For a time Jake Golcher paid no attention to the whites, but watched the
Senecas, while they plied the roaring fire, as though it gave him a good
deal of satisfaction.
In counting the Indians, Fred Godfrey saw that two were missing, but
before he formed any guess as to the cause of their absence they
reappeared, their coming announced by the terrific squealing of a young
pig, that they had managed to steal somewhere.
As they entered the circle of light, they were seen to be holding a
plump little porker between them, while he struggled fiercely and
emitted screams like the shriek of a locomotive whistle.
It was a piece of good fortune that they were enabled to secure such a
prize, when so many of the fugitives from Wyoming almost perished with
hunger.
The cries of the little porker were soon hushed in death, and he was
dressed with considerable skill. Conveniences not being at hand for
scalding him, it became necessary to prepare him for the table without
that desirable process.
When he was ready for the coals the latter were raked out, and Aunt
Peggy was invited to come forward and display her skill.
"I'd like to see me cook for you scand'lous villains," she snapped out;
"I would do it if I had a lot of p'ison to put in the meat, but not
otherwise."
Her refusal probably would have ended in serious consequences to
herself, but Mr. Brainerd and Maggie urged her to comply, all saying
they were extremely hungry, and in no other way would they be able to
secure any food.
In deference to their wishes she stepped forward, and, being furnished
with a keen hunting-knife by one of the warriors, plied it with the
skill for which she became famous years before.
The pig was in prime condition, and, if properly prepared, would have
made an enjoyable delicacy for the table.
But time and circumstances did not favor elaborate cookery, and Aunt
Peggy, in grim silence, cut off slices that were nicely broiled by being
skewered with green sticks, and held over the glowing coals.
In a few minutes a thin steak was browned and ready for the palate.
"I'll take that, old woman," said Jake Golcher, reaching out for it.
"I'd like to see you get it," said the lady, whipping it away from him;
"you good-for-nothing, scand'lous villain, don't you know that ladies
orter be waited on fust?"
And with these scarifying words, she walked over to Maggie and Eva, and,
cutting the steak in two, handed half to each.
"That's just what I was going to do," growled Golcher, annoyed by the
broad grin that illuminated Caucasian and American faces alike.
"You know it's a falsehood," replied Aunt Peggy, in the same peppery
style; "you're too mean ever to think of anything decent and
Christian-like, you vagabond--oh-h-h-h, how I ache to get hold of you!"
The Tory fought rather shy of her, for in sooth she was a lady to be
dreaded.
Eva Brainerd walked straight to where her father sat, and said:
"Papa, I shall not eat a mouthful until you do."
"I can't eat very conveniently with my hands tied behind me, but I shall
never consent to devour that and allow you to go hungry."
"But I can get more of Aunt Peggy."
"Perhaps so and perhaps not."
"Then we will eat it between us. There, you take a bite and I will do
the same, and we will keep it up until nothing is left."
"That _is_ a good arrangement," replied her parent, smiling at the
ingenuity of the affectionate child, and complying with her request.
He took a good mouthful, and she followed. Eva forced the last bit upon
her father, who, in spite of himself, was compelled to eat fully
two-thirds of the piece, which, after all, was the proper thing to do.
Before the feast was finished Aunt Peggy had another slice ready, which
was handed over to Maggie, who walked directly to where Fred Godfrey
sat on the log.
"Brother Fred, this is for _you_."
He consented to share it with her as their parent was doing with little
Eva, and of course she complied.
While this scene was going on the Indians were lolling near at hand,
smoking their pipes, and exchanging a few guttural grunts. They were all
on the ground, evidently in a more patient mood than Jake Golcher, who
stood a short distance back from the camp-fire, scowling and angry, that
he should be compelled to stand still and see the captives fed, while he
was hungry and unable to obtain a mouthful.
Even Habakkuk McEwen was not forgotten, Maggie ministering to his wants,
though, of course, she did not alternate the feasting as she did with
Fred. Habakkuk asked her to do so, but she refused so pointedly that he
did not repeat the request.
"This is interesting," muttered the angered Tory to himself, as he
looked on; "that pig belongs to us, and we've got to set back and let
them rebels swaller it before our eyes. I'll be hanged if I'll stand
it."
He was fast working up to a dangerous point of anger, which was not
mollified when he noticed that Aunt Peggy herself now and then placed a
large piece in her mouth, after which her jaws worked with great vigor.
"See here, old woman," he called out, "that pork don't belong to you,
and I reckon it's about time the owner got some."
He did not approach her, but he looked as savage as a sharpened
tomahawk.
Aunt Peggy made no reply and acted as though she heard him not; but, had
any one noticed her closely, he would have seen her jaws working more
energetically than ever, while her eyes took on a little sharper gleam
than before.
She, too, was rapidly reaching an explosive mood, although the
particular individual against whom she felt the rising anger failed to
take warning.
"She's the worst hag I ever seen," muttered Jake, glancing askance at
her, but still keeping a respectful distance.
The Senecas sat somewhat apart in the same lolling attitudes, and some
of them looked as if they anticipated what was coming.
A minute later, Aunt Peggy finished another slice, which she asked
Maggie to take.
"Thank you, auntie, we have enough," replied our heroine, Eva saying the
same.
"I think I could eat a few pounds more," remarked Habakkuk, "but I would
prefer to see Mr. Golcher get something. He is a good fellow, and orter
been sarved first."
"If none of you want it, I'll eat it myself," observed the ancient
maiden, who thereupon began disposing of it.
"That's gone about fur enough!" exclaimed Golcher, striding toward her;
"some folks haven't got no gratertude, and I'll teach you--"
As he uttered this threat, or rather partly uttered it, he was at Aunt
Peggy's elbow in a wrathful mood. All at once, she whirled about, and
sprang at him like a tigress.
"You'll teach me manners, will you? There! Take _that_! and THAT!"
The attack was so unexpected that Golcher threw up his empty hands in a
weak way, and lowered his head, closing his eyes and trying to retreat,
but she had grasped his long, straggling hair, and it came out by the
handfuls.
Instantly all was confusion. Mr. Brainerd laughed, and the Senecas, as
they sprang to their feet, made no effort to interfere. Indeed, there
was strong reason to believe they enjoyed the strange scene.
Aunt Peggy scratched and pulled with the most commendable enthusiasm,
and her victim howled with pain.
"Take her off!" he shouted, "or she will kill me!"
Eva and Maggie ran forward, but the Indians actually laughed, and the
two girls were unable to restrain her until she had spent her vengeance.
Her victim was in a sorry plight, and in his blind retreat he tumbled
backward over the log, springing instantly to his feet, and actually
dashing off in the darkness.
"There!" gasped Aunt Peggy, "I've been aching to get my hands on you,
and now I feel better!"
At this juncture several of the Senecas uttered excited exclamations,
for the discovery was made that during the hubbub one of the prisoners
had escaped, and his name was Fred Godfrey.