The scow containing the three fugitives was nearing the eastern shore of
the Susquehanna, when the negro servant, Gravity Gimp, stopped, checking
the craft by grasping the stern.
At that moment the water scarcely reached his waist, and was shoaling at
every step, so that the boat was entirely under his control.
He had good cause for his alarm, for, only an instant before, he had
looked behind him at the group of Tories and Indians on the western
shore, who had stopped firing, and he saw that several had entered the
river with the intention of pushing the pursuit through the desolate
wilderness already spoken of as the "Shades of Death."
The distance between the pursuer and pursued was slight, for the
Susquehanna is not a very broad river where it meanders through the
Wyoming Valley, and there remained so much of daylight that the danger
of a collision with their enemies was threatening indeed.
Still the sight increased the efforts to avoid them, and Gravity had not
lost his heart by any means, when he looked over the heads of his
friends to decide where they were to land.
It will be recalled that they had started below where most of the
fugitives were pushing for the other bank, and the action of the current
had carried them still lower, so there was reason for hoping they were
outside of immediate peril.
But the African had no more than fixed his eye on the point, where there
was much wood and undergrowth, than he noticed an agitation of the
bushes, and, to his dismay, a tall figure clad in paint and feathers
stepped forth to view.
He had a long rifle in one hand, and was daubed in the hideous fashion
of the wild Indian on the war-path.
The fact that he advanced thus openly in front of the fugitives, who had
been exchanging shots with their foes behind them, was proof to Gravity
that he was only one of a large party hidden in the bushes, and into
whose hands he and his friends were about to throw themselves.
Thus it was that the little group was caught between two fires.
Worse than all, the two guns in the scow, with which something like a
fight might have been made, were empty, and it was out of the question
to reload them at this critical moment.
No wonder, therefore, when the faithful negro discovered the trap into
which they had run, that he straightened up, checked the boat, and
uttered the exclamation I have quoted.
The ladies, with blanched faces glanced from one shore to the other,
wondering to which party it was best to surrender themselves.
At this time, the warrior in front stood calmly contemplating them, as
if sure there was no escape, and nothing could be added to the terror of
the patriots.
"Let us turn down the river," said the brave-hearted Maggie, thrusting
the pole into the water again; "they have not captured us yet, and it
is better we should all be shot than fall into----"
Just then the four were struck dumb by hearing the savage in front call
out:
"What have you stopped work for? Don't turn down the river; hurry over,
or those consarned Iroquois will overhaul you!"
Unquestionably that was not the voice of an Indian!
And yet the words were spoken by the painted individual who confronted
them, and whom they held in such terror.
He must have suspected their perplexity, for, noticing that they still
hesitated, his mouth expanded into a broad grin, as he added:
"Don't you know me? I'm Habakkuk McEwen, and I'm ready to do all I can
for you. Hurry up, Gravity; use that pole in the right direction,
Maggie; cheer up, Eva, and how are you, Aunt Peggy?"
No words can picture the relief of the little party, on learning that he
whom they mistook for an Indian was a white man and a friend.
Habakkuk McEwen was a neighbor, as he had called himself, and came from
the same section in Connecticut which furnished the Brainerds and most
of the settlers in the Wyoming Valley.
He had enlisted but a few months before, and, though not very brilliant
mentally, yet he was well liked in the settlement.
Excepting two individuals--whose identity the reader knows--it may be
safely said there was no one whom the patriots could have been more
pleased to see than Habakkuk, for he added so much strength to the
company that was sorely in need of it, but it may as well be admitted,
that the honest fellow, although a volunteer in the defense of his
country against the British invaders, was sometimes lacking in the
courage so necessary to the successful soldier. However, there he was,
and the words were scarcely out of his mouth when the scow ran plump
against the bank, the depth of the water just permitting it, and
Habakkuk cordially shook hands with each as he helped them out, winding
up with a fervid grip of the African's huge palm.
His tongue was busy while thus engaged.
"You took me for an Injin, did you? Well, I'm pleased to hear that, for
it is complimentary to my skill, for that's what I got up this rig for.
I knowed what the danger was, and it struck me that if I was going to
sarcumvent Injins it was a good idea to start out like one."
"Have you just arrived, Habakkuk?" asked Maggie.
"Not more than half an hour ago--you see--but let's get away from this
spot, for some of them loose bullets may hit us."
This was prudent advice, for their pursuers were at that moment forcing
their way through the river in pursuit.
"Gravity, you know this neighborhood better than I do--so take the
lead," said the disguised patriot: "and move lively, for I begin to feel
nervous."
"I kin move lively when dere's need ob it," replied the servant, "and it
looks to me as if there couldn't be a better time for hurryin' dan dis
identical one."
Gimp was familiar with the valley and mountains for miles around, and he
threw himself at once in the advance, the rest following with rapid
footsteps.
As they hastened toward the "Shades of Death" (and the name was never
more appropriate than on that eventful night), Habakkuk McEwen explained
how it was he arrived as he did.
"We fit the battle of Monmouth on the 28th of June, so you kin see I've
had to travel fast to git here even as late as I did. But a lot of us
heard that trouble was coming for Wyoming, and we've been uneasy for a
fortnight. Three of us went to Gineral Washington and argufied the
matter with him; he seemed to be worried and anxious to do all he could,
and he said that Connecticut orter lend a hand, as we were her colony,
but he was after the Britishers just then, and he wouldn't 'low us to go
till arter the battle.
"Wal, we had a first-class battle down there at Monmouth in Jersey, and
we and Molly Pitcher made the redcoats dance to the tune of 'Yankee
Doodle' as they haven't danced since Saratoga and Trenton. Whew! But
wasn't the day hot, and didn't the dust fly along that road! Well, I
jus' felt when we had 'em on the run, that if the Susquehanna could be
turned down my throat, I would stand it for a couple of hours.
"Howsumever, just as soon as the battle was over, and I seen the Gineral
had 'em, even though Gineral Lee tried to betray us, why, I just pulled
out and started for Wyoming.
"I didn't wait for the other chaps either, for, somehow or other, I had
the feeling strong that there wasn't an hour to spare down in these
parts. I traveled hard, and after crossing the upper Delaware, I heard
rumors that just made my hair stand on end.
"I knowed that the Tories and Iroquois were on their way, and when I
stopped at the house of a settler only twenty miles off, I found him
packing up and getting ready to move to Stroudsburg.
"I tried to persuade him to go back with me and help the folks, but he
couldn't see why he should desert his own family, even though there was
scarcely any danger to 'em.
"He was the man, howsumever, who suggested to me that I had better fix
up as an Injin, and he furnished the paint, feathers, and rig. He helped
me to get inside of 'em, too, and when he was through, and showed me a
glass, I acterally thought I was a Seneca warrior for the time, and, if
I'd had a tomahawk, I'd been likely to have tomahawked the settler and
his family.
"As it was, I jumped into the air and give out a ringin' whoop, and felt
mighty savage and peart like; then I struck out for Wyoming, and I've
done some tall traveling, I can tell you. Everybody that saw me took me
for an Injin, and gave me a wide berth. Two men shot at me, and I was
just beginning to think there might be less fun in playing Injin than
appeared at first.
"Well," added the eccentric individual, "I got here too late to take
part in the battle, but I'm ready to do all I can to help you out of
your trouble, which looks powerful serious."
And the little band, as may well be imagined, were grateful beyond
expression to find that what was first taken to be a dreaded enemy was
after all a valuable friend.