The suspense was painful; not a whisper was exchanged, and the ear was
strained to catch the sounds which they dreaded, and yet which seemed
certain to come.
Even the youngest of the party could not understand why it was some of
the Senecas could be so near, and fail to detect them.
Mr. Brainerd leaned forward, and peering down into the dense shadow,
fancied he saw the crouching figure going lower and lower, until the end
of his support was reached.
The father was holding the vine, as if to steady it, when it suddenly
jarred in his hand, and seemed to draw up as though relieved of a heavy
weight.
Such was the fact; just the faintest possible thump reaching his ear at
that moment: manifestly, it was caused by the feet of Fred Godfrey as he
dropped lightly to the bottom.
A soft and barely audible "_st, st!_" followed, and told the truth that
one of the little company at least had made the descent in safety.
The understanding was that Mr. Brainerd should be the next. He had
already secured his gun to his back, so as to leave his arms free, and
he now wrapped his legs about the sinuous support and gripped it tightly
with his hands, saying not a word to his friends as he began sinking out
of sight.
His descent was a different matter from that of his predecessor. He was
not so strong and active, while his body was more bulky; in fact, Fred
Godfrey, as he looked anxiously upward through the shadows, was
oppressed by the misgiving that the vine would give way under the
additional weight, and bring woful disaster.
But his father did better than was anticipated, even by himself. He
blistered his fingers, and wrenched his muscles, but he went downward
steadily, and without any break or noise, until he found the end of the
vine in his grasp.
"It's only a short distance," whispered Fred, who was able to touch his
hand; "let go."
The elder did as directed, and the next second stood erect beside his
son, only slightly jarred by his leap.
"I'm relieved beyond expression," said Fred; "I knew the hardest task
would be for you to get down."
"I don't know why you should think so," said Mr. Brainerd, half
jocularly, "when you knew my strength and activity."
"But you are the heaviest, and I feared your weight would break the
vine."
"And having sustained me it is good for the rest."
"Undoubtedly it is; _st, st!_"
The signal was understood by Aunt Peggy, who, a minute later, came down
the vine with very little effort.
Eva was next, and but for the danger, it would have been rare sport to
slide down such a frail support in that fashion, and, under similar
conditions, Maggie would have found it equally jolly.
As it was, Mr. Brainerd and his family let themselves to the bottom of
the ravine with much less difficulty and trouble than was feared.
Only Habakkuk McEwen remained above.
"There's no use waiting for him," said Aunt Peggy, in an undertone;
"he's no help to us."
"It would be cruel to leave him there," interposed Maggie.
"Of course _you'd_ object," snapped the vinegary Aunt Peggy; "he is as
worthless as Jake Golcher himself."
"Keep quiet," interposed Mr. Brainerd; "there's too much talking here."
"You are correct," added Fred; "all this is out of order--there comes
the fellow now."
The words spoken had been in whispers, but they were not needed, and
nothing now was heard but the scraping of Habakkuk's legs against the
vine which he was descending.
The attenuated limbs were becoming dimly visible, when the New Englander
seemed to become tired, for he uttered an aspiration now and then as
though seeking to hold his breath.
Fred shuddered, for a listening Indian can hear such a noise a long way
on a still night.
"Keep quiet," commanded Fred, forced to speak dangerously loud; "hold
your breath."
McEwen tried to obey, but the explosion, when it came, was worse than
before.
"He is either a fool, or is seeking to betray us into the hands of the
Indians," muttered the indignant youth, speaking hot words, that meant
more than he intended.
The next minute Habakkuk reached the limit of the vine, and let go, with
the purpose of dropping to the ground; but, as if fate was determined to
interfere, he caught his trousers, and was instantly inverted, his head
hanging downward, while his feet pointed toward the stars.