Among the most eager pursuers of the treacherous Tory and his Seneca
allies, was Habakkuk McEwen, who had withdrawn to the rear of the
settlers that held the Indians at their mercy during the interview
between Jake Golcher and Fred Godfrey.
The natural timidity of the new Englander led him to do this, but he was
so infuriated by the act of the party, that he lost all thought of
personal danger, and charged through the wood at the very head of the
avengers.
McEwen had no rifle, but he quickly supplied himself with one. Catching
sight of a Seneca who had fallen before the volley of Dick Durkee and
his comrades, he snatched the weapon from his rigid grasp and sped along
like a deer.
He had ammunition, and a hasty examination showed that the gun was
unloaded. With a coolness hardly to be expected, McEwen stopped in his
pursuit and deliberately recharged the rifle, which seemed to be a fine
weapon.
"I don't want to be catched without anything to help myself with," he
said to himself, resuming the chase.
This was conducted in such a blind, headlong fashion, that Habakkuk
speedily found himself not only out of sight of the Indians, but of his
comrades, who were threshing in different directions, some of them
shouting like madmen.
"I think they'll make for the river," concluded the New Englander, after
a moment's pause, "and I'll keep on till I reach the water myself."
As the flush of the first excitement wore off, Habakkuk began to doubt
whether he was doing a prudent thing, in chasing a whole war party in
this single-handed style.
"I'll take a little pains that they don't get after _me_," he thought,
beginning to use more caution in his movements.
It was a considerable distance to the Susquehanna, but he pushed on, and
just as the gray light of the morning was penetrating the wilderness
and spreading over the water, he caught the familiar gleam of the
beautiful stream.
Looking across, he paused in silent contemplation of the familiar scene.
Naturally, he first noticed that landmark so well remembered by old
settlers, which was known as the "umbrella tree," on account of its
peculiar shape, and which was visible a long distance, standing as it
did on the mountains of the western shore.
But he was withdrawn from viewing the general features of the landscape,
by the sight of the heavy smoke that rested like a pall on the other
bank. It partly shut out from sight the straggling houses, most of which
were smoldering ashes, and suggested the awful desolation that had been
wrought in Wyoming Valley during the few hours that had passed since the
memorable battle was fought near Forty Fort.
"I've no doubt pandemonium was let loose there last night," muttered
Habakkuk, "and it was a good thing for us that we got across when we
did, and a much better thing that Dick Durkee and his men j'ined
us--Hello!"
He was standing where his body was pretty well screened, and was
wondering that he saw no one moving, when he was alarmed by a splash in
the water a short distance above him.
Fearful of being discovered, Habakkuk crouched down, and cocked his gun.
"It must be some of the scoundrels, who are everywhere; I hadn't orter
been quite so rash--"
At that moment some one sprang into the river, and, wading out a short
distance, began swimming for the other shore.
The timid patriot did not dare look out at him until he had gotten some
distance away, when he peeped through the undergrowth, and scrutinized
the head and shoulders that were moving rapidly across the stream.
Then, to his amazement, he recognized the man as Jake Golcher, the Tory,
who had wrought all this ruin and sorrow; though Habakkuk was far from
suspecting the whole result of the shot of the renegade.
"By the great Cæsar! it's him," gasped Habakkuk, trembling with
excitement; "and that gives me a chance to win some laurels with the
other folks, especially with pretty Maggie."
Assuming a kneeling position, he took the most careful aim of his life
at the unsuspecting ingrate, and when certain there could be no miss,
pulled the trigger.
There was no flash in the pan nor miss of aim. The career of Jake
Golcher ended then and there, with a suddenness and freedom from
suffering that were mercy compared to what he deserved.
Habakkuk McEwen lingered long enough to make certain that there was no
mistake, and then he stealthily reloaded his rifle before stirring from
the spot. He was apprehensive when several Indians appeared on the other
shore and showed some signs of an intention to cross the stream.
This was enough for McEwen, who scrambled out of his hiding-place, and
scarcely paused until he reached the camp, where he came upon the
sorrowful scene to which we have already referred.
Mr. Brainerd was no more, and the mourning friends, having rallied from
their first shock of grief, were preparing to leave the spot, which for
a while to come must be one of exceeding great danger to them.
After some consultation, Fred Godfrey, Dick Durkee, and Gravity Gimp
tenderly lifted the body and carried it to a mass of rocks but a short
distance away.
Had they possessed a shovel they would have given it burial until they
could return, but that was impossible.
Accordingly, it was laid away in a natural sepulchre, and the boulders
were so piled around it as to prevent disturbance from animals; then all
bade it a tearful adieu, and the faces of the little party were turned
toward the far-off settlements of the upper Delaware.
Already the sounds of firing and the shouts of Indians were heard from
the other side of the Susquehanna, while terrified fugitives were
continually encountered.
Some of these were in such sore extremity that they were taken charge of
by Fred Godfrey and Dick Durkee. Maggie and Eva Brainerd were so melted
by their own sufferings that they found it impossible to pass by any of
the poor beings without doing their utmost to relieve their distress.
And among all the fugitives that hastened in such horror from the
Wyoming settlements that day, there were many who had been smitten in a
more cruel manner than the loving daughters, but there was not one whose
woe was deeper than theirs.
Eva and Maggie bore it like the heroines they were, and but for their
pale faces and swollen eyes no one would have suspected the depth of
their anguish. They said nothing to show it, but were as busy and
thoughtful for the others as though all were their brothers and sisters.
Aunt Peggy was silent most of the time, but now and then her hard
features quivered with emotion, and she uttered anathemas against those
who had wrought all this mischief and sorrow.
Gravity Gimp was the most demonstrative of the company, his sobbing and
lamentations more than once bringing tears to the eyes of the others.
When Habakkuk McEwen made known that he had ended the career of Jake
Golcher there was not one who would believe him; but, fortunately for
the New Englander's reputation, his declaration was confirmed in an
unexpected manner.
One of Dick Durkee's men was late in joining the party that started away
that morning, but when he came he said that he, too, was stealing along
the river bank, though a considerable distance above where Golcher
entered it. As soon as he identified the Tory he raised his gun to
shoot, but when he pulled the trigger he discovered that there was no
charge in the weapon.
With an expression of impatience he proceeded to correct his mistake,
and was in the act of pouring powder in the pan when the crack of some
one's else gun sounded just below him.
The woodman could not see who fired it, but he saw the Tory throw up his
arms and disappear, so that a second shot was unnecessary. He tarried,
however, some time longer, and observed three Indians who swam out into
the river in search of the body, showing that they, too, knew who it
was.
This settled the question; and henceforth Habakkuk McEwen became a sort
of hero among his comrades, who shook him by the hand and congratulated
him on the service done his friends.
The vanity of the fellow was flattered, and when he attempted to explain
his previous conduct it was accepted good-naturedly; so that, before the
day was over, he came to the conclusion that he was in point of fact the
bravest and most dashing member of the company, and the one who ought to
be the leader.
The mountains were passed in safety, and it was not without some
misgivings that the party entered that desolate stretch of wilderness
several times referred to as the "Shades of Death."
What was dreaded more than anything else was the want of provisions,
which was sure to cause suffering.
Habakkuk McEwen was the only one in the company who had a particle of
food, and when that came to be distributed among eight or ten women
that had been gathered about them, it was scarcely more than an
aggravation of hunger.
Our own friends, it will be remembered, had eaten a substantial meal of
young pig the previous evening, and were in much better form than many
who had fled from Wyoming, and had partaken of no food during the
previous twenty-four hours.
The sufferings of the fugitives from Wyoming in passing through the
"Shades of Death" were dreadful, as is always the case where such large
bodies flee in a panic.
Many children were born, and perished in the wilderness. Strong men lay
down and died, and the bones of the victims marked every mile of the
way.
But there were many who survived, and one bright summer morning all our
friends reached the hamlet of Stroudsburg, so far removed from the scene
of massacre that every cause for alarm had passed.
There were fugitives before them, and the hospitality of the villagers
was taxed to the utmost, but they gladly met every demand.
The weather was so mild that much suffering had been saved the settlers,
whose trouble rose mainly from the lack of food.
In Stroudsburg were old friends and relatives of the Brainerds, who did
everything in their power for them. It was arranged that Maggie, Eva,
and Aunt Peggy should stay with them indefinitely until there could be
no risk in going back.
The anxiety of the brother and sisters was that the body of their father
should be laid away in proper form, and Fred Godfrey and Gravity Gimp
went back to Wyoming for that purpose.
When the sad duty was finished they once more made their way to
Stroudsburg, where the young patriot bade his friends a tender adieu,
after which he started to join the Continental army under Washington.
Habakkuk McEwen went with him, and, despite a manifestation of his
natural timidity now and then, made a good record. Both he and Fred, who
had become a captain, were present at the surrender of Yorktown, which
ended the struggle of the colonies, and established the independence of
the United States of America.
When they returned to Wyoming the settlements had recovered, to a great
extent, from the visitation of the Tories and Indians three years
before.
The Brainerd homestead, which was partly burned, was restored to a
substantial condition, and Gravity Gimp was as big and strong and
devoted as ever.
The rich soil needed but to be "tickled with a plow" to "laugh a
harvest," and it yielded bountifully. There had been several incursions
by Indians, during one of which the little girl, Frances Slocum, was
taken off by a party of Delawares. Her wonderful history is part of that
of Wyoming.
But the Brainerd family suffered nothing further. Eva had grown into a
blooming girl when Captain Fred Godfrey came back and joined them at the
old homestead. All in due time, he took for his bride one of the
blue-eyed lassies of Wyoming, and Maggie and Eva were equally fortunate
in securing the best of partners for life.
Peace folded her gentle wings over the scene of the stirring events that
took place more than a century ago, and the thunders of war have never
awakened the echoes along that part of the Susquehanna since.
May it ever be thus throughout our fair land, to the end of time.
THE END.
THE NEXT VOLUME OF THE "WYOMING SERIES" WILL BE "STORM MOUNTAIN."