BORDER BRAVERY.
Mr. Perkins having been allowed to relate his own story--in the telling
of which he drew a pretty long bow--his listeners judged it was time to
do something practical. He was asked therefore whether he could inform
them where to lay hands on a boat with which to cross the Susquehanna.
"Do I know where a boat is?" he repeated, as if surprised at the mere
idea that he could not give the information. "Why, of course I do.
There's one only a short distance from where we are standing this very
minute."
"Perhaps you refer to the one which Colonel Butler appropriated for
himself," suggested Ned, whose faith in the man was considerably
lessened by what he told them.
"No such thing; I'll put one in your hands in five minutes, if you will
go with me."
The three friends looked at Lena-Wingo, as if they wished his opinion
before they assented to the proposal. The Mohawk had been a patient
listener throughout, and he nodded his head and set the example by
leading the way.
"Go with him--he find boat."
Mr. Perkins seemed to form an exalted idea of his own usefulness by the
consciousness that he was the real guide for the time being, and he
stalked off like some leader of his clan. The apprehension that he was
misleading them was quieted by the confidence which the Mohawk showed in
his offer.
"I don't think there's any Indians or Tories about here, and the Lord be
thanked," remarked the settler, who found it about impossible to hold
his tongue when it was once loosed; "but it will be well to act as if
there was danger at every turn now. I advise you all to do like me--and
that is, not to speak a word when on the way through the woods--for I
tell you that it is the easiest thing in the world to let a whole tribe
know your poking round--"
"Be still!" struck in the Mohawk, evidently angered, where the others
were only amused. "Talk too much!"
This peremptory summons to put a check to his clatter was accepted in
the most philosophic manner by the individual for whom the command was
intended.
"That's what I have always maintained," he said. "People are ever
inclined to use their tongues more than they ought."
"Is your gun loaded?" asked Lena-Wingo, in a more considerate manner.
"Yes. I have got a double charge in her."
Thereupon the Indian whispered to Ned Clinton and Jo Minturn to drop
quietly behind, doing it in such a way that their disappearance would
not be noticed by their vaunting leader. The hint was acted upon and
within five minutes from the time it was given, Mr. Perkins was
conducting only the red scout through the forest, while he supposed the
three were directly in the rear of him, awed and speechless by the
stunning observations he was continually making for their benefit.
"As I was about to remark when you interrupted me," continued the
loquacious settler, "there is no fault more frequent than that of using
the tongue when it should be permitted to rest, and the Lord be thanked
that weakness can never be laid to my charge. When Mrs. Perkins and me
was a-coming to our retreat in the woods, she was so inclined to talk
that I had to admonish her several times it was likely to get us into
trouble. But law me! who ever heard of a handsome young lady that would
take any advice about talking? Mrs. Perkins is very sensitive on that
subject, and she chose to disregard what I said, and what was the
consequence? Why, my friends--it wasn't five--certainly not ten--minutes
after that, while we were picking our way along as best we could--What's
that?"
The settler paused in his walk and talk, like one who was suddenly
apprised that he was on the brink of some peril.
"What's that?" he repeated in a whisper, turning his head toward the
Mohawk, who was dimly discernible in the gloom.
"Iroquois Indian look for you."
"Good heavens and earth! You don't think so, do you?" fairly gasped the
man, trembling with affright.
"He Indian--he hear you talk--he come look for you."
"Oh, heaven! It won't do for me to stay here," whispered the poor
fellow, beginning a cautious retreat that brought him into collision
with the Mohawk, who was standing perfectly still, as if listening for
something that would tell him what the real danger was.
Lena-Wingo threw him off with such force that he stumbled forward upon
his hands and knees.
"What the blazes are you doing?" demanded the indignant Perkins,
scrambling to his feet. "What's the use of knocking a feller over that
way?"
By this time he was erect and gazing, or rather glaring, back into the
gloom, as if to make sure where his man was standing and then demolish
him. But, to his amazement, his man was not to be seen; he had
fled,--driven away, as the settler believed, by the fear of the other
Indians that were so near at hand. Perkins was silent for a moment, not
knowing what he should do. Then he called the name of the Mohawk in a
cautious tone:
"Hello! Leaner-Winger, where are you?"
But the silence gave no token, and he pronounced the name of Ned, Jo and
Rosa in turn, without any further success.
"They've all left me," he muttered angrily. "All of them together
haven't the courage that I have alone. Wall, I can get along without
them if they can without me; but if there are Indians, I'll bet they'll
be sorry they gave me the slip. It ain't every party that's lucky enough
to have a man of my experience and skill and courage to help them out of
trouble--blazes!"
The bravery of the settler, which had been growing during the silence
succeeding the first alarm, suddenly collapsed when his ear caught a
sound, precisely as if some one was stealing over the leaves toward him.
There must be real danger after all!
"Who's there?" called Perkins, in a shiver. "If you don't answer I'll
shoot."
Nevertheless, no answer was evoked by such a threat and the settler made
up his mind that if he could not effect an orderly retreat he must make
some kind of a fight. Accordingly, he peered ahead in the darkness,
seeking a view of the crouching redskin, with the purpose of giving him
the whole charge of the musket.
"I hope there ain't more than one of them, for if there happens to be,"
he said to himself, "I ain't likely to get a chance to reload before
they come down on me. It was an infernal mean piece of business in that
crowd to sneak off that way and leave me in the lurch just when I was
likely to need their help."
While he was muttering in his endless fashion, he was still retreating
as stealthily as possible, hoping to get far enough off from the
dangerous spot to give himself a chance to make a run for some safe
concealment. He had taken only a step or two, when he was hailed from
somewhere in the gloom ahead.
"Stop, white man, or me take scalp!"
The settler paused at this fearful summons and his knees smote together.
"Wh-wh-what do yo-yo-you want?" he stammered, hardly conscious of what
he was saying.
"Want your scalp, white man."
"Thunderation! I hain't got any! My wife pulled out all my hair the
first week we were married. I'm bald-headed, so what's the--"
"Stop!" broke in the voice of the hidden Indian, who seemed to know that
he was trying to steal away.
"Well, what do you want?" asked the victim, showing a disposition to
argue the matter.
"Want your scalp! Come up--hand it to me."
This was more than flesh and blood could stand. With a howl of terror
the settler whirled around and dashed into the depths of the forest,
never pausing long enough to notice that the voice which addressed such
terrifying words to him was that of Lena-Wingo, the Mohawk.