered, as he scrutinized 
 the tipper windows, "he must know that the 
 Iroquois are here, and I am surprised that he 
 doesn't give them a shot, just to wake them up." 
 
 A few minutes after the redmen who were steal- 
 ing along the other side of the clearing, sent in 
 three or four shots, designed to bring out a reply 
 from the garrison a desire which our readers will 
 understand could not be gratified, for the best of 
 reasons. In a little while two guns were dis- 
 charged from another point, but as before, the 
 marksmen looked in vain for the response thereto. 
 
CHAPTER XXVII. 
 
 BEHIND THE TREES. 
 
 Jo watched the proceedings before him with the 
 closest interest, for they concerned his friends, and 
 indirectly his missing sister. To the young scout, 
 the silence of the Mohawk and Ned Clinton was 
 inexplicable, except on the theory that they had 
 escaped from the house by some means unknown 
 to the redmen themselves. Had he but understood 
 how the assailants had acted, he could have had 
 no doubt on that point. As it was, the belief 
 became almost a certainty, when another volley 
 was fired by the Iroquois without producing any 
 response from the house of the settler. 
 
 No doubt, the same suspicion was taking shape 
 in the minds of the warriors, for they gradually 
 became more bold, and finally took little care to 
 shelter themselves behind the trees to which they 
 had clung so tenaciously at the opening of the 
 fight. A half dozen emerged from the wood, and 
 walked directly out upon the clearing, as if invit- 
 ing the garrison to fire upon them if they dared* 
 
 203 
 
204 THE RIYKR FUGITIVES. 
 
 Had Lena-Wingo been there, he would have 
 allowed such a challenge to pass unnoticed. The 
 fact that the stillness was continued unbroken 
 from the house made them bolder than ever. 
 
 More issued from the forest until the whole 
 twenty were in view, and then several, rifle in 
 hand, walked toward the building, never pausing 
 till they were within the yard, at which time they 
 indulged in further scrutiny of the structure before 
 entering. Jo saw the leader suddenly make a dash 
 within, and the others followed, as if they were a 
 flock of sheep. They were not very quiet, either, 
 for in the stillness of the summer afternoon the 
 watcher could hear them tramping through the 
 interior. In a short time they made a thorough 
 survey of all the rooms, when a number appeared 
 at the upper window. From the latter came a 
 dismal howl, one of disappointment,- for they 
 had made the discovery that the birds had flown, 
 having executed the not very brilliant maneuver 
 of getting out when the chance was given them. 
 
 The young scout knew as well as they what the 
 outcry meant, and it showed him there was no 
 further occasion for his staying there. He paused 
 a moment, however, to see how the Iroquois would 
 take their disappointment, and he was not com* 
 
THE RIVER FUGITIVES. 306 
 
 pelled to wait long. In a short time they set fire 
 to the hotise, which, being made entirely of wood, 
 while the weather was very dry, burned with 
 great rapidity, and another landmark was left to 
 show where the Indians of Colonel Butler had 
 united with the Tories in the desolation of the fair 
 valley of Wyoming. 
 
 Jo did not wait longer, as time was preciotts, 
 and the most important thing he could do was to 
 hunt up the Mohawk, and appeal to him in turn 
 to hunt tip Rosa. There were no means of deter- 
 mining which way the red scout had gone. But, 
 believing it likely that he would manage to make 
 his way to the place where the girl had been left in 
 hiding, the distressed brother started in that 
 direction. 
 
 "I don't see that there is any use of my trying 
 to do anything," he muttered, forgetting, in his 
 own misery, the wonderful manner in which he had 
 been extricated from a greater danger than that 
 which probably hung over his sister. "Ned and 
 the Mohawk have got away, that's pretty sure, 
 but how it is to help Rosa is more than I can 
 understand. They are likely to go tramping 
 about the woods till night comes again, and by 
 that time Butler will have her, if he has n't now. 
 
206 THE RIVER FUGITIVES. 
 
 I don't know as the Mohawk could have man- 
 aged better," he added, more reflectively, feeling 
 a little compunction lest he should wrong the 
 faithful Lena- Wingo, even in thought. "Colonel 
 Denison tells me that Butler has taken a fancy to 
 Rosa, and is determined to get his hands on her, 
 so as to take her from us. He is wicked enough 
 to do anything, and where he has so many Tories 
 and Indians to help him, I do n't see that we have 
 much chance to beat him. If we manage to get 
 over the Susquehanna, I do n't know as we'll be 
 safe at Wilkesbarre, for they may follow us there, 
 and there is no reason to prevent their taking the 
 place just as they swooped down on Wyoming " 
 How much longer this gloomy soliloquy would 
 have continued it is hard to say, had it not been 
 broken in upon by an outsider. The young man 
 had paused and was leaning against a tree, when 
 a rustling among the leaves a short distance 
 ahead warned him that he was not alone. With- 
 out waiting to finish his remark, he sprang behind 
 the trunk, so as to interpose it between him and 
 the stranger. That the latter was a redskin, 
 fully as cautious as the young scout himself, was 
 shown by his action; for he, too, leaped to cover, 
 vanishing as suddenly as if the earth had opened 
 
THB RIYER FUGITIVES. 207 
 
 and swallowed him up. This was proof, too, 
 that the Indian was as quick to detect danger as 
 was the white, and, sheltered now behind the 
 tree, he was also as ready as him for the 
 encounter. 
 
 Jo was apprehensive of the result of a struggle 
 like this, for he knew how stealthily and cau- 
 tiously one of these savage enemies would fight 
 for the mastery. It was not at all unlikely that 
 the Indian would keep out of sight till dark. 
 Unless he could take the lad off his guard before 
 that time, he would watch every movement of 
 the adversary for hours never relaxing his vigi- 
 lance, and ready to fire as soon as the slightest 
 chance was given. Jo did not fancy the prospect 
 of staying there till night, and he determined to 
 leave, if possible. 
 
 His first essay to draw the fire of his enemy was 
 the old one which all our readers have heard long 
 ago. He placed his cap on the end of his ramrod 
 and shoved it just far enough from behind the 
 tree to make it appear that the owner was trying 
 to take a peep at his enemy, thereby exposing his 
 head to his marksmanship. But it wouldn't 
 work. In common language, the artifice was 
 "too thin" to deceive the wary redskin pitted 
 
308 THE RIVER FUGITIVES. 
 
 against Him. No answering shot told the youth 
 that the barrel of his enemy's gun was empty, 
 and he had only to rush out and shoot him before 
 he could reload. The Indian continued silent and 
 invisible, and the conviction stole over Jo thai he 
 mttst take a new tack. 
 
 The temptation to indulge in a stolen glance at 
 the warrior was too great to be resisted ; and, 
 determined not to allow his curiosity to get the 
 better of his caution, the lad moved his head Tery 
 slowly forward, so as to permit the faintest 
 possible look at the place where his foe had taken 
 refuge. The tree was a large one larger, indeed, 
 than his own, and the distance between the two 
 was over a hundred yards, so that if the youth 
 should gain a chance to shoot his adversary, it 
 was all -import ant to make his aim accurate, it 
 being evident that a miss in a case like this would 
 be equivalent to receiving the bullet of his foe. 
 After a few minutes' careful maneuvering, Jo 
 got his head so far around the tree that one eye 
 was fixed on the trunk behind which the savage 
 was standing. 
 
 Nothing was to be seen of him, though there 
 could be no doubt the warrior was there. The 
 invisibility of the redskin did not tempt the young 
 
THE RIVER FUGITIVES. 209 
 
 man into exposing any more of himself to his aim 
 than he could avoid. What threatened to become 
 a contest of mere watchfulness, and thereby 
 monotonous in spite of its dangerous nature, 
 proved to be much shorter than Jo anticipated. 
 He had not gazed long in the direction of his foe, 
 when he was certain he detected a movement 
 behind the tree itself that is, beyond where ft 
 would be supposed the warrior was standing. 
 
 Precisely what it was he could not determine, 
 but was certain that something was going on in 
 which he was interested, and which he ought to 
 understand. The impression made upon the lad 
 was aa if the shadow of some bird or animal 
 had flashed before his eyes. He had not a partick 
 of doubt that it bore some relation to a maneuver 
 of the Indian, and that his life, perhaps, depended 
 upon his learning what it was and preparing 
 against it. All that he could do was to keep tip 
 an unremitting watch, in the hope of discovering 
 something more, which would explain what it 
 meant. This watch continued less than fifteen 
 minutes, when it ended in the complete success of 
 the stratagem of the redman. 
 
CHAPTER XXVJIL 
 
 THE DEPTH OF SORROW. 
 
 YOUNG Minturn did not see the movement which 
 puzzled him so much repeated, and of which he 
 caught such an unsatisfactory glimpse. The reason 
 why it was not done again was because once was 
 sufficient. The Indian's purpose was to steal from 
 behind the tree, and reach another position that 
 would command that of the youth. He had there- 
 fore made a backward movement, almost flat on 
 the ground, and, by a series of skillfully managed 
 maneuvers, took a circuitous and stealthy march 
 to the right, describing an arc of thirty degrees at 
 least, and executing it with so much care that he 
 was not only undetected, but was not even sus- 
 pected of any such intent. When the warrior rose 
 to his feet again, he stood almost behind the young 
 scout, and in a position to enable him to send the 
 bullet of his rifle crashing through his skull. The 
 first warning that Jo received of his danger, was 
 the crack of a gun from the rear, and the bullet 
 chipped off the bark within an inch of his face. 
 
 210 
 
THE RIVER FUGITIVES. 211 
 
 " You've missed," called out the lad, "and now 
 take the consequents ! " 
 
 But the next mimtte he changed his mind, and 
 concluded he would not fire at all. The Indian 
 was in full view, and it looked the easiest thing in 
 the world to bring him down, but the trouble was 
 that the redman standing before him was Lena- 
 Wingo, the Mohawk. The scout had indulged in 
 this sport for the purpose of testing the skill of his 
 young friend, and with the object of teaching him 
 a thing or two. 
 
 In leaving the tree in the first place, he had done 
 it with the intention of giving Jo an inkling of 
 what he was about, but the lesson was rather too 
 "advanced" for the pupil to comprehend at the 
 time. The painted face was one broad grin, as the 
 Mohawk witnessed the amazement of the lad, who 
 stared in speechless astonishment. 
 
 "Why, Jack, is that you?" he exclaimed, when 
 his wits came back to him. "I've been hunting 
 for you, and would have given the world, if I 
 could, to have met you awhile ago." 
 
 "I'm here what young man want?* 
 
 "Where is Rosa?" 
 
 Jo expected a favorable answer, so great was 
 his trust in the wonderful skill of the Mohawk; 
 
THE RIVER FUGITIVES. 
 
 but the expression of his thin face, through its 
 paint, told him the dreadful tidings before he 
 answered. 
 
 "Lena-Wingo does not know thinked she be 
 with you." 
 
 "0, Heavens! " wailed the brother, almost fall- 
 ing to the earth in his great grief; "then the Iro- 
 quois have her I " 
 
 " What's that you say ? " 
 
 It was Ned Clinton who asked the question, as 
 he sprang from behind another tree, where he had 
 been watching the little game of his friend the 
 Mohawk. 
 
 "Rosa is gone! " was the faint response. 
 Ned clutched his arm, and hoarsely demanded : 
 
 " How is this ? Tell us about it ! " 
 
 "Yes tell all be quick," added Lena-Wingo, 
 mastering his emotion in a way that he had learned 
 in years of the most bitter kind of experience. 
 " Be quick-tell all." 
 
 As soon as Jo could command his feelings suffi- 
 ciently to speak with anything like coherence, he 
 related what the reader has learned long since. 
 While he spoke, the others listened with an inten- 
 sity of interest that cannot be described, for the 
 tidings was new to both. 
 
THE RIVER FUGITIVES. 216 
 
 After Ned and Red Jack got clear of the hotise, 
 it will be recalled that they set out in quest of their 
 friend Jo. Various difficulties conspired to pre- 
 vent their getting on his track, and feeling no 
 doubt that the girl was somewhere in the safe 
 keeping of her brother, it was their intention to 
 delay the crossing of the Susquehanna until dark. 
 This theory will explain why it was that when 
 they did catch sight of Jo, they felt warranted in 
 taking time for the little test we have described. 
 
 It might well be a question which of the three 
 individuals suffered the most from the uncertainty 
 of the fate of Rosa Minturn. The brother was 
 smitten to the earth by sorrow over what seemed 
 to be the loss of one of the dearest and best 
 sisters that was ever given to a lad. Ned Clinton 
 was of that age when, under the dawnings of a 
 young love, a pure and holy halo wrapped the 
 maiden in all his dreams by night as well as by 
 day. What though the gentle passion that 
 pervaded and warmed with its vivifying glow his 
 whole nature had never found expression from his 
 lips, even to his dearest friend what though the 
 sweet imaginings that came to him in the stillness 
 of the night, in the glare of the noonday, when in 
 the wild tumult of battle, when he was swimming 
 
216 THE RIVER FUGITIVES. 
 
 in the darkness the broad Susquehanna, or when 
 threading his way through the trackless forest- 
 what though these visions of his love, in all their 
 entrancing beauty, were considered too sacred to 
 be whispered to any mortal ? They were none 
 the less real and soul-stirring for all that. The 
 grief that smote the brave youth was like the 
 sweep of the cyclone, which brings low the tallest 
 oak of the wilderness. 
 
 It seemed that he must die if the girl was 
 taken from him, either by death or the still ruder 
 hand of the sacrilegious Tory chief. How eagerly 
 he had entered into the struggle of the colonies 
 for their freedom, impelled not alone by his patri- 
 otism, which of itself was of the most exalted 
 character, but spurred on also by the hope that 
 when the independence of his dear country was 
 gained as gained it would surely be it would be 
 his blissful pleasure to come back to Wyoming 
 Talley, and, beating his sword into the plowshare, 
 hear from Rosa the thrilling words: 
 
 "Well done, good and faithful servant! You 
 have earned the love I now give you." 
 
 This was the ambition of the sturdy youth, 
 and, to see its realization, he was ready to brave 
 danger, hardship, and death itself. And now, 
 
THE RIYBR PUGITIYB8. 217 
 
 when on the threshold of the career he had 
 marked out for himself, to have the whole fabric 
 swept away by the remorseless hand of fate was 
 a blow which he could not bear! But he could 
 tell his sorrow to no one, for he knew that no one 
 could appreciate it. 
 
 Little did he dream that his friend, Jo Mintttrn, 
 suspected his secret, and perhaps it was as well 
 that he knew it not. He must keep his over- 
 whelming sorrow to and within himself. More 
 than that, he must so act that no one could learn 
 its existence. It was an almost superhuman task, 
 but the stuff in the young patriot was that of 
 which heroes are made, and he resolved that it 
 should be done. 
 
 And much less could Lena-Wingo, the Mohawk 
 scout and tried friend of the whites, impart his 
 anguish to any confidant. There are curious 
 ambitions in this world, leading men by different 
 paths to face all manner of peril and death. 
 Years had now passed since he had fores worn his 
 own race, and devoted his life to proving himself 
 an ally of the whites, and he had pursued that 
 single course until it was the sole aim and object 
 of his existence the goal to reach which he bent 
 all the energies of a nature peculiarly fitted for 
 
3ttr8 THE RIVER FUGITIVES. 
 
 a work. In ways innumerable had he 
 proven his affection, until affection itself was for- 
 gotten in the great passion. When he undertook 
 a task for the white settlers, he would suffer 
 nothing to divert him therefrom. Hunger, thirst, 
 hardship, danger, sickness, disaster, gloom, storm, 
 and sunshine, were all the same to him when once 
 started on the path he laid out for himself. 
 
 To the Mohawk, failure was more ignominious 
 than death. Having started for Wilkesbarrewith 
 the declaration that he would take Rosa there, he 
 was confronted by the prospect of an utter over- 
 throw of his plans. No earthly disgrace could be 
 greater. If defeated in his purpose, he felt he 
 would not be fit to show his face among men again, 
 and it may be doubted whether he would ever be 
 ecu more if it should be that he was to prove 
 tumble to keep the pledge he had made to the 
 patents of the missing maiden. 
 
CHAPTER XXIX. 
 
 GROPING IN THE FOREST. 
 
 WE have omitted to tell one motive that, hi the 
 case of the Mohawk scout, would have led him to 
 brave anything for the sake of saving Rosa Min- 
 turn, and that was the affection he entertained 
 for her. No nature, however rugged and seem- 
 ingly heartless, is without a tender spot which m 
 susceptible to the gentler influences that distin- 
 guish man from the brute. While Lena-Wmjajo 
 was ready at all times to do what in him lay for 
 the good of the whites, there were necessarily a 
 few upon whom he looked with a peculiar and 
 unusual friendship. 
 
 Rosa Minturn was one of these precisely why, 
 it would be hard to tell, more than it would be to 
 explain the birth and growth of love itself in the 
 heart of Ned Clinton. It may have been because 
 the warrior had always been a favored guest in 
 the family, that he had seen her grow up from 
 infancy; had played with her from the time she 
 began to walk, had taken her with him on many 
 
 219 
 
220 THE RIVER FUGITIYBS. 
 
 an excursion in the great wilderness that at that 
 day surrounded the lovely valley of Wyoming; 
 but more probable that in the nature of the beau- 
 tiful child there was something akin to his own. 
 There was a certain innate bravery of disposition, 
 a self-possession in trying circumstances, a nim- 
 bleness of foot and limb, a power to withstand 
 fatigue, a love for the free, untrammeled life of the 
 woods, and daring, resolute character, which 
 never transgressed true feminine and modest 
 bounds, that made her a maiden above all others 
 in his estimation. 
 
 At the risk of being misunderstood, it may be 
 said that when the Mohawk left the house of Lor- 
 imer Minturn, near Forty Fort, he was in no hurry 
 to reach Wilkesbarre. In the first place, he believed 
 there was no doubt that the refuge would be made 
 without trouble. In short, he never considered 
 anything more certain than that they would 
 arrive there in spite of all that Colonel Butler and 
 his allies could do to prevent it. The journey 
 itself he looked upon in the nature of an excur- 
 sion, and, well aware of the grit of the girl, he 
 meant that she should have a taste of frontier life 
 such as she had never known before. Although a 
 fair construction of the mishap might acquit the 
 
R1YBR FUGITIVES. 221 
 
 Mohawk of all culpability, still he looked upon 
 himself as the sole author of the calamity. 
 
 Within a tenth of the time taken to tell the 
 story, Lena-Wingo had decided on his course of 
 action. The red hero had been trained in the ways 
 of his people too long to allow any one to read in 
 his face the workings of his mind. 
 
 When Jo Minturn had finished his short 
 account of what had befallen him, Lena-Wingo 
 was as calm as when he stood in the house of the 
 missing one the night before, discussing their 
 plans with her parents and with Colonel Denison. 
 He marked the woe that crushed the hearts of his 
 two companions, but he offered no words of 
 sympathy, for the reason that he held little faith 
 in sentiment. It was the time for action, not 
 words. 
 
 "We go where she was where you left her can 
 you lead the way ? " 
 
 "I came from there but a short time ago/' 
 replied Jo; "lean take you to the exact spot," 
 
 "Take us." 
 
 "Yes, lead the way," added Ned Clinton; "it is 
 upon Jack, under Heaven, that we must now 
 rely." 
 
THE RIVER FUGITIVES. 
 
 The lad wheeled on his heel as the words were 
 spoken, and started off like one who knew the 
 ralne of time. Fast as he strode, the Mohawk 
 mstantly dropped into a gait that compelled him 
 to increase it. 
 
 "Was it by river ? " he asked, noticing the course 
 taken. 
 
 "It was." 
 
 "That bad," was the significant comment. 
 "Iroquois come there maybe find her." 
 
 Hie distance was not great to the stream, and 
 k was soon reached, though at a point below 
 tfie hiding-place of her for whom they were 
 seeking. 
 
 "Ix>ok out Injuns maybe here!" admonished 
 the Mohawk, slackening his speed when the river 
 was placed on their right. 
 
 A few minutes after they halted at the very spot 
 where the brother and sister had parted some 
 two or three hours before. 
 
 "Here is where I left her," said Jo, "and when I 
 came back to join her she was nowhere to be seen, 
 and all traces of her were lost. 
 
 Lena-Wingo made no answer to this, for the 
 point was now reached where he was to see what 
 he could do for the lost one. He looked keenly 
 
THB RIYER FUGITIVES. 228 
 
 around, and then, by several questions, learned 
 the manner in which the girl was expected to 
 spend the time during the absence of her brother. 
 This was all, and he began a minute examination 
 of the ground where it was certain she had trod. 
 
 To one of his vision and experience, it was no 
 difficult matter to separate the footprints made 
 by the delicate tread of Rosa from those of the 
 other sex. His companions were watching his 
 movements with the closest attention, and they 
 saw him glide back and forth, with his head bent 
 over, thinking of and seeing nothing but the 
 almost invisible signs upon the leaves before him. 
 His friends did not ask him a question, though 
 many of his actions were not understood, for 
 they knew that they would receive no notice 
 while he was thus occupied. Accordingly, Jo and 
 Ned sat down on the fallen tree, gloomy and 
 dispirited, while they observed his course. 
 
 "Do you think there is any hope of his doing 
 anything?" asked Jo, when the singular actions 
 of the redskin had continued some time. 
 
 "I trust so," was the answer, uttered in a voice 
 which showed the foundation therefor was very 
 slight. "You know that if there is anyway of 
 finding her again, Jack is the one to do it." 
 
224 THE RIVER FUGITIVES. 
 
 "Yes, but if the thing can't be done, that'i all 
 there is about it." 
 
 "We're figuring all the while on the supposition 
 that she has fallen into the hands of Butler, or 
 some of the Indians, and yet we may be mistaken. 
 Perhaps she concluded the spot was becoming 
 too dangerous for her, and withdrew while there 
 was time, and is at no great distance from here." 
 
 " If that were so, it seems she ought to have been 
 back long ago, for there are no Indians here, nor 
 have there been for a long time past. She knew 
 that I would return to this spot to look for her, 
 and she knew, too, how unlikely it was that I 
 could follow her anywhere else." 
 
 There was reason in this theory, and Ned felt it 
 'was more probable than any other. Still, the 
 fact that the Mohawk had gone to work with so 
 much vigor and spirit was not without its effect 
 upon his companions, who had pinned great faith 
 to him for a long time. 
 
 "I feel very sorry for your parents," said Ned, a 
 sort of instinct teaching him to parry the possible 
 supposition that he was more stricken over the 
 absence of the maiden than he ought to be. 
 "Like everybody else, they have had no doubt 
 that if Jack started for the place across the river 
 
THE RIVER FUGITIVES. 225 
 
 he was sure to reach there, and the disappoint- 
 ment will be all the greater." 
 
 "I have thought once or twice that it might be 
 Rosa has gone off so far that, when she tried to 
 return, she went astray, and that while she is 
 doing all she can to get back to the place where 
 she knew I was waiting for her, yet she could not 
 do so." 
 
 "It's possible, you know, Jo, that it is all well 
 with her, in spite of the probabilities against it. 
 While there's life there's hope, and, though I 
 couldn't see the least light a while ago, I now 
 begin to feel more hope than before." 
 
 "I wish I could," was the doleful reply of the 
 brother, who was in as despairing a state of mind 
 as can be conceived. 
 
 "We have several hours yet before night, and 
 during that time there's no telling what may hap- 
 pen. Hello! Jack has made a discovery." 
 
CHAPTER XXX. 
 
 A DISCOVERY. 
 
 THE cause of this exclamation on the part of Jo 
 Minturnwas a very simple movement of Red Jack, 
 the Mohawk. During the few minutes that the 
 scout was engaged in the search, he was bent in a 
 stooping position, moving slowly from point to 
 point, peer ing at the signs on the ground, too faint 
 to be distinguished by other eyes. He now 
 straightened up and uttered the single exclama- 
 tion: 
 
 "Woofh!" 
 
 When he did so he was close to the river shore, 
 and he turned his face around toward the young 
 men, as if inviting them to join him an invita- 
 tion which they instantly accepted. 
 
 "See there," he added, pointing to the ground 
 before them, where there was a place compara- 
 tively free from leaves. "Look at him." 
 
 It was several seconds before the youths under- 
 stood to what he referred. But by bending almost 
 to the earth, both saw the small, graceful outline 
 
 226 
 
THE RIVER FUGITIVES. 
 
 of a lady's shoe, such as Cinderella might have 
 made, had she passed that way. 
 
 "Rosa's footprints!" exclaimed her brother; 
 "but what good is that to us? What are we to 
 gain by it?" 
 
 "It shows that she went toward the river," 
 answered Ned, taking his cue from the Mohawk, 
 who was following the faint trail in that direc- 
 tion. "It gives the very information we want." 
 
 Lena-Wingo had worked hard at the clue, and 
 was a little surprised to learn that it led in the 
 direction of the stream, for he had another theory 
 in his mind. Before he reached the water's edge 
 he made a second discovery, which he did not 
 communicate to his friends. Beside the footprints 
 of Rosa Minturn there were those made by Indian 
 moccasins. This boded ill for the girl, but he had 
 partly expected it, and no exclamation told the 
 others that he had come upon anything unusual. 
 
 The different tracks were so mingled together 
 that it was impossible to tell whether those of 
 Rosa were made at the same time or before those 
 of the redmen. He was inclined to believe the 
 girl, at that time, was a prisoner in the hands of 
 the Iroquois, though it was by no means impossi- 
 ble that they were a half hour behind her. H 
 
228 THE RIVER FUGITTVBS. 
 
 carefully tracked the footprints until they were 
 ended by the river itself, where, of course, they ter- 
 minated by entering a boat. Had the warriors 
 and their captive stepped into the same canoe? 
 
 This was the great question, and Lena-Wingo 
 felt himself able to answer it, after a careful exam- 
 ination* The problem was a simple one, and the 
 conditions were these : The footprints of the girl 
 disappeared, and a search for some distance up 
 and down stream failed to discover them again. 
 The trail of the Iroquois showed there were three 
 of them, stepping in the tracks of the maiden, and 
 the Mohawk had searched but a few minutes 
 when they came to view again. This settled that 
 point. 
 
 When Rosa Minturn left the shore in a canoe, 
 she was alone that was as certain as that the 
 sun was shining. This news was good enough for 
 the Mohawk to turn about and explain to his com- 
 panions. The latter could not but be encouraged 
 by the certainty that Rosa had left the spot in a 
 boat, guided by her own hand, and not as a pris- 
 oner. But to Ned and Jo the cause of her taking 
 such a course was as great a mystery as ever. 
 
 "It may be that she has crossed the river/' sng- 
 
THB RIYBR FUGITIVES. 229 
 
 gested young Clinton, as His eye ranged along the 
 opposite snore. 
 
 The possibility had suggested itself to Lena- 
 Wingo, and caused him to search the wooded 
 bank in quest of some signal from the girl, who, if 
 there, ought to be looking out for the appearance 
 of her friends on the other side. But the south- 
 eastern shore was apparently as deserted as if 
 never trodden by the foot of man. This failure to 
 see anything of the fair fugitive led Lena- Wingo 
 to believe she had not crossed the Susquehanna, 
 without taking into account the extreme improb- 
 ability of her attempting such a course in broad 
 daylight, and when she must know that it was in 
 direct opposition to the wishes of her friends. 
 
 The three stood for several minutes in consulta- 
 tion, or, more properly, the youths respectfully 
 waited while their older companion deliberated 
 on the next step he ought to take. The lovely 
 summer afternoon was wearing away, and in a 
 few more hours night would again descend upon 
 the valley. Within the short period that still 
 remained of daylight, they felt that whatever was 
 done for Rosa Minturn must be done quickly. If 
 darkness should wrap the earth in its mantle, and 
 
230 THE RIVER FUGITIVE*. 
 
 she still remain lost to them, the chances would be 
 almost entirely against her recovery. 
 
 It being quite well settled that Rosa had not 
 crossed the Susquehanna, it followed that the 
 course to pursue was either up or down the bank 
 on which they were standing. 
 
 There was no data to guide them, and the 
 Mohawk could only proceed on general principles. 
 It seemed to him the girl would conclude that 
 there was less danger in going up than down the 
 stream, as the former course would lead her fur- 
 ther from Forty Fort, the starting point of her 
 pursuers, while the latter would take her back 
 over the same ground they had traversed during 
 the forenoon. This course of reasoning decided 
 the red scout to make his first search up the river 
 shore; but to economize time he determined to 
 send the two young men to hunt in the opposite 
 direction. 
 
 "Walk slow," said he, in making known his 
 wishes; "make no noise, watch for Iroquois, and 
 watch for canoe." 
 
 "Suppose we catch sight of it, Jack, what 
 then?" asked Ned Clinton. 
 
 "Come look for Lena-Wingo -he tell what do. H 
 
THE RIVER FUGITIVE*. 3KHL 
 
 With this understanding the parties separated. 
 The Mohawk, as may be supposed, was more 
 expeditious in what he did than were his friends. 
 As he went up the river shore, he proceeded very 
 nearly as rapidly as when making his way 
 through the wilderness at his ordinary gait. He 
 could do this and guard against running into 
 danger as well as if his walk was only half as 
 fast. 
 
 He believed that if Rosa had taken this coarse, 
 she would not have proceeded more than a couple 
 of hundred yards before coming into land again. 
 But, to leave no room for mistake on his part, he 
 never paused until he had traveled fully twice that 
 distance, at the end of which he came to the con- 
 clusion that, as he had discovered nothing at all, 
 she must have taken the other course. 
 
 While he was thus employed, Jo Mint urn and 
 Ned Clinton were doing what they could to 
 unravel the mystery of Rosa's whereabouts. 
 Proceeding at a more tardy rate, they had not 
 gone half as far as Lena-Wingo, when he turned 
 to retrace his steps. But the result was the dis- 
 covery that they had taken the right route. It 
 was something like half the distance we have 
 
232 THE RIVER FUGITIVES. 
 
 spoken of, that they learned an important fact. 
 Ned -was slightly in advance of his companion, 
 walking with the utmost caution, neither of the 
 two having spoken a word, when he paused. 
 
 "What's up? " asked Jo, in a whisper. 
 
 Ned answered him by stealthily parting the 
 bushes immediately in front with one hand, while 
 he pointed down stream with the other, still 
 silent, as if fearful that a whisper might betray 
 them. There it was, no more than fifty feet away. 
 Drawn up against the shore was a small canoe, 
 its nose resting against the bank, just far enough 
 to keep it from being carried away by the current. 
 The young scouts stood several minutes contem- 
 plating it, without stirring or speaking. Then 
 Ned said : 
 
 "That's the boat we are looking for, and what 
 shall we do?" 
 
 "Let's examine it." 
 
 "I think it will be safer to wait for Jack." 
 
 "He may not be here for some time " 
 
 "'Sh! There he is now." 
 
 Just then the undergrowth separated behind 
 them, and the Indian joined them. He saw what 
 the matter was before they spoke. 
 
THE EIVER FUGITIVES. 283 
 
 "Stay here," he whispered. "I will look." 
 "What do you think of it? " asked Ned. 
 "There is some one in it," was the answer of 
 the Mohawk, as he moved cautiously in the direc- 
 tion of the canoe. 
 
CHAPTER XXXL 
 
 A TEST OF THE NERVES. 
 
 BY what means the Mohawk decided that the 
 canoe resting so quietly against the bank con- 
 tained some person, was more than Ned Clinton 
 and Jo Minturn could tell, until he stopped a 
 moment to explain. 
 
 "Boat sink low in water too low itself some 
 one sink it!" 
 
 This, then, was the simple manner by which he 
 judged. The vessel was lower than it would have 
 been were there not something more than its own 
 weight to cause the depression. 
 
 "Stay here," added the Mohawk. "Me go 
 sec,** 
 
 The youths remained in a stationary position, 
 wfole the veteran moved down the shore in 
 the direction of the canoe, his friends watch- 
 ing his actions with a painful intensity of 
 interest. They saw him advance step by step, 
 never once removing his eyes from the boat, in 
 which he was sure either a friend or enemy was 
 
 234 
 
THE RIYER FUGITIVES. 386 
 
 lying. When he reached the point within a couple 
 of rods, he paused, and stood for a full minute m 
 a crouching posture, scrutinizing the canoe as 
 though he had discovered the identity of its 
 occupant. Then, instead of keeping on down iile 
 shore, he stepped into the water, wading out 
 until it reached to his knees, when he resumed 
 his march upon the craft. 
 
 He did not reach it that is, close enough to 
 touch the gunwale with his hand, but the specta- 
 tors were sure that he went nigh enough to see 
 who was within. And then, to the unbounded 
 amazement of the two lads, he began retreating, 
 walking backward, till he made the point where 
 he entered the river, when he stepped out and 
 rapidly rejoined them. They looked in his face, 
 hoping to read some explanation of his singular 
 course, but they might as well have studied the 
 countenance of a bronze image. 
 
 "Is there any one in the canoe?" asked Ned, 
 resolved that the Mohawk should explain what he 
 meant by his actions. 
 
 "Yes some one there." 
 
 "Who is he?" 
 Lena-Wingo turned and looked directly in the 
 
236 THE RIVER FUGITIVES. 
 
 face of the speaker without uttering a word hi 
 reply, for several seconds. Then he said : 
 
 "You young scout brave man? " 
 
 "Well, I don't know about that," was the 
 rather confused reply of the blushing Ned. 
 
 "Yes, you brave mango kill him ! " 
 
 He accompanied these startling words by 
 pointing toward the bqat, so there could be no 
 mistake as to his meaning. Having discovered 
 the occupant of the canoe asleep and unconscious, 
 he left him there, when he had him at his mercy, 
 and took the trouble to come back and give the 
 lad the task of putting him out of the way. A 
 nice duty, indeed ! 
 
 But Ned resolved that he would not back out, 
 repulsive as it was. 
 
 War is made up of cruelty, and, in fighting these 
 redmen and Tories, it was a weak sentimentality 
 that showed them mercy, after what they had 
 done to the settlers. Such was the argument with 
 which Ned strove to convince himself that it was 
 his duty to steal up to the sleeping warrior and 
 bury his knife in his body ! He did not stop to 
 reflect that the Mohawk was noted for displaying 
 mercy in the same direction ; but, having already 
 received more than one compliment from him, he 
 
THB RIVER FUGITIVBS. 237 
 
 could not afford to forfeit his good opinion now 
 by any exhibition of timidity when asked to per- 
 form so simple a task as that of putting a redskin 
 to his eternal sleep. 
 
 "I'll do it, Jack," he said, straightening up, with 
 the resolution written on every line of his counte- 
 nance ; "I'll do it for you." 
 
 The Mohawk nodded his head in away to show 
 that he was pleased with the grit displayed by the 
 youth, and he muttered : 
 
 "Brave boy kill him do it well." 
 
 "Shall I shoot him, or use the knife? " 
 
 4 ' No shoot Iroquois will hear use knife won't 
 hear." 
 
 "If that is to be the way to manage the thing, I 
 may as well leave my gun behind, as it will only 
 be in the way." 
 
 ' ' Yes ; leave gun take knife. " 
 
 The reason for this was probably because the 
 gun would be an encumbrance, when there was no 
 expectation of using it. If he carried nothing but 
 the knife, he would not be tempted to use any 
 other weapon, and it meant the most serious kind 
 of work. 
 
 "I wouldn't do it," whispered Jo, noticing that 
 his friend was on the point of starting. 
 
THE RIYER FUGITIVES. 
 
 "Of course I will," replied Ned, in the same 
 guarded voice. "He would n't ask me unless he 
 had good reason for it." 
 
 At this juncture, when the young scout was 
 about to set out, he took the hunting-knife in his 
 grasp, but the Mohawk interfered. 
 
 "Don't do that," he said, "put in waist get it 
 when want it." 
 
 Ned obeyed him without hesitation, shoving it 
 down in the top of his trousers, with the handle 
 prelecting upward, so that it could be withdrawn 
 at any instant desired. All being ready, the young 
 scout made a start, unaware that at the same 
 second the Mohawk played a rather curious trick 
 upon him. With a quick, dexterous movement, 
 Lena-Wingo drew out the knife again, doing it so 
 neatly, indeed, that Jo failed to observe it. With 
 the same dexterity he concealed it about his per- 
 son, where it could not attract the attention of 
 any one. 
 
 Thus it was that Ned Clinton actually set out 
 to ** finish" an Indian warrior, without any 
 weapon with which to do it. Ned had the advan- 
 tage of the example of the Mohawk scout to guide 
 him in his approach to the canoe containing the 
 sleeping redskin, and he did his best to imitate 
 
THE RIYER FUGITIVES. 239 
 
 his every movement. He made his way with the 
 same consummate caution as did he, until he 
 reached the spot where the savage went into the 
 water, when he also stepped into the current, the 
 depth of which he knew from having noticed it 
 when waded by his friend. 
 
 It was necessary, after having started, that he 
 should give his entire attention to the boat which 
 he was approaching. There was the danger that 
 the sleeping redskin might awake, in which case 
 the situation of the young scout would not be the 
 most desirable in the world; for, if the lad had 
 really possessed his knife, as he supposed he did, it 
 could have served him no purpose until he got 
 within close range, while the redskin would have 
 the advantage of a shot from his rifle. But this 
 contingency caused Ned little fear, for he knew 
 that his two friends behind him were watching 
 every step he took, and if such a thing should hap- 
 pen, the Mohawk would save him. 
 
 The closer the lad drew to the canoe, the greater 
 became his caution, until his progress was very 
 slow, and it seemed to Jo more than once that he 
 had actually paused and was standing still. But 
 the young scout was advancing all the time, and 
 
240 THE RIVER FUGITIVES. 
 
 he was now within a few steps of the boat. His 
 heart beat so violently that he was afraid he 
 would be betrayed by that means alone, for he 
 knew that no person sleeps more lightly than the 
 Indian. He wondered again and again why it 
 was this warrior lay so still, when he must have 
 known, before lying down, that he placed himself 
 in great peril. However, the courage of the lad 
 never faltered. The Mohawk had given him the 
 task to do, and if it were within the range of 
 human possibility, he meant it should be done. 
 
 It was a severe test of one's nerves thtts to 
 steal up to a deadly foe, with the intention that 
 actuated him. As the boy recalled his experience 
 of the last few days, he was sure there was noth- 
 ing in it at all to equal this not even when he 
 was making his way through the Susquehanna, 
 with the enemies in the front and rear. But his 
 nerves, tense as they were, became as steel, when 
 at last he reached a point from which he caught a 
 glimpse of the bright garments of the occupant. 
 
 The young scout concluded that this was the 
 time for him to draw his knife, so as to have it 
 ready to use the next moment. Accordingly he 
 reached his hand down, when the cold perspira- 
 
THE RIVER FUGITIVES. 241 
 
 tion sprang out all over his body, for it was gone. 
 He paused as if smitten by a bullet from the foe 
 whom he was approaching, for here he was, and 
 powerless to help himsell 
 
CHAPTER XXXII. 
 
 THB OCCUPANT OP THE CANOB. 
 
 CLINTON stood transfixed. The disappointment 
 was so unexpected, so unprepared for, that he 
 was as powerless as a child in the presence of 
 some overwhelming danger. Had the Indian 
 arisen at that moment, he would have found an 
 easy victim in the youth, who had set out with 
 such high courage. Ned never dreamed that the 
 Mohawk had anything to do with the disap- 
 pearance of his weapon, nor would he have 
 believed it, unless he had himself witnessed the 
 purloining. 
 
 A few seconds were sufficient to recover his 
 self-possession, and, supposing that he had 
 dropped the knife while stealing along with such 
 care, he turned about to go back and secure 
 another. As he did so, he saw Jo and Lena- 
 Wingo looking at him, and it seemed their faces 
 were not as serious as they ought to be at such 
 a time. The Indian motioned for him to go 
 ahead a piece of advice which the lad could 
 
 242 
 
THE RIVER FUGITIVES. 243 
 
 not appreciate, and lie hesitated to obey it. Btrt 
 Jo, at this juncture, joined him in signaling the 
 same thing, and, fearful that their purpose 
 might not be understood, he actually said, in a 
 Toice which was distinctly heard by the aston- 
 ished Ned: 
 
 "Take a look at him! Take a look at him!" 
 
 "That's queer business," growled young 
 Clinton. "They must think that warrior is 
 sleeping like a log, to keep it up with all this 
 racket about him/' 
 
 However, he concluded to gratify their whim, 
 and he moved carefully back until he was closer 
 than before so nigh, indeed, that he was able 
 to see the occupant of the canoe. Occupant it 
 certainly had, in the person of the dearest object 
 on earth Miss Rosa Minturn. 
 
 She was reclining with her brilliantly-colored 
 shawl gathered about her, and sleeping as 
 quietly as an infant, with no sign that any 
 hostile Indian knew anything of her where- 
 abouts. One cheek rested on her arm, while tbe 
 other was turned to the mild summer breeze 
 that was stealing over the Susquehanna. With 
 her shawl drawn about her shoulders, the picture 
 
244f THE RIVER FUGITIVES. 
 
 of sleeping innocence and beauty was as winning 
 as could be. 
 
 The revulsion from his grim and gloomy state 
 of mind, caused by the discovery that instead of a 
 fierce, painted redskin stretched in the bottom of 
 the boat was the enchanting object of his affec- 
 tion, was so great that he could barely prevent 
 himself from uttering a cry of joy, and he stood 
 for several minutes gazing in silent rapture on the 
 picture. He was roused by hearing the voice of 
 his friend Jo : 
 
 "I'm afraid you 11 catch cold, Ned, if you stand 
 all the afternoon in the water." 
 
 The young man turned his head and saw them 
 both laughing, the grin of the Mohawk especially 
 being of tremendous proportions. Through the 
 strange and apparently contradictory nature of 
 Lena-Wingo ran a vein of humor, which showed 
 itself at the most unexpected times, and no one 
 could have enjoyed the astonishment of Ned more 
 than did he on the present occasion. 
 
 "Bring the boat here," called out Jo t when the 
 thing had lasted several minutes. "What's the 
 use of leaving it there ? " 
 
 This was a sensible suggestion, and Ned acted 
 
THE RIVER FUGITIVES. 245 
 
 upon it at once by reaching out his hand, seizing 
 the gunwale, and moving up-stream with it. 
 
 "Here's your knife," said Jo, with a laugh, as 
 he handed the weapon to him. "The next time 
 you start on such an expedition as that, you had 
 better take something of the kind along." 
 
 "That's some of your or Lena-Wingo's work," 
 replied Ned, feeling that the joke was at his 
 expense, and very willing to bear it, when the 
 result was so in consonance with the best wishes 
 and prayers of his heart. 
 
 They might have laughed for an hour, for all he 
 cared, so long as the missing girl was restored to 
 them. Reaching the point where his friends were 
 waiting him, he drew the canoe well up the bank, 
 so there was no danger of its floating away, 
 while Jo explained the little trick that the 
 Mohawk played upon his friend. 
 
 "She sleeps soundly," said the brother, leaning 
 over, and gently touching his lips to the warm 
 cheek of the girl. "Poor sister, she so required 
 rest that she forgot herself, and went to sleep 
 when she didn't mean to; but no harm is done." 
 
 It was deemed best not to disturb her for the 
 present, as she was in need of the slumber she 
 was enjoying, and was quite certain to awake in 
 
246 THE RIVER FUGITIVES. 
 
 a short time. Lena-Wingo explained that he sus- 
 pected the girl was asleep in the canoe the instant 
 he saw the boat lying against the bank ; for, as it 
 was plain that some one was within, nothing 
 was more likely than it was the one that had 
 gone away with the boat. There was the possi- 
 bility, however, that such was not the case, 
 and before carrying out his little joke, he made 
 sure of the truth. When he saw that Rosa was 
 found, he arranged the jest for his own amuse- 
 ment, carrying it out with the success which we 
 have already shown to our readers. 
 
 The friends were conversing in guarded under- 
 tones, when there was a rustle from the boat, and 
 looking in that direction, Rosa was seen in a sit- 
 ting position, looking inquiringly upon them, as if 
 she did not exactly understand what it all meant. 
 
 "Well, my sister, we have taken you prisoner, 
 after you tried so hard to give us the slip," 
 remarked Jo, with a laugh. 
 
 "It looked once as though we should be unable 
 to find you at all," added Ned, extending his hand 
 to help her from the boat to the shore. "We made 
 a hunt for you, and Jo and I were about ready to 
 give up, when we caught sight of the canoe." 
 
THE RIVER FUGITIVES. 347 
 
 Rosa reached out her hand in response to the 
 proffer of her young admirer, but she sprang as 
 lightly ashore as a bird scarcely needing the help 
 given her. Not entirely disappointed was Ned, for 
 when the fairy fingers lightly touched his own, the 
 thrill that went through the system of the young 
 scout was like that from the electric battery. The 
 crimson flush stole over his face, and he was sure 
 that all would laugh at his embarrassment, but 
 nobody seemed to notice it, and he soon recovered 
 his self-possession, as the group seated themselves 
 together, on the leaves, just far enough with- 
 drawn from the river to avoid being seen by any 
 that might be going tip or down stream. 
 
 "And this is what you call waiting for me?" 
 was the half-serious question of Jo Minturn to his 
 sister, when they were seated. 
 
 "I promised to wait for you if I could, didn't 
 I ? " she said, in reply. 
 
 "Well, and what was there to hinder? " 
 
 "Three Iroquois was not that enough? M 
 
 "It will do, if there is nothing better to ofler; 
 but I don't understand how you could get away 
 from three Indians by jumping into a canoe and 
 paddling such a short way." 
 
 "How can you, when I haven't explained? " 
 
248 THE RIVER FUGITIVES. 
 
 "Fll be glad to learn." 
 
 "It was only a short time after you left that I 
 heard signals very near me in the woods. I knew 
 they were made by some of the Iroquois scouts 
 that were prowling in the neighborhood, though 
 what they were after was more than I could tell, 
 for it did n't seem likely they were hunting for me. 
 I didn't doubt, however, that they would stop to 
 pick me up if they got the chance, so I kept watch 
 on them. In a little while I saw one of them to 
 the right, and, as he was moving toward me, I 
 thought it time to see whether the way was open 
 on the left yonder; but I hadn't gone far, when I 
 found there was an Indian stealing from that 
 direction, while there was the best reason to sus- 
 pect a third one was almost as near as they. 
 Well, I began to think I was in a bad situation, 
 and there wasn't much prospect of getting out by 
 pushing ahead, so I moved back toward the Sus- 
 quehanna, uncertain what I would do when I got 
 there, but well satisfied that it was the only way 
 open. The first thing that caught my eye on 
 reaching the river was the canoe lying against the 
 bank, as it must have been all the time without 
 our suspecting it. 9 ' 
 
CHAPTER XXXIII. 
 
 THB CONSULTATION. 
 
 "THAT canoe," continued Rosa, "must have 
 been sent by Heaven itself. I felt it the instant 
 I caught sight of it. I knew that if I staid here 
 any longer the Iroquois would catch me; so I 
 stepped into the boat, and shoved it clear of the 
 shore. There was no paddle, and I hadn't time 
 to look around to see where it had been hid. That 
 stopped me from going out in the river, too, 
 though I do n't know as I would have done that 
 if the oar was there that is, unless they pursued 
 me, and there was no other way of escaping. I 
 dropped down along the shore, keeping as close 
 as I could, and allowing the canoe to drift with 
 the current, which you know runs very slow so 
 close in. I kept it up awhile, stopping now and 
 then to listen ; but I heard nothing, and when it 
 seemed to me that I had gone far enough, I drew 
 it to the bank, and sat down to listen and watch 
 for the redmen. Well, I must have fallen asleep, 
 for I don't remember anything until I woke up a 
 
 249 
 
360 THE RIVER FUGITIVES. 
 
 few minutes ago. I know that I was very sleepy, 
 for I did n't get one minute's slumber last night, 
 and it's hard to do nothing but sit still and keep 
 
 awake at such a time. 
 
 " 
 
 No one present could criticise the course of the 
 fair fugitive, whose action had, doubtless, saved 
 her from falling into the hands of the Iroquois 
 when they were so close upon her. There was so 
 much general joy over the reunion that there was 
 no room for fault-finding with each other, espe- 
 cially when there was so little cause for it. 
 
 The long summer afternoon of the day which, 
 like the preceding, was to live in their memories 
 as among the most eventful of all their lives, was 
 far advanced, and night would soon be upon 
 them. Before holding a full consultation as to 
 future plans and course of action, the Mohawk 
 made a reconnoissance of their own position, for 
 the purpose of learning whether there was imme- 
 diate danger of any of the Iroquois breaking in 
 upon them. He returned in less than half an hour, 
 declaring that nothing of the kind was to be 
 apprehended, and the four sat down to a con- 
 versation which was a freer one than they had 
 enjoyed since starting upon their memorable 
 journey. 
 
THE RIVER FUGITIVES. 291 
 
 Precisely what they were to do was left* as 
 may be supposed, to the Mohawk, under whose 
 guidance they all placed themselves. It did not 
 take him long to tell what he had decided upon. 
 His purpose was to wait where they were, or, 
 perhaps, near there, till night was fully upon 
 them, and then to cross the river to the other 
 shore and make their way to Wilkesbarre. 
 
 It was stated at the opening of our story that, 
 during the massacre which succeeded the battle of 
 Wyoming, a panic seized the garrison and settlers 
 at Wilkesbarre. Believing the victorious Indians 
 and Tories were about to cross over and mas- 
 sacre them all, a stampede took place in the direc- 
 tion of Stroudsburg and other points, many of 
 the fugitives starting in such haste that a great 
 number perished by the way the wilderness 
 where the fatality was so frightful, being known 
 to this day as the " Shades of Death." This panic 
 was unwarranted. Those who remained were 
 safe from molestation, since Colonel Butler and 
 his allies were too nearly defeated as it was, at 
 Wyoming, to incur any risk of having the tables 
 turned upon him. 
 
 Lena-Wingo understood the situation, and was 
 well satisfied that they had only to make the 
 
252 THE RIVER FUGITIVES. 
 
 point named to be beyond the reach of their 
 enemies. His plan, therefore, was the most simple 
 that could be devised, and it needed scarcely any 
 explanation from him, when he had once inti- 
 mated it to his friends. As he had done once 
 before that day, he declared that it was important 
 that they should find some means of providing 
 themselves with food before undertaking to 
 finish the journey, speaking of course in this mat- 
 ter more for his companions than for himself. 
 
 It was useless to protest against such a course, 
 when the Mohawk had made up his mind to it. 
 No doubt he believed that Rosa felt the need of 
 food, and he was determined she should have it ; 
 and it may be supposed that after his experience 
 of the afternoon, there was no likelihood of his 
 repeating the blunder then made. 
 
 A stillness like that of the great solitude itself 
 fell upon them as they sat in the dense under- 
 growth of the woods, talking in low tones of their 
 future plans, and speculating as to what their 
 enemies were doing at that time. The Mohawk 
 took no part in the words that passed between 
 them. He was inclined to reticence at all times, 
 and rarely spoke except when there was necessity 
 therefor, or when he had some of his little schemes 
 
THE RIVER FUGITIVES. 253 
 
 for his own amusement on Hand. Leaving the 
 others to do the chatting, he busied himself in 
 searching for the paddle reported missing by Rosa 
 Minturn. As may be imagined, it did not take 
 him long to find where it had been placed beneath 
 some dry leaves. 
 
 "Now, if that boat was left here by a redskin, 
 as must have been the case,'* said Ned Clinton, 
 "why, is it not likely that the owner will be back 
 before long to take charge of it again ? " 
 
 "I have thought of the same thing more than 
 once," replied Jo, "but I concluded that if Jack 
 was satisfied we ought to be." 
 
 The Mohawk was absent at that moment and 
 Rosa added: 
 
 "Lena-Wingo is likely to make mistakes the 
 same as any one else, for all he is the smartest 
 man I ever saw in the woods. If he hadn't 
 insisted on going in that deserted house, and sit- 
 ting down to eat, we wouldn't have got into the 
 trouble we did." 
 
 "But he managed to get out of it again," said 
 Ned Clinton. 
 
 "But he would have had hard work, if it 
 hadn't been for you," remarked Jo Minturn. 
 
254 THE RIVER FUGITIYE*. 
 
 "I don't know about that," Ned was equally 
 prompt to say. "I was able to do something, it 
 is true, to hurry up matters, but you know there 
 isn't any scrape that the Mohawk can't manage 
 to pull out of in some way or other, and, if I 
 hadn't come along just as I did, he would have 
 outwitted the Iroquois in one way or another." 
 
 "Well," replied Jo, impatiently, "suppose we 
 say that you never did anything at all; that, I 
 guess, will suit you better, for I do n't undertake 
 to tell anything about you that you don't put 
 in a protest. How will that suit Ned ? " 
 
 "That will do well enough," he answered, with 
 a laugh. "I am not hunting after honor that 
 doesn't belong to me." 
 
 "And aren't willing to take that which does 
 belong to you, either." 
 
 "I wonder what has become of Jack," said Ned, 
 turning his head, and looking off in the gathering 
 twilight; "I don't like to have him gone too 
 long." 
 
 "He is looking after our interests," replied 
 Rosa ; " I remember when we used to go hunting 
 and had to camp in the woods, he was on the go 
 all the time. He would sit down a while, and 
 when we were talking, would jump tip and be off 
 
THE RIVER FUGITIVES. 255 
 
 like a shot. When He came back, he tried to make 
 me believe he had heard some kind of game in the 
 forest, but I was sure he was telling a fib half the 
 time, and only wanted an excuse for leaving me 
 as he did." 
 
 "You may be sure he is within call," said Ned, 
 "and, if anything turns up demanding his pres- 
 ence, he will be back in a twinkling; but, for all 
 that, I wish he were here." 
 
 "Do you know," said Jo, looking at the couple, 
 with a glowing face, "that I consider our adven- 
 tures, or at least our dangers, over? " 
 
 "And why do you think that?" inquired his 
 sister, with some surprise. 
 
 "This is the first time all of us have been 
 together. So long as we were separated, some 
 or every one was in danger. But now we are 
 under the care of the smartest Indian in the 
 country ; we have weapons and ammunition, and 
 he will soon lead us to a place of safety, where we 
 can stay until all peril is over." 
 
 Ned and Rosa caught the contagion of the 
 youth's buoyancy of spirits, and came to believe 
 that their stirring experiences were ended, and 
 that soon all would be well with them and the 
 
256 THE RIVER FUCITIYBa. 
 
 loved ones not far away. They therefore awaited 
 the return of the Mohawk in a more tranquil 
 and comfortable state of mind than at any time 
 since the invasion of the Wyoming valley by th 
 Tories and Indians. 
 
THE 
 
 Famous Standard Juveniles 
 
 Published by 
 
 THE JOHN C. WINSTON CO. 
 Philadelphia 
 
 EDWARD S. ELLIS 
 
 Edward S. Ellis, the popular writer of boys' books, is a 
 native of Ohio, where he was born somewhat more than a half- 
 century ago. His father was a famous hunter and rifle shot, 
 and it was doubtless his exploits and those of his associates, 
 with their tales of adventure which gave the son his taste 
 for the breezy backwoods and for depicting the stirring life 
 of the early settlers on the frontier. 
 
 Mr. Ellis began writing at an early age and his work was 
 acceptable from the first. His parents removed to New 
 Jersey while he was a boy and he was graduated from the 
 State Normal School and became a member of the faculty 
 while still in his teens. He was afterward principal of the 
 Trenton High School, a trustee and then superintendent 
 of schools. By that time his services as a writer had become 
 so pronounced that he gave his entire attention to liter- 
 ature. He was an exceptionally successful teacher and 
 wrote a number of text-books for schools, all of which met 
 with high favor. For these and his historical productions, 
 Princeton College conferred upon him the degree of Master 
 of Arts. 
 
 The high moral character, the clean, manly tendencies 
 and the admirable literary style of Mr. Ellis' stories have 
 made him as popular on the other side. of the Atlantic as in 
 
 this country. A leading paper remarked some time since, 
 
 16 
 
that no mother need hesitate to place in the hands of ber 
 boy any book written by Mr. Ellis. They are found in 
 the leading Sunday-school libraries, where, as may well 
 be believed, they are in wide demand and do mtieh good 
 by their sound, wholesome lessons which render them as 
 acceptable to parents as to their children. Nearly aft of 
 the Ellis books published by The John C. Winston Company 
 are reissued in London, and many have been translated 
 into other languages. Mr. Ellis is a writer of raried accom- 
 plishments, and, in addition to his stories, is the author of 
 historical works, of a number of pieces of popular music, 
 and has made several valuable inventions. Mr. Effig is in 
 the prime of his mental and physical powers, and great as 
 have been the merits of his past achievements, there is 
 reason to look for more brilliant productions from his pen in 
 the near future. 
 
 DEERFOOT SERIES 
 
 3 vote. By EDWARD S. ELLIS 
 
 Hunters of the Ozark The Last War 
 
 Camp in the Mountains 
 
 LOG CABIN SERIES 
 
 3 vote. By EDWARD S. ELLIS J*.oo 
 
 Lost Trail Footprints in fh POM* 
 
 Camp-Fire and Wigwam 
 
 BOY PIONEER SERIES 
 
 3 vols. By EDWARD S. ELLIS Sfe-oo 
 
 Bed in the Block-House Ned on the 
 
 Ned in the Woods 
 
 THE NORTHWEST SERIES 
 
 3 vols. By EDWARD S. ELLIS 
 
 Two Boys in Wyoming Cowmen and 
 
 A Strange Craft and its Wonderful Voyage 
 
 BOONE AND KENTON SERIES 
 
 3 vote. By EDWARD S. ELLIS $3-0 
 
 Shod with Silence In the Days of the 
 
 Phantom of the River 
 
 WAR CHIEF SERIES 
 
 3 vote. By EDWARD S. ELLIS 
 
 Red Eagle Blazing 
 
 Iron Heart, War Chief of the Iroquois 
 17 
 
THE NEW DEERFOOT SERIES 
 
 By EDWARD S. ELLIS $3.00 
 
 Dowfoot in the Forest Deerfoot on the Prairie 
 
 Deerfoot in the Mountains 
 
 TRUE GRIT SERIES 
 
 By EDWARD S. ELLIS $3.00 
 
 Jim mod Joe Dorsey, the Young Inventor 
 
 Secret of Coffin Island 
 
 GREAT AMERICAN SERIES 
 
 By EDWARD S. ELLIS $*.oo 
 
 Twddy and Towser; or, Early Days in California 
 Up the Forked River 
 
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 Am American King The Cromwell of Virginia 
 
 The Last Emperor of the Old Dominion 
 
 FOREIGN ADVENTURE SERIES 
 
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 Loot in the Forbidden Land River and Ju*gie 
 
 The Hunt of the White Elephant 
 
 PADDLE YOUR OWN CANOE SERIES 
 
 By EDWARD S. ELLIS $3.00 
 
 rbft Forest Messengers The Mountain Star 
 
 Queen of the Clouds 
 
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 By EDWARD S. ELLIS $3.00 
 
 Off fflfoj Reservation Trailing Geronimo 
 
 The Round Up 
 
 OVERLAND SERIES 
 
 By EDWARD S. ELLIS fcz.oo 
 
 the Pony Express Rider Alden Among the Indians 
 
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 By EDWARD S. ELLIS $.oo 
 
 Captain of the Camp Catamount Camp 
 
 THE FLYING BOYS SERIES 
 
 By EDWARD S. ELLIS $2.00 
 
 he Vfeing Boys in the Sky The Flying Boys to the Rescue 
 
 Sent Postpaid on Receipt of Price 
 
 THE JOHN C. WINSTON CO., Publishers 
 
 WtBSTOW BUILDING PHILADELPHIA 
 
 18 
 
THE JOHN C. WCTSTOn COMPANY'S POPULAR JUVENILES 
 
 HARRY CASTLEMON 
 
 HOW I CAME TO WRITE MY FIRST BOOK 
 
 WHKN I was sixteen jcars old I belonged to a compo- 
 sition class. It was our custom to go on the recita- 
 tion seat every day with clean slates, and we were 
 allowed ten minutes to write seventy words on any subject 
 the teacher thought suited to our capacity. One day he 
 gave out "What a Man Would See if He Went to Green- 
 land." My heart was in the matter, and before the ten 
 minutes were up I had one side of my slate filled. The 
 teacher listened to the reading of our compositions, and 
 when they were all over he simply said : "Some of you will 
 make your living by writing one of these days." That gave 
 me something to ponder upon, I did not say so out loud, 
 but I knew that my composition was as good as the best of 
 them. By the way, there was another thing that came in 
 my way just then. I was reading at that time one of Mayne 
 Reid's works which I had drawn from the library, and I 
 pondered upon it as much as I did upon what the teacher 
 said to me. In introducing Swartboy to his readers he made 
 use of this expression : "No visible change was observable 
 in Swartboy 's countenance." Now, it occurred tome that 
 if a man of his education could make such a blunder as that 
 and still write a book, I ought to be able to do it, too. I 
 went home that very day and began a story, "The Old 
 Guide's Narrative," which was sent to the New York 
 Weekly, and came back, respectfully declined. It was writ- 
 ten on both sides of the sheets but I didn't know that this 
 was against the rules, Nothing abashed, I began another, 
 and receiving some instruction from a friend of mine who 
 was a clerk in a book store, I wrote it on only one side of 
 the paper, But, mind you, he didn't know what I was 
 
THE JOHN C. WIN3TOTT COMPANY'S PCFTTLAR JUVENILES 
 
 doing. Nobody knew it ; but one day, after a hard Satur- 
 day's work the other boys had been out skating on the 
 brick-pond I shyly broached the subject to my mother. I 
 felt the need of some sympathy. She listened in amaze- 
 ment, and then said: "Why, do you think you could write 
 a book like that?" That settled the matter, and from that 
 day no one knew what I was up to until I sent the first four 
 volumes of Gunboat Series to my father. Was it work? 
 Well, yes ; it was hard work, but each week I had the satis- 
 faction of seeing the manuscript grow until the "Young 
 Naturalist" was all complete. 
 
 Harry Castlemon in the Writer. 
 
 GUNBOAT SERIES 
 
 6 vols. By HARRY CASTLEMON $6.00 
 
 Frank the Young Naturalist Frank Before Vicksburg 
 Frank on a Gunboat Frank on the Lower Mississippi 
 
 Frank in the Woods Frank on the Prairie 
 
 ROCKY MOUNTAIN SERIES 
 
 3 vols. By HARRY CASTLEMON $3.00 
 
 Frank Among the Rancheros Frank in the Mountains 
 
 Frank at Don Carlos' Rancho 
 
 SPORTSMAN'S CLUB SERIES 
 
 3 vols. By HARRY CASTLEMON $3.75 
 
 The Sportsman's Club in the Saddle The Sportman's Club Afloat 
 The Sportsman's Club Among the Trappers 
 
 FRANK NELSON SERIES 
 
 3 vob. By HARRY CASTLEMON $3.75 
 
 Snowed Up Frank in the Forecastle 
 
 The Boy Traders 
 
 BOY TRAPPER SERIES 
 
 3 vols: By HARRY CASTLEMON $3.00 
 
 The Buried Treasure The Boy Trapper 
 
 The Mail Carrier 
 
 ROUGHING IT SERIES 
 
 3 vols. By HARRY CASTLEMON $3.00 
 
 George in Camp George at the Fort 
 
 George at the Wheel 
 
 21 
 
THE JOHN C. WINSTON COMPANY'S POPULAR JUVEHILBS 
 
 ROD AND GUN SERIES 
 
 3 rob. By HARRY CASTLEMON $3^00 
 
 Don Gordon's Shooting Box The Young "Wild Fowlers 
 
 Rod and Gun Club 
 
 GO-AHEAD SERIES 
 
 3 vols. By HARRY CASTLEMON 
 
 Tom ITewcombe Go-Ahead o MOM 
 
 WAR SERIES 
 
 6 vols. By HARRY CASTLEMON 
 
 True to His Colors Marcy the Blockade-Runner 
 
 Rodney the Partisan Marcy the Refugee 
 
 Rodney the Overseer Sailor Jack the Trader 
 
 HOUSEBOAT SERIES 
 
 3 vols. By HARRY CASTLEMON 
 
 The Houseboat Boys The Mystery of Lost River Canyon 
 
 The Young Game Warden 
 
 AFLOAT AND ASHORE SERIES 
 
 3 vols. By HARRY CASTLEMON 
 
 Rebellion in Dixie A Sailor in Spite of Himself 
 
 The Ten-Ton Cutter 
 
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 3 vols. By HARRY CASTLEMON 
 
 The Pony Express Rider The White Beovor 
 
 CarU The Trailer 
 
 SENT POSTPAID ON RECEIPT OP PRICE 
 
 THE JOHN C. WINSTON CO., Publishers 
 
 WIHSTON BUILDIWG PHILADELPHIA 
 
 23 
 
*Cl6Sf037