"Hence, strangers, to your native shore!
Far from our Indian shades retire."
Freneau.
When the morning light had rendered objects sufficiently visible, the
party in the boat endeavored to get a view of their precise situation.
The place where the cottage had stood, could be distinctly seen; but
instead of the dwelling, there appeared nothing but a mass of black and
smoking ruins. But not an Indian was to be seen. The party partook of a
very frugal breakfast; for previous to their flight, they had secured a
few articles of food--sufficient, if sparingly used, to last them for
three or four days.
"The question now seems to be," said Ichabod, "what we're going to do
next. Here we are--the cottage is burnt down--that factory project is
blowed up, for a while, at least; and providing--I say, _providing_, we
_can_ get away from these villainous reptiles, I'm for steering for the
settlements."
"I think that will be the course that we must adopt," said Ralph. "It
will be a tedious undertaking, in the face of all our difficulties, as
we shall be obliged to walk the whole distance the horses will
undoubtedly either be destroyed or captured by the Indians. Could they
be saved, so that Miss Barton and Singing-Bird could ride, it would not
be so difficult."
Barton assented with a melancholy look. "There's no use," he said, "in
my attempting to rebuild the cottage, even if the Senecas abandon the
country. I am getting old, and cannot labor as I once could. Yes--we
shall have to go to the settlements."
Ruth assured them that she could walk the distance necessary with
perfect ease. As for Singing-Bird, she laughed at the idea of riding.
As all assented to this proposal, the next thing was to find the means
of escape from their present difficulties. It would not be safe to leave
their cover in the willows, so long as the Senecas remained; and it was
hoped, that not discovering them upon the pond, they would, after
searching for them in the woods, for a day or two, finally abandon the
hope of capturing them, and either set out on their return to their own
country, or remove farther down the valley.
A feeling of joyful excitement pervaded the party. The extreme danger of
their situation on the previous night, their fortunate flight, and the
hope of an early escape, served to awaken this feeling, which, even
Barton and Ruth, who were so much the greatest sufferers by recent
events, shared with the others.
"I suppose," said Barton, "that Jenkins will most seriously feel the
consequences of our removal to the settlements. First, he loses a
fortune by the failure of that city-lot and factory speculation; and
next, he runs the risk of escape from the Senecas, to be captured and
imprisoned by his pale-faced friends."
"Now, that's rather too hard, Squire," said Ichabod. "That factory
business will keep for some years, at least: and as for that other
matter, I hope that fellow Parsons will discover from the fate of his
two officers, who took up the business on speculation, that there's a
special Providence agin his collecting it. But if he don't see reason,
we'll try and manage it."
The Tuscarora, who had taken no part in the conversation but who had
simply exchanged a few words, at intervals, with Singing-Bird, which
seemed to cloud her face with anxiety, now arose, and stretching his arm
towards the south, merely uttered the common Indian ejaculation of
surprise.
"Ugh!"
The others immediately arose, and after a few moments, their eyes became
fastened upon a sight, which attracted their attention. On the opposite
shore of the pond, some half-a-dozen Indians were seen, busily at work,
partially hidden behind bushes that grew to the water's edge. It was
evident that they were engaged in the construction of a raft, with which
they probably intended to search the northern shore. Though this
afforded some cause for alarm, yet, as a raft large enough to convey a
sufficiently numerous party to attack them with any chance of success,
would be too unwieldy to be moved through the water, except with the
greatest labor--they had no fear but that, if their landing-place should
be discovered, they would be able, by the greater ease with which their
boat could be managed, to escape from its pursuit. So long as they could
remain near the northern shore, they would be comparatively safe, as
they had no fear of any attack in that quarter, by land. No force
sufficiently large could penetrate in that direction, to give them any
uneasiness; but should they be driven by the raft from their present
position, they might be compelled, in escaping from it, to pass between
it and the shore, at some point where they might be exposed to an attack
from either. But for the present, they maintained their position, and
awaited the movements of the enemy.
It was probable that their precise position was unknown, although the
sagacity of the Indians would convince them that the fugitives must be
concealed somewhere on the northern shore. The woods had been thoroughly
searched, and no traces of the fugitives had been found, while the
disappearance of the boat, together with the fact that they could not
observe it upon the pond, was sufficient to induce them to believe that
the fugitives were yet in their power, had they any means to reach them.
They could not, without days of labor, construct canoes by which they
would be able to compete in speed with the boat in the possession of the
fugitives; but by building a large raft, which could be accomplished in
two or three hours, they might man it with sufficient numbers to move it
readily from place to place, as well as to capture the fugitives, should
they overtake them.
An hour or two had elapsed since Eagle's-Wing discovered the employment
of the Senecas, when they saw a large number of Indians collected
together at the place where the raft was being constructed. Soon they
saw the unwieldy structure moved into the pond; when about fifteen of
the Senecas, some with poles for urging the raft along the shore, and
others with paddles for use in the deeper water, got upon it, and forced
it into the pond. At first, they kept close to the shore, but soon
struck out into the deeper water. Their progress was extremely slow; but
it was sufficiently rapid to keep pace with the anxiety of the
fugitives.
The point was earnestly debated between Ichabod and his companions,
whether they should trust to the cover in which they now were, or
whether, on the near approach of the Indians, they should push out into
the pond. But it was finally agreed, as the safest course, to trust to
the water; as, were they to remain where they now were, and should they
be discovered, they would be compelled to fight at great odds; and
besides, there would be no means of flight; while, should they adopt
the other course, they might keep out of reach of the rifles of the
Indians; or if not, they could, at least, be in a condition to maintain
the fight at less odds and with greater chance of escape.
The raft had been urged to some distance from the shore into the deep
water; it was moved towards the north-east shore, with the intention,
evidently, of carrying it thence, along the whole southern side of the
pond. It finally reached the shore, at which point, it was from thirty
to forty rods from the spot where the boat was concealed. As the Indians
began to move along the shore, partly by the use of poles, and partly by
pulling upon the willows, the boat shot out from its cove into the pond.
The Indians witnessed it with loud yells of joy both from the raft and
the shore; and three or four rifles from the raft were discharged, but
the bullets struck in the water, their force being spent before reaching
the boat. The fugitives moved leisurely towards the centre of the pond,
while the Indians who manned the raft, resumed the use of their paddles,
and endeavored to follow them. The boat kept its distance from the raft,
moving towards the south-west shore, until it had reached a position
just out of range of the fire of the Senecas from the land. As the
Indians upon the raft came up almost near enough to use their rifles
effectively, the boat, urged by five paddles, passed between it and the
south shore. It took no little time and labor to check the motion of the
raft, and when that had been accomplished, the boat was again
approaching the northern shore, and had nearly reached the point from
which it started. It was evident to the Indians upon the raft, that they
might thus be evaded during the whole day and they now ceased their
attempt to follow the fugitives.
It was now nearly noon; and both the raft and boat lay motionless upon
the water.
"There's deviltry in this business, somewhere," said Ichabod.
"Injins done what they should have done this morning," said
Eagle's-Wing. "They gone after canoe."
"That's it, Eagle's-Wing; and I reckon that when they've got it
launched, we shall have our hands full."
"I am not certain," said Ralph, "but that we may hold out until night;
and then, perhaps, we should take to the shore, and run our chance in
the woods."
"I'm of your opinion, Captin," said Ichabod, "provided we _can_ hold out
until night. But I reckon--and I ain't use to giving up a speculation,
while there's a chance of making anything out of it--that if we stay
_here_, we shall lose our scalps, and if we go _there_ it will be just
about the same thing. I'm blamed if I see my way out of it."
"You must not despair, Ichabod," said Ruth--"if _you_ do that; we shall
lose heart altogether."
"Lord bless you, girl, I shouldn't _despair_ till them villainous
reptiles have got my scalp beyond the hope of redemption; and when that
thing happens, I shall _have_ to give it up. But what do _you_ say,
Eagle's-Wing?"
"Guess we lose our scalps. That's what I say," sententiously replied the
Tuscarora.
"But not without a fight for 'em, though," said Ichabod.
"Has any one ever explored this swamp?" suddenly asked Ralph. "Is it not
possible that we may find some tolerably safe cover in it?"
"I do not know that it has ever been thoroughly explored," answered
Barton; "but any place where we can go, those Senecas can follow."
"I am not so certain about that," replied Ralph. "If you will put me
ashore, I will reconnoiter it."
The boat again entered the cover, and Ralph stepped out upon the turf,
and instantly sank to his knees in the mud. But, clinging to the
willows, he extricated himself, and, assisted by the roots, which
furnished a sure footing, he passed some twenty rods from the shore,
when he discovered a little island of hard soil, not more than twenty
feet across in either direction, and which could only be reached, as he
ascertained on examination, by one path, part of which was formed by the
trunk of a fallen tree, some forty or fifty feet in length. He returned
with a heart relieved of half its load, to the boat; and he had but just
reached it, when the Indians upon the raft set up a loud yell of joy.
The cause was soon ascertained; for immediately afterwards, four Senecas
were seen approaching with a canoe, which they had brought from the
river. No time was to be lost, as the canoe and raft together would,
undoubtedly, be able to outmatch the boat, and either compel them to a
fight against great odds, or drive them to the shore.
Ralph hastily communicated the result of his reconnoisance, and their
resolution was instantly formed. The party immediately left the boat;
and in a few minutes, although with great difficulty, they reached the
little island which had been discovered by Ralph. As soon as it was
reached, they saw its capabilities as a place of defence. It was
surrounded upon all sides by the swamp, and was approachable from no
point, except from that at which they reached it. Upon the island were
two large trees, behind which Ruth and Singing-Bird could remain in
safety, in case of an attempt to dislodge them from the only practicable
point. There were also thick clumps of willows around it, behind which
they could remain concealed, except upon a near approach of the enemy,
against which they thought themselves able to guard. Ichabod was highly
delighted with this new place of defence.
"We're safe here, Captin. I'll risk all the Injins this side of the
infarnal legions, as long as our ammunition holds out. I'd like to see
them red devils poking their heads over them bushes, yonder."
"You'll see them soon enough," answered Ralph; "but I think we shall
escape captivity to-night, at least."
Preparations were now made for the effectual concealment of the women;
and when this was done, the rifles were all examined and put in
readiness. Scarcely had their preparations been concluded, when a loud
shout from the Indians announced that they had discovered the empty
boat. The path of the fugitives could easily be traced; and the latter
did not doubt but that a few moments would bring one or more of their
enemies in sight.
Not more than ten minutes had elapsed, ere Ichabod discovered a Seneca
cautiously making his way along the path which they had taken, clinging
to the willows.
"I'll give that fellow a taste of what his companions will get by
calling on us," said Ichabod. "It wouldn't be civil to refuse him what
he's come so far to get."
Taking aim, he discharged his rifle, and the Seneca fell lifeless,
vainly grasping at the willows for support. The Indians who were behind,
endeavored to press forward; but again and again the rifles of the
defenders were discharged, and five or six dead or wounded Indians
testified to Ichabod and his companions, that the place could be
successfully defended. The Indians themselves saw the hopelessness of
approaching the fugitives directly in the face, and rapidly retreated
towards the boats.
But to the astonishment of the little party on the island, scarcely had
the Senecas regained their boat, ere they heard a rapid discharge of
rifles on their left, with loud shrieks and yells, testifying the
arrival of another party of Indians. Were they friends or foes? The
Tuscarora rapidly swung himself into one of the trees upon the Island,
when with a yell of exultation which was answered from fifty throats he
shouted, "the Oneidas,--the Tuscaroras!"
Rapidly Eagle's-Wing, Ichabod and Ralph retraced their way to the place
where they had left the boat; when they beheld the Senecas moving as
swiftly across the pond towards the south-west shore, as the nature of
their cumbrous raft would allow. The four Senecas in the canoe had
already nearly reached the shore. On the left they beheld a large band
of Oneidas and Tuscaroras, forty or fifty in number, who were following
the retreating Senecas. In a few moments more the released party had
re-entered their boat, and were following the Senecas upon the raft.
They had come within fair rifle-shot, as the raft touched the shore;
their rifles were discharged, and the Senecas plunged hastily into the
forest.