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4. COLONEL SHOULD NEVER ASSUME COMMAND OF ANY BODY WHICH
IIF CANNOT CONTROL."-Page 77.
j1 IIb'j iL
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THE RIVER FUGITIVES
BT
EDWARD S. ELLIS
AUTHOR OP DBBRFOOT" SERIES, "LOG CABIN SKRIU
SBoY PIONRBR" SBRIBS, ETCr
4 A''
ILLUSTRATED
THE JOHN C. WINSTON CO.,
PHILADELPHIA,
TORONTO.
CHICAGO,
COPYRIGHTIMD 1898
BY
THEL PRICE-McGILL C06
CONTENTS.
CHAP. PAGE.
I-The Wyoming Massacre, 7
II-By the River, 14
III-The Encounter, 21
IV-In the Susquehanna, 28
V-A Dreadful Deed, 88
VI-Gloomy Forebodings, .. ... 45
VII-The Forest Rose, 55
VIII-Dangerous Admiration, 62
IX-A Quarrel, - 70
X-Rather too Kind, 79
XI-The Plan, -- 85
XII-A Valuable Ally, 92
XIII-The Flight, 102
XIV-Lena-Wingo Steps to the Front, 109
XV-In the Wilderness, 116
XVI-Queen Usther, - 123
XVII-A Struggle for Life, - 130
XVIII-A Labyrinth of Peril, 137
XIX-An Enemy and yet a Friend, 144
XX-The Other Duty, .. 151
XXI-A Strange Escape, -. 158
XXII-Eight against One, - 167
XXIII-An Unexpected Ally, - 174
XXIV-Unexpected Peril, 182
XXV-The Spider's Web, 189
XXVI-All Abroad, 196
XXVII-Behind the Trees, 203
XXVIII-The Depth of Sorrow, -- 210
XXIX-Groping in the Forest, 219
XXX-A Discovery, 226
XXXI-A Test of the Nerves, 234
XXXII-The Occupant of the Canoe, 242
XXXIII-The Consultation, 249
THE RIVER FUGITIVES.
CHAPTER I.
THE WYOMING MASSACRE.
"LOOK out, Ned, the Indians are as thick and
plenty as hornets when you stir up a dozen nests
- of them; you're running altogether too fast, and
you'll be in a trap before you know it."
"What's the use of talking that way, Jo?"
demanded his companion, in an impatient voice;
"if we hadn't done the hardest kind of running,
we would have lost our scalps long ago. I can
tell you that I won't feel safe tillwe've put a good
fifty miles behind us, and we see Stroudsburg
ahead."
"That's just what we aren't going to see for a
good long while. There's many a long mile of
woods between Wyoming and Stroudsburg, and
the Tories and Indians know that the poor set-
tlers are doing their best to get there and to
8 THE RIVER FUGITIVES.
Wilkesbarre, and so they'll watch that route more
than any other."
At the end of these hurried words, Ned Clinton
and Jo Minturn came to a halt, and the former
asked, in a frightened and somewhat petulant
tone:
"Well, Jo, what do you think is the best thing
for us to do ? "
"We can't do anything just yet. We are both
out of wind, and can't run faster than a man can
walk; and so I say we may as well stop and take
breath, and look over the ground a little before
we try to get out of the neighborhood. Night
will soon set in, and, if we are careful, we have a
chance of dodging the Tories and Indians."
"A chance of dodging the Tories and Indians?"
repeated the other boy. "Why, they are all
around, and I don't see much show for us."
These were bitter words, but there was good
cause for their utterance. The lad had not exag-
gerated the terrors of that day, in July, 1778,
when it seemed as if a legion of fiends had been
loosed, and given full power to work their will all
through the lovely valley of Wyoming.
In order to understand the incidents we have
taken upon ourselves to relate, we give as briefly
5.
THE RIVER FUGITIVES.
as possible the leading facts of one of the most
dreadful disasters that marred the struggles-of our
fathers for independence: In the latter partof the
month of June, 1778, Colonel John Butler, of the
British army, with about four hundred Provincials,
made up of Tories, together with six or seven
hundred Indians, entered the head of the,Wyo-
ming valley, and took possession of Fort Winter-
moot without opposition, they having massacred
a number of settlers on the way. ColonelZebulon
Butler, a cousin of the British leader, was on a
visit to the valley at the time, and assumed com-
mand of all the available forces that could be
raised for the defense. His entire force consisted
of two hundred and thirty enrolled men, and
seventy old people, boys, civil magistrate and
others, who, under ordinary circumstances, would
be classed as non-combatants. These were all
mustered at "Forty Fort "-so called from having
been erected by forty Connecticut settlers-where
the families on the western side of the river had
taken refuge.
"Indian Butler," as he was generally known,
summoned the defenders to surrender the fort and
thevalley. In answer to this peremptory demand,
.a council of war was held on the third of July, at
THE RIVER FUGITIVES.
which Colonels Butler and Denison and Lieuten-
ant-Colonel Dorrance favored a dallying policy,
in the hope that reinforcements would arrive and
enable them to make the defense successful beyond
a doubt. The larger part of the defenders advo-
cated marching out at once and giving their
enemies battle, confident of their power to rout
them, "horse, foot and dragoons." Butler, a
brave and skillful officer, listened to the clamor
quietly, until he seemed to be impressed with the
belief that this ardor and enthusiasm only needed
directing to carry everything before it.
"The attack shall be made as you wish!" he
exclaimed, as he leaped into the saddle; "and I
'( shall lead you as far as any dare follow; but
remember you go into great danger, where it is
win all or lose all."
It was near the middle of the afternoon that the
column, numbering about three hundred men, old
men and boys, marched out of the fort, with
drums beating and colors flying. They passed up
the plain, with the Susquehanna on their right
and a marsh on their left, until they reached Fort
Wintermoot, which was in flames. It had been
fired by the enemy in order to give the impression
that they were retiring from the valley. The
THE RIVER FUGITIVES.
ground for the battle was selected by Colonel
Zebulon Butler's aids, and when the position was
taken the right rested on a steep bank, the left
extending across the gravel flat to a morass, thick
with timber and brush, that separated the bottom-
land from the mountain, while yellow and pitch
pine-trees and oak shrubs were scattered all over
the plain.
The battle began at four o'clock in the after-
noon. Colonel Butler had impressed his menwith
the importance of withstanding the first shock,
and ordered them to fire, and at each discharge to
advance a step. As the fight opened and pro-:
gressed, the British line gave way, in spite of all
the officers could do to prevent it. The Indians
were engaged from the first, they being on the
British right. They were divided into six bands,
and as they fired, they kept up a series of whoops
and yells of the most frightful character.
It is a sad reflection that a fight which opened so
favorably for the little band of patriots should
soon turn overwhelmingly against them, but such
was the fact. At the end of half an hour the greatly
superior poWer of the enemy began to develop
itself, the Indians continuing to pour out of the
swamp, in which they had concealed the greater
THE RIVER FUGITIVES.
part of their number, and the left was outflanked
and thrown into confusion. An order to execute
a certain military maneuver was mistaken by
many for a command to fall back, and the con.
flict of movements threw the whole force into
inextricable confusion. Seeing the imminent peril
that threatened, Colonel Butler dashed between
the opposing fires, regardless of his own life, and
shouted to his men that they had only to stand
firm and victory was theirs.
At this critical moment a horde of redskins
swooped down upon the disorganized patriots,
and the stampede was complete. Every captain
that led a company into action was slain. More
than two hundred of the Americans were massa-
cred, the loss of the British and Indians being one-
third as great. Colonels Butler and Denison, being
mounted, succeeded in reaching the fort, conveying
the tidings of what had taken place to the terrified
fugitives huddled together there.
Butler, on account of more than one daring
exploit against the British during the preceding
years of the Revolution, was especially hated by
them, and he knew only too well what his fate
would be if he fell into their hands. Nevertheless,
he remained in the fort until the terms were
THE RIVER FUGITIVES.
arranged that should be offered the enemy on the
morrow. He then crossed over to Wilkesbarre,
and, throwing a feather-bed on his horse, seated
his wife behind, and left the valley the next day.
Those who had taken refuge in the Wilkesbarre
fort began a precipitate flight the next morning,
and as they were unprovided with enough provis-
ions, many women and children perished with
fatigue and hunger in a dense pine forest, which is
known to this day as "The Shades of Death." The
terms proposed to the British Colonel Butler were
accepted and signed by him, and the surrender of
Forty Fort was made on the fourth of July, 1778.
On the succeeding day the Indians began plun-
dering, and when Colonel Denison remonstrated
with the British leader, the latter declared that the
Indians-many of whom were drunk and commit-
ting all sorts of excesses-were beyond his con-
trol.
Having thus briefly sketched the leadingfeatures
of the ever-memorable Wyoming massacre, we take
up again the thread of our story.
CHAPTER n.
BY THE RIVER.
AMONG the band of old men and children that
issued from "Forty Fort," on the day of the fight
at Wyoming were Ned Clinton and Jo Minturn,
whowere side byside at the opening of the battle,
both being in that portion of the command
attacked with such fury by the Indians, and that
finally became panic-stricken and turned into a
complete rout, leading the headlong fight that was
the real beginning of the massacre. Young Clin-
ton was about eighteen years of age, and went
into the fight, leaving an aged mother at the fort,
while his only other relative, an uncle, was shot
down and tomahawked before his eyes. Jo Min-
turn was a year younger than his companion, and
alone in the struggle, so far as any of his relatives
were concerned; but he left a decrepit father, a
mother, and a sister, Rosa, a year younger than
himself, so that it will be understood the interests
of both were bound up in the little defense itself.
Both the young men, rather curiously, were of
THE RIVER FUGITIVES.
the opinion that all the fugitives in the fort were
safe. Perhaps it was not so curious, either, for no
one could believe that, in case they were compelled
to surrender t& Colonel Butler, he would fail to
see that they received the fullest and most com-
plete protection. Hence the two friends were
engaged in trying to save their own scalps. They
had made several essays to reach the fort, but the
majority of the fugitives had been massacred,
while striving to do the same thing; so they were
obliged to turn back again, and were in the woods,
near the river, which flowed broad and deep before
them.
"It seems to me," said Ned, after they had paused
long enough to regain their breath, "that the
wisest thing for us to do is to swim across. What
do you say? "
"I don't know that it makes much difference
whether we do or not, for the redskins are pretty
well scattered on both sides by this time, and we're
as likely to run against them in one place as
another. I've an idea that we could find a good
hiding-place on Monacacy island, out there in the
river-that is, for a little while."
"But, then, we aren't in want of an extra hid-
ing-place just now; all we have to do is to keep
THE RIVER FUGITIVES.
poking and picking our way along till we are so
far away from this place that we shall be well
clear of the Tories and Indians. I had no idea of
staying longer by the way than we have to."
"Nor I, either; the fact is, we can't pick out any
spot within a dozen miles of the fort where we
aren't liable to run against a lot of enemies. Let's
keep on along the river, and if we travel all night
we will be so far off by morning that we can feel
pretty safe. The folks at the fort will be dread-
fully worried over us, won't they?"
"Yes, but we can't help that; they will be sure
we are both killed, till they see us with their own
eyes."
Having decided what they would do, and hav-
ing rested themselves so far as to recover their
wind, there was no further excuse for their remain-
ing in the neighborhood. The hot summer day
had not yet ended, and so they were forced to be"
extremely careful in moving through the woods,
when they were so liable to be seen by some of the
black eyes that were peering everywhere in search
of victims. Here and there the crack of a rifle was
heard, and not a minute passed in which they did
not catch the curdling sound of the Indian yell,
showing how relentlessly the savages were prose-
THE RIVER FUGITIVES.
cutting their work. The smoke from the ruins of
Fort Wintermoot lay like a great smirch against
the sky, and, here and there, where a glimpse
could be caught of the plain, the massacre was
going on.
The mind can become accustomed almost to any-
thing, and the two young men, who, a few hours
before, were so shocked at seeing an Indian bury
his tomahawk into the brain of a helpless and sup-
plicating old man, had already witnessed so many
equally horrible crimes, that they took them
almost as a matter of course, and busied them-
selves in doing their utmost to escape. The two
were within a few yards of the river bank, when
Ned Clinton, who was a single step in advance of
his friend, abruptly paused, and raising his hand
in a warning way, uttered the soft exclamation:
"'Shl"
Jo was on the lookout for something of the
kind, and he checked himself on the instant, the
two standing as motionless as a couple of stone
statues. They scarcely breathed, even, while all
their faculties were centered in the single one of
listening. A minute followed without the silence
in their immediate vicinity being broken, when
THE RIVER FUGITIVES.
Jo Minturn ventured to lean a little forward and
whisper in the ear of his friend:
"What was it, Ned?"
"Can't say," he answered, in the same cautious
voice; "but I am sure I heard something moving
through the bushes."
"Likely it is somebody trying to hide, for if it
was an Indian, there would be no need of his being
so sly about it."
"All right; it was just there in front of where
we are standing," added Ned, pointing to a dense
mass of undergrowth directly before them. "You
turn to the left and I'll go to the right, and we'll
move toward each other as soon as we get as near
the water as we can. By that means we'll stand
a chance of finding out what it is."
The suggestion was acted upon at once. The
youths, knowing that a blunder was almost cer-
tain to result in their becoming victims to the
tomahawk, were as careful and as cautious in their
movements as a couple of veteran scouts. Ned
Clinton, perhaps by virtue of his prior discovery,
seemed to think it was his place to take the lead.
As he knew the precise point from which the sus-
picious sound came, he moved more directly
toward it than did his companion.
THE RIVER FUGITIVES.
Enough light still remained for himto see objects
a few rods distant with great distinctness. He
had not advanced more than five steps when he
became convinced that his first supposition was
right, for there was certainly some one crouching
in the undergrowth immediately in front, and Ned
uttered their familiar signal-a soft whistle-as a
warning to his friend, a rod or two distant, that
he had made an important discovery.
The two had gone into battle with a'rifle apiece,
and they had brought the weapons away with
them; but theyhad nothing more. All rawtroops
are apt to use too much powder in battle, and it
so happened that the two lads had not a dozen
charges left between them, a fact that made them
anxious, since they were more cool and collected, to
be as economical in the use of their ammunition as
possible. It looked to Ned as if he might then find
it necessary to spend some powder, and he therefore
raised the hammer of his gun, sank down in a
crouching posture, and began stealing his way,
inch by inch, in the direction of the motionless
figure that could be dimly seen through the under-
growth.
"I don't know whether he sees me or not,"
thought Ned, as he stealthily shoved his rifle
THE RIVER FUGITIVES.
through the grass and bushes in his immediate
front. "But I don't mean that he shall get the
best of me if there is any way to hinder it."
There was a strong suspicion in the mind of Ned
that the figure which he dimly saw hiding was
that of some poor, panic-stricken fugitive, too
much dazed and bewildered by the horrors of the
day to be able to tell a friend from a foe. It was
this suspicion, amounting to almost a belief, that
induced Ned Clinton to forget his motto of Ike
Wells, the old hunter, to the effect that, when on
the scout, every stranger must be set down as an
enemy until he was proved a friend.
"Hello, there?" called out the youth, in a reas-
suring though cautious voice. "We are Americans.
Don't be afraid. Who are you? "
There was some sort of reply made to this which
Ned did not catch, but which threw him completely
off his guard.
"I did n't get what you said," he added, in a still
more incautious voice; "but you can be sure we
are friends, so come out and show yourself."
CHAPTER I.
THE ENCOUNTER.
AT this critical juncture Jo Minturn, from his
lurking place, only a rod or so away, emitted a
low whistle; but the trouble in this case was, that
it was a little too cautious. The friend for whom it
it was.intended heard it not, although his intense
curiosity at that particular moment, no doubt,
was one reason whyhe failed to notice that which
would have excited his alarm at any other time.
It may well be asked how it was that the one who
was so much further away should have heard, or,
at least, have given, the signal of alarm, when he
whose place it was to guard against that very form
of danger failed to see it. The answer is, that
Jo saw and heard nothing at all; it was merely a
suspicion with him, nothing more.
"Are you wounded?" asked Ned, as he neared
the crouching form and leaned forward inthehope
of identifying him. "If there is anything the mat-
ter with you, let me know, and Jo and Iwill do all
we can for you. This is hardly the place-"
21
22 THE RIVER FUGITIVES.
To the amazement of the young man, the pros-
trate figure at this instant sprang up with the sud-
denness of lightning, and gave out that curdling
whoop which he had heard so often while the bat-
tle and massacre were going on. The action was
so utterly unexpected that Ned was paralyzed for
the moment, as if he did not comprehend what
had taken place. This was the very artifice that
the Indian had been planning when the youth
detected him moving through the bushes. It suc-
ceeded precisely as was intended, the few seconds
of bewilderment and surprise affording the oppor-
tunity for the hurling of his tomahawk, as it
seemed that he had expended all his ammunition
before he reached this spot.
In the gathering gloom, Ned saw the swarthy
arm drawn back, and he caught the gleam of the
weapon, as it was raised aloft to strike, or,
rather, to hurl with unerring aim, straight
at his brain. The sweep of the arm and the
glitter of the tomahawk served to arouse Ned
to a sense of his peril, and he made a desperate
attempt to raise his rifle and shoot the savage
before he could drive the deadly missile into his
skull. But he had delayed too long to save him,
self.
THE RIVRB FUGITIVES.
Still, if Ned Clinton had lost his senses, Jo Min-
turn had not. The latter, from the first, held a
suspicion that something was wrong, and so, in a
measure had prepared for the very danger that
had come upon his friend. At the moment the
Indian sprang to his feet Jo read the whole plot,
and he cocked his rifle, muffling the sound as much
as possible, for he wanted to make the surprise of
the miscreant as complete as the latter had made
that of the young man, who stood as one dumb
before him. But there was no time for delay, for
when the Indian got upon his feet and went to
work, he was like a panther in his movements.
Jo, therefore, did not tarry. When he saw the
muscular arm raised he threw up his rifle, and tak-
ing quick aim, fired. The distance was so short
that it was hardly possible to miss, and simultane-
ous with the sharp report of the gun was the wild
death-shriek of the savage, who threw his armsin
the air and fell forward on his face, with not a
spark of life in his body.
"By George, that was well done, Jo!" exclaimed
his grateful companion, "and you have saved my
life. I stood there transfixed for a moment, just
as you were the other day when that rattlesnake
got his eyes fixed on you."
THE RIVER FUGITIVES.
"That will do, Ned," replied his friend, in some
excitement. "We haven't got time to stop totalk
now, but must be moving."
"Why such a desperate hurry, Jo? It is already
quite dark, and there are no other Indians in
sight."
"They'll be here soon enough, you may depend
on that."
"And how do you make that out?" asked his
companion, as he followed him down closer to the
river.
"Didn't you hear that yell he let out just as he
rose, and drew back to let you have his toma-
hawk? Well, you can make up your mind that
half a dozen or more heard that, too, and they'll
flock to this spot like so many wolves when one of
their number signals to the others that he has
found a choice bit of prey."
"You're right, Jo. And we must get out of this
place--"
"'Sh! not so loud," whispered his companion;
"they're coming now."
The speaker was right. Both heard, 'at the
instant, a soft, low sound, like the chirp of a bird,
and which they knew was a call, intended to be
answered by the Indian that had just fallen by the
THE RIVER FUGITIVES.
rifle of Jo Minturn. For obvious reasons, the
proper response could not be made to this, andthe
only wise thing for the young men to do was to
vacate the position with as little delay as possible.
There was not much to be feared from thereport
of the avenging rifle, as reports were sounding at
intervals from all parts of the bloody plain. But,
as Jo had declared, it was the result of that yell
which they must guard against. Beyond all ques-
tion, one or more redskins were stealing upon
them, and Ned and Jo, as they reached the edge of
the Susquehanna, knelt down and stepped into
the water.
"Shall we swim across? asked the latter, in a
whisper.
"We'll have to go out into the river, anyway,
for if we move up or down, we are sure to be
headed off, but it is best to halt on the island. I
don't believe there are many there, and there are
plenty of places where we can hide till it becomes
darker, and then we'll pull out and strike for the
shore again."
"All right; here we go."
They were not a moment too soon, for as they
waded out a little farther in the stream, they
heard the same signal that had attracted their
THE RIVER FUGITIVES.
suspicion at first. But this timeit sounded directly
behind them, from the very spot that they had
occupied but a short time before. The Indians
were there, and it seemed almost impossible that
the two fugitives should escape observation.
It occurred to both that there was less danger
of being seen if they separated, and, without a
word, they sank down until only enough of their
heads remained above to permit them to breathe.
Then they began moving noiselessly through the
water in the direction of Monacacy island, the
outlines of which were barely visible. Their rifles
very nearly caused their betrayal, as it was neces-
sary that they should be shifted over their shoul-
ders, so as to allow them the unrestricted use of
their arms.
Ordinarily, this was a very slight piece of work,
executed in a minute or so, but the labor was
immeasurably increased when they were in the
water, where they were not only anxious to do it
in a guarded manner, but at the same time to keep
the stocks above their heads, so that the weapons
would be ready for use when they should leave the
river again. Both succeeded better than they had
reason to expect, and diverging, they swam toward
the island which had become, for the time being, a
THE RIVER FUGITIVES.
land of refuge to them. Their paths were so far
apart that they almost immediately lost sight of
each other, and each went on his own hook.
Ned Clinton had no more than gotten fairly
under way, after adjusting his gun, when he heard
the Indian signal repeated for the third time, and,
with a shiver of dismay, he caught a sound that
he was sure was made by some one entering the
water.
"As sure as I live they have started afterus," he
muttered, as he increased his speed, not forgetting
to work his way with the stealth that he had used
at the beginning.
At the same moment he glanced over his shoul-
der, toward the place he had just left. It may
have been fancy, and it may have been fact, but he
was quite sure that he saw several dark forms
in the act of entering the water, and, of course,
for no other purpose than to pursue him and his
friend.
CHAPTER IV.
IN THE SUSQUEHANNA.
WHETHER Ned really saw the Indians or not, as
they entered the river behind him, is a small mat-
ter. Within the succeeding three minutes he became
certain that he was pursued by the very beings
from whom he and his friend had been fleeing for
the last hour or more. The Indians had found the
dead body of their former comrade, and under-
stood what it meant. Some of the whites had
managed to escape, in spite of the persistency with
which the invaders had kept up the massacre, and
they were now inspired by the feeling of revenge,
added to their own natural cruelty of heart.
Ned would have felt little fear of a single Indian,
had he been permitted to meet him under anything
like equal conditions; but he was confident that
several were after him. Even if there was only
one, it would have been a piece of folly for him to
engage in a personal encounter, so long as there
was a possibility of avoiding it. Ned naturally
concluded that the redskins would think that he
28
THE RIVER FUGITIVES.
was making for the island, where so many had
already taken refuge, and in the hope of mislead-
ing them, he turned and struck out for a point
below the land itself.
Having progressed a few rods in this manner, he
held up, for the purpose of learning what his ene-
mies were doing. The young man was a splendid
swimmer, and he had no fear that, if it were neces-
sary, he could keep himself afloat an hour or
more. It was quite dark by this time, for which
he was thankful; for had the Indians been able
to see them from the shore, they would have ended
the tragedy, so far as the two friends were con-
cerned, by sending a bullet through the head of
each.
Supporting himself with only his nose and eyes
in the air, Ned looked anxiously back toward the
shore he had left but a few minutes before. For a
brief space he saw nothing; but, as all swimmers
know, sound is carried with greater distinctness
under than above the water, and he heard the
soft rustling noise which is an invariable accom-
paniment of the most skillful swimmer's efforts
when making his way ever so cautiously through
the current.
THE RIVER FUGITIVES.
"They are coming, that's certain," muttered
Ned, still holding himself motionless, and using
his sight and hearing as best he could. "They
will pass me very near, but they can't hear me,
I am sure, and I hope they won't see me, either."
The thought had scarcely taken shape in the
mind of the fugitive, when he caught sight of
what looked like a cocoanut moving over the sur-
face of the water, and which he was certain was
the "cocoanut" of one of his pursuers. That
was more than enough, and he quietly dropped
out of sight altogether, and swam several yards
beneath before coming to the surface.
When the distended blood-vessels could bear no
more, he pushed his nose upward, took in a draught
of the life-sustaining air, and looked about him.
The first glance disclosed the head about as near
as before, and he was wondering how that could
be, when he reflected that it was not the one from
which he fled, but a second Indian, following a
little to the right of the former.
"So there are two of you," he said to himself,
edging away, without going under a second time.
" Yes, and there comes a third, and there is no telling
how many more."
THE RIVER FUGITIVES.
Poising himself like an eagle over the mountain
crag, he waited and watched, ready at any
moment to drop under again, the instant it should
appear necessary. His purpose was to find out
the precise number of their pursuers, and he ran
a great risk in order to do so; but after waiting
several minutes without detecting any more, he
made up his mind that he had seen the last.
"Just three," he muttered, as he cautiously
resumed his swimming in the same course fol-
lowed by them. "That wouldn't make a very
uneven sort of a fight, if we could meet them on a
fair field; but the first thing they would do when
they caught sight of us would be to let out a yell
that would bring half a hundred down on us; so
I guess we'll give them the go-by, if they will let
us."
He paused, for at that moment his trained ear
caught a repetition of the sound thathad alarmed
him, and told him that some one was in the water
near him. Ned accepted this as a warning that he
was treading too close, so to speak, on the heels
of his red enemies, and he slackened his efforts,
which were so slight in the first place. Still the
rustling continued, and he looked anxiously ahead
in the gloom; and was unable to distinguish any-
THE RIVER FUGITIVES.
thing of the swimmer who, as was very evident,
must be the cause of this same slight noise.
"That's queer," he thought. "According to that
sound, he is pretty close by, and yet I'll be shot if
I can see anything of his head on the water."
Long and bitter experience teaches the brave
man to become the skillful, patient and successful
scout, and Clinton was in the act of receiving a
lesson that would never be forgotten. Strange,
that in peering round in the gloom for the author
of the slight but excessively annoying sound,
proving beyond all doubt that one of his dreaded
enemies was somewhere close at hand, it did not
occur to him that it might proceed from the most
dangerouspointof all-behind him. Yetsuchwas
the fact. Ned's faculties were strung to that
pitch that he noticed the peculiar increase in the
rustling that showed that it was approaching.
"I wonder whether he is swimming under the
water?" he asked himself with a shudder, as the
redskin still failed to show up. "If he comes at
me that way, it will be hard work."
With the suddenness of the lightning's flash the
whole truth burst upon. The Indian was
approaching from behind. Turning his head, Ned
saw him so near that he was in the very act of
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raising his hand to bury his bloody knife into his
shoulder. The white youth was without any
knife, and his gun was of no use to him. That
which the endangered fugitive did was the result
of instinct more than reason.
He sank beneath the.surface, doing it so quickly
and cleverly that the blow of the Indian was frus-
trated, and the savage knew not where to feel for
him. Under such circumstances, he did what was
the most natural. He waited for him to rise,
holding the weapon aloft, ready to complete his
work at the very moment the head came within
reach. The savage must have felt sure of his
victim, for he did not utter that yell which comes
so natural to all of his kind when they catch
sight of a foe, and think it possible they may need
a little assistance in disposing of him.
But when Ned Clinton went beneath the surface
of the stream he felt that his life depended upon
his doing something more than merely diving.
The redskin was seeking his death, and the time
had come for him to prove what he was made of.
Which is precisely what he did do; for, without a
moment's hesitation, he struck out the instant he
was under, not away from but toward his foe.
3
THE RIVER FUGITIVES.
The two were so close that only a stroke or two
was required to bring them in collision. The
Delaware was looking keenly around in the gloom
for his victim, when his legs were suddenly seized
near the knees, and he was jerked under. Being
an Indian he was a good swimmer; but the most
skillful of Paul Boytons may be taken off his
guard. The redskin, as he dipped below, gave a
gasping inspiration that was the worst thing he
could do, for it caused him to "ship" a large
amount of water, and, scarcely knowing what it
meant for the first second, he made such a frantic
clawing of the arms that the knife dropped there-
from. He was placed on the same footing as his
assailant so far as weapons were concerned, while
he was temporarily at a disadvantage, owing to
the flurry in which he was thrown by the strange
manner in which he had been assailed.
Fortunately, Ned Clinton comprehended his
vantage-ground in this respect, and he possessed
the sense to use it, without an instant's delay,
which, probably, would have wrested it from his
grasp. He aimed to keep the Indian under until
he should drown, as there was every reason to
believe he could do. The preliminary strangling
that the Delaware had undergone contributed
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materially to this end. When Ned felt the vigor-
ous savage growing weaker in his grasp, he was
strengthened by the fact, and, almost strangling
to death himself, he still kept the hot poisoned
air in his throbbing lungs, until he shoved the
brawny wretch still lower, and succeeded in rais-
ing himself upon his shoulders into the life restor-
ing air above.
With the inhalation came renewed strength and
confidence, and he forced the Indian still lower,
holding him there with the strength of a giant.
In a few seconds all was still; but Ned did not let
the redskin up, fearing that he was counterfeiting
death, so as to throw him off his guard. But in
a few more moments the Delaware became quiet,
as if made of lead. Then he dropped still lower,
and was seen no more.
"I got along a good deal easier with him than
I expected," murmured Ned, as he resumed his
careful and deliberate swim in the direction of the
island.
The purpose of the fugitive was now to join Jo
Minturn, who had preceded him to Monacacy,
and for whose safety he was greatly concerned, on
account of the trio of Indians whom he had seen
following after him. Common prudence would
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have dictated another course. Knowing that the
island was swarming with Indians and Tories,
all engaged in searching it from one end to the
other for victims, there surely was little to com-
mend in the way of a refuge. But the fact that
Jo Minturn was there was enough to lead Ned in
the same direction; for the two had been bosom
friends from their earliest boyhood, and, when
they marched out of Forty Fort that hot sum-
mer afternoon, it was the determination of both
to stand by each other to the death. Leaving
this profound friendship out of view, there was
another powerful reason that would have led Ned
Clinton in the same course, and that was the fact
that Jo was the brother of Rosa Minturn,-but
of that hereafter. The young man was quite con-
fident that he had command of his own actions,
and although the other redskins might miss the
warrior, it was not likely that they would attrib-
ute his disappearance to the right cause and
seek to avenge it.
"Jo will be looking out for me and I for him,
and both of us for the redskins, so we ought to
be able to take care of ourselves-hello "
At this moment, when the swimmer was begin-
ning to felicitate himself on the shape matters
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were taking, he was alarmed by seeing the heads
of three Indians who had passed by him when
he halted and waited for the fourth warrior. It
was plain from this that they were expecting the
one who was never to come; and the instant Ned
caught sight of them, they also detected him, for
one of them uttered an exclamation that was
intended as a sort of summons.
Ned did not lose his self-possession under these
trying circumstances, but as he was barely visible,
with his identity as yet unsuspected, he once more
sank out of sight, and by a few vigorous move-
ments, placed himself so far beyond the point
where he went down that he was beyond the
range of their vision when he came up again.
This fortunate advantage he increased with as
much celerity as was compatible with his own
safety.
CHAPTER V.
A DREADFUL DEED.
FOR awhile, matters went a great deal more
smoothly with Jo Minturn than they did with his
old friend, who had fallen behind in the swim for
Monacacy island. As they had set out to reach
this island it seemed to Jo that the sooner they
did so the better it would be for them. Accord-
ingly, after he struck out and was fairly under
way, he kept straight ahead, even though it was
apparent that several Indians were only a short
distance in the rear, in hot pursuit. Jo was quite
sure that he could make his way through the
water as rapidly as any of his pursuers, and for
this reason he kept it up, although his friend Ned
was beyond his sight.
The result looked as if Jo had taken the wiser
course after all; for the actions of Ned kept the lit-
tle company of Delaware Indians longer in the
water than would have been the case had they
sped straight onward in pursuit. And so it came
about that, when Jo touched bottom and was
88
THE RIVER FUGITIVES.
ready to begin wading, he paused and looked
searchingly around, and saw nothing at all of his
enemies.
"Beat them swimming after all," with a little
natural pride over his imagined exploit. "It's a
pity Ned didn't do the same, instead of waiting,
in the belief that he can outwit them. I am satis-
fied that we must have a little more experience
before it will be safe for us to try to beat the sav-
ages and Tories at that game."
The young man was in doubt for a moment or
two as to whether he should stay where he was
and wait for his companion, or withdraw a little
from the shore. But it occurred to him that the
pursuing Delawares were likely to leave the water
at that same point-in which event his situation
would prove anythingbut a safeone. Hetherefore
moved back a step or two, where in case it became
necessary, he could avail himself of the shelter
of the undergrowth.
He was not a moment too soon in doing so. He
had just reached the spot when the figure of aman
rose from the water less than a rod distant and
hurried into the bushes a few yards from the shore,
where he sank down like one who was hiding
from pursuers. The precise point at which he
THE RIVER FUGITIVES.
emerged was a dozen feet below where Jo was
standing, and the first emotion of the young scout
on seeing him was that of surprise that he had
failed to observe him when he was in the river
itself.
The incident taught him the wisdom of his action
in withdrawing from hisexposed position. Jo was
convinced that the man was one of the fugitives
trying to escape from the Tories and Indians, but
where the situation was so critical, he hesitated to
approach or hail him, and it was well he did so
refrain. For the individual, whose mannershowed
that he was wearied and exhausted, had scarcely
dropped into his hiding-place, when his pursuer,
also unseen by the young scout, stepped from the
river and proceeded in a direct line toward him.
This man was also white, and the inference was
fair that he was a Tory-one of those renegades
as cruel and merciless as their copper-colored allies
-without the same palliation for their diabolical
enmity of the settlers of Wyoming valley.
"If that's your game," muttered Jo, "I'll take
a hand in the business myself, for I can stand see-
ing a white man killed by an Indian better than
looking at a white man slaying one of his own
race."
THE KITER FUGITIVES.
Jo unslung his rifle from his back, and brought
it round to the front, so that it would be ready for
instant use, and he followed the wretch with the
stealthy tread of an Indian. Enough light
remained for him to distinguish the Tory search-
ing the bushes and undergrowth for the fugitive,
who must have watched his approach with the
most poignant feelings of terror. Guided by a
cruel fate, the Tory gradually neared the hiding-
place of the fugitive, who, seeing that discovery
was inevitable, came forth and threw himself on
his knees before his enemy.
"Spare me, Brother John! pleaded the terrified
fugitive, for it was his own brother to whom he
was kneeling-" spare me, and I will be your serv-
ant as long as I live!"
"That is all very well," was the inhuman reply,
"but what business have you to be a rebel? "
"I was onlyfighting for my family and my home,
and we have been defeated and enough of our peo-
ple killed."
"Not while one of the rebels still lives; therehas
not half of them been killed yet."
"You surely wouldn't kill your own brother,
John! Let me live, and I will do anything in the
world for-"
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Further words were cut short forever by the
explosion of the rifle almost against the head of
the poor wretch, who fell backward, killed by the
bullet of his own brother. And just here-lest our
readers may think we are indulging in unwarrant-
able exaggeration-we may state that the incident
just given is a fact as clearly established as the
massacre of Wyoming itself. The name of the
fratricide was John Pencil, and of his brother,
Henry. It is said that the Indians themselves
were shocked at the unnatural crime, as they
well might be. There is something instructive in
the subsequent fate of the fratricide, which is also
strictly authentic.
The crime was so atrocious that it became known
to all the survivors of the fight, and John Pencil
never dared to return to Wyoming valley; but,
after the Revolution, went to Canada, where he
settled in the wilderness with a number of other
refugees. While living here, he was twice chased
by wolves, and on each occasion was saved by the
Indians. The superstitious redskins at last came
to believe that a retributive fatality was follow-
ing him, and they refused to go to his assistance
when he was beset a third time by the ravenous
THE RIVER FUGITIVES. -
beasts of the forest, and a short while after he was
set upon again, and literally torn to pieces and
devoured by the howling wolves-fit end for such
a miscreant.
And what was Jo Minturn doing while this
frightful crime was being perpetrated? When he
comprehended that the two men were really
brothers, he could not believe the fugitive was in
danger; but as the few words that passed between
them foreshadowed the atrocious crime, he raised
his own gun with the resolve to shoot the Tory
before he could fire. The aim was taken and the
trigger drawn, but the dull click that followed
proved that his ammunition had become so wet
during his swim in the Susquehanna that it was
useless. But, impelled by his burning horror, he
raised the hammer and aimed, and pulled the trig-
ger again, only to be chagrined beyond measure
by a second failure. Ere he could repair the error
the fatal shot was fired, and the deed done before
his eyes.
Determined that the monster should not escape
the death that he had earned, Jo clubbed his gun
with the purpose of braining him where he stood;
but at this critical moment the young patriot dis-
44 THX RIVER FUGITIVES.
covered that he had been seen by several Indians,
who were so close upon him that his danger-was
greater than at any time during the terrible fight
and massacre. Nothing but instant flight could
save him.
CHAPTER VI.
GLOOMY FOREBODINGS.
SUcH being the case, Jo made a desperate attempt
to elude his sleepless enemies by a tremendous leap
to one side, and a furious run for the river, which
was but a short distance away. Like most of the
young men of his day and neighborhood, he was
very active upon his feet, as one needed to be who
ran a race with a party of Delawares or Mohawks.
The fugitive was only a short distance from the
water, but he took a diagonal course, so as to
keep in the shelter of the undergrowth as long as
possible, his belief being that by this means he
could secure a chance to double, and perhaps to
leave the redskins behind.
The young scout was seen at the instant he
started, as he was apprised by a series of shouts
and yells, telling that the pursuers were close at
his heels. Jo, however, was well acquainted with
the length and breadth of Monacacy island, and
thus at the beginning he possessed a slight advan-
tage over his pursuers. That availed him scarcely
45
THE RIVER FUGITIVES.
anything, unfortunately, as they kept so close to
his heels that it seemed impossible for him to dodge
out of sight even for an instant. But, for allthat,
Jo Minturn escaped his pursuers by a means that
was as singular as it was rare.
He was running with might and main, when it
struck him that his only chance would be by mak-
ing a running leap into the Susquehanna. With
this purpose in view he made a sudden and sharp
turn toward the river, but had taken scarcely a
step when he caught his foot in some sort of a
vine, and he fell violently to the ground. Almost
on the very spot where he fell was another fugitive
in hiding. This poor fellow supposed that his ene-
mies had detected him, and, with a cry of terror,
he sprang to his feet, and dashed off for dear life,
the redskins keeping on directly after him, without
any suspicion of the manner in which the identity
of the two had been changed.
The only thing that prevented their discovery
of the curious fact was the partial stunning that
Jo received. It caused him to lie motionless long
enough for the Indians to pass by him in their pur-
suit of the man who ought to have lain still where
he was resting when he was broken in upon so
unexpectedly. With quick returning consciousness
THE RIVER FUGITIVES.
cameto Jo the perception of what had taken place,
and he was grateful indeed; resolved, too, that
the advantage thus gained should not be thrown
away by any subsequent indiscretion of his.
Cautiously rising to his feet, he looked around
and listened. Gazing across to the shore, and up
and down the valley, he still saw the glare of burn-
ing buildings, and heard the crack of the death-deal-
ing rifles. Ever and anon he caught the savage
yell of some of the Indians who were sweeping up -
and down the valley in search of more victims,
their inhuman thirst nourished by what it fed
upon. Looking in whatever direction he chose,
there was little to attract in the way of a refuge
from danger.
The whites were fleeing for life on both sides
theriver, and there were many in hiding on Monac-
acy island where he was resting himself for a
few minutes. The only course that promised any-
thing at all like safety was in long and continued
flight-that is, until they should pass beyond the
neighborhood altogether. That he would not
hesitate a moment to do, if he could only secure
the company of his friend, Ned Clinton, from
whom he had'parted in the Susquehanna. How
to rejoin him was the question he was revolving
THE RIVER FUGITIVES.
in his own mind. Troublesome thoughts were
beginning to disturb the young fugitive-fears
which, untilthen had had no opportunity to make
their existence known.
"What more probable than that Ned has fallen
by the hands of some of the Tories and Indians!
Our poor folks are lying dead everywhere in the
bushes, on both shores of this island, and their
bodies are floating down the river for miles. The
ground must be covered all the way between
here and Forty Fort, and I wonder how things
are looking there."
In the last sentence he gave utterance to a
dread that had been creeping into his heart for
the last half hour, seeming to be stronger as it
reappeared after some of the frightful perils
through which he was compelled to fight his
way.
"I remember that the fate of the fort depends
on us; and as we have been utterly routed, of
course the fort must go to-morrow. That will
place everything in the hands of Colonel John
Butler, and I hope the folks will be safe, but I
can't feel sure of it."
This was the terror that had been gradually
growing ever since the defeat of the patriot troops
THE RIVER FUGITIVES.
in the valley, and which was such a torment to
the young man. Very naturally he tried to argue
himself into the belief that his fears were
unfounded.
"I suppose that maybe he could n't keep these
Indians and Tories back, after the flight of our
men," continued Jo, without succeeding in con-
vincing himself that such was the case; "but
when the fort surrenders, it will be to him and
his white soldiers. The colonel will then be in a
position to make his wishes respected, and he will
see to it that no excesses are allowed. There are
old men, women and children, and such of the
fugitives as have managed to dodge the Indians
and Tories so there will be nothing done but the
surrender because there is nothing else to do.
But after the surrender-what then ?"
This was the question that constantly presented
itself, and which he could not answer in any way
that tended to quiet his anxiety. Jo knew, as
well as did everybody else, that his sister Rosa,
who was at the fort with her mother and decrepit
father, was of such beauty of form and feature
that she would attract attention anywhere, and
much more among a band of Tories and rene-
gades, commanded by such a man as Colonel
4
THE RIVER FUGITIVES.
John Butler. Jo had more than suspected for
some time past that Ned Clinton looked with
affectionate reverence upon his beautiful sister,
and there was none to whom he would have seen
her betrothed with more genuine pleasure than to
him. He was a soldier in the Continental army,
or, rather, was about to be; for, a native of
Wyoming, and attached to one of the most
widely respected patriot families of the place,
he was on the point of starting out to join the
army under Washington, when he was induced to
wait awhile by the danger that impended over
the valley.
If Ned held Rosa Minturn in such exalted
esteem, he had not revealed it to any one, not
even to her; but Jo, who was his constant com-
panion, had such good opportunity to discover
the truth that he would have been blind had he
failed to do so. But he, too, kept it to himself,
only helping matters along in a sly way by some
insinuating remark in the presence of his sister
relating to the bravery and nobility of charac-
ter of Ned. Jo was considerably smaller in size
than Ned, and it was arranged that he should
enter the military service of his country in a
year. In the present emergency he was only too
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eager to do his utmost for the defense of his own
loved ones. But Ned was also young, and he
could afford to wait awhile before making his
love known to her whom he regarded as above
any of her kind upon the broad earth. It was
time for war, and he would spend the interval
until peace should come again in proving himself
worthy of her love.
"Colonel Butler," continued the youth, referring
to the British commander, "is a regular officer,
and will act as such, for he has a reputation
behind him, and is responsible to higher authori-
ties."
He recalled that the leader of the British
forces a year or two previous, when the Revolu-
tion broke out, was a government functionary
under Sir William Johnson. When he fled to
Canada, his family fell into the hands of the
patriots, and were exchanged for the wife and
children of Colonel Campbell, of Cherry valley.
He was exceedingly active in the wars on the bor-
der, and commanded a regiment of rangers incon-
junction with Brandt and his Mohawks, and he
was a dreadful scourge to the patriots of Tryon
county. It would seem, therefore, in spite of the
savage nature of the British leader, that the
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women and refugees in Forty Fort were in no per:
sonal danger; but, to bring the matter down to a
fine point, Jo dreaded the effect of the beauty of
Rosa upon Butler and his associates.
War is barbarous, as the patriots had already
learned, and what was to hinder Colonel Butler,
if he took a fancy to the forest beauty, from claim-
ing her as his share of the spoils of the victory?
The question was a dreadful one, in all its sugges-
tiveness, but at the same time it was one that Jo
felt must be met, and, if possible, answered
promptly.
"It will be just like those redcoats to pick up
Rosa and run off with her, for there is nothing to
hinder them, if they want to do so, and there can't
be any doubt that lots of them will be smitten
with her the minute sheshowsherself. Ah! if only
the old scout Ike Wells was here, or I don't know
but I would just as lief have 'Red Jack the
Mohawk;' for he is a good friend of ours, and
knows how to circumvent the redskins betterthan
any white man can. But what's the use of wish-
ing? added the young scout, rousing at the per-
ils that must be met promptly, if at all. "I might
stand here all night or for a week and do nothing
but wish, and that is all the good it would do me.
THE RIVER FUGITIVES.
I think I'll try to reach the fort, and see what can
be done. Wells is off somewhere with Washing-
ton, I suppose, in New Jersey, so it's no use of
looking for him here, and Red Jack is on duty up
in New York state, I believe; so we must depend
on Heaven and ourselves."
He walked cautiously a few steps in the direc-
tion of the river, and then paused and listened.
The same sounds were in the air, but he had
become accustomed to them, and was listening for
evidences of danger closer at hand. Everything
in his immediate vicinity was still; and, though
there might be a skulking Delaware or Mohawk
within arm's length, he made up his mind to shift
his quarters without any more delay.
His anxiety was to find his friend, Ned Clinton,
and, with that object in view, he picked his way
with great care to the side of the island com-
manding a partial view of the river which he
had left but a short time before, and where he
hoped still to see his comrade swimming cautiously
toward him. Looking out on the dark surface of
the mildly flowing stream, he stood for several
minutes as motionless as the broad stone upon
which one of his feet was resting. If anyone were
within a rod or so he was quite sure of detecting
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him; but the most searching scrutiny failed to
show anything upon which he could build any
hope.
"Ned must know that I did all I could to reach
the island, and that if I am anywhere above
ground I must be here. I hope that nothing has
happened to him."
Any one would suppose thatJo would have felt
greatly concerned for the safety of his comrade,
and it cannot be denied that he was anxious; but
at the same time he had an abiding faith in the
skill as well as the bravery of the daring young
scout, who had shown what he could do over and
over again, when encompassed by peril on every
hand.
"Hello, Ned, is that you?" suddenly asked the
watcher in a guarded undertone, as a figure
appeared at his side from the water."
"I believe so," was the reply, as his friend joined
him. "I propose that we now try to reach the
fort to see how the folks are."
"I am with you," was the glad response.
CHAPTER VII.
THE FOREST ROSE.
THE morning succeeding the massacre of Wyo-
ming rose bright and beautiful over the lovelyval-
ley, which looked all the more frightful from the
appalling scenes it had witnessed but a few hours
before. Within Forty Fort were consternation
and distress; for of all the representatives of the
numerous settlers there was scarcely one who had
not to mourn the loss of some father, brother or
son, who had marched out the day before, to the
music of drum and fife, with heart beating high
with patriotic resolve, and bounding with the
belief that the horde of redskins and Tories were
to be routed and scattered like chaff by the whirl-
wind. And those who remained behind, to watch
and pray for the success of the brave defenders,
could not but share in a large degree this confi-
dence.
How woeful beyond description, then, was the
disappointment that was borne to them, when a
few terrified and bleeding fugitives came rushing
55
THE RIVER FUGITIVES.
back with word that the patriots were routed,
and the invaders were ravaging the valley and
massacring all upon whom they could lay hands!
We pass over the horrors of that ghastly night,
when the weeping and helpless ones watched all
through the long dark hours for the coming of
those who were never to come again; but who,
even while their loved and sorrowing ones were
looking and hoping against hope, were either
struggling vainly against the foe or more merci-
fully, perhaps, were already beyond the power of
torture and pain.
As has been stated, Colonel Denison proffered
to the Tory Butler the terms of surrender, that
Colonel Zebulon Butler had drawn up the night
before, previous to his flight to Wilkesbarre. We
have a copy of these articles of capitulation
before us as we write. The articles are seven in
number, and substantially agree that the settlers,
upon condition of surrendering to the chivalrous
representative of his majesty, King George III.,
shall be allowed to occupy their farms peaceably,
and the lives "of the inhabitants shall be preserved
entire and unhurt." To these articles of capitu-
lation the name of John Butler, the British colonel,
THE RIVER FUGITIVES.
and Nathan Denison, the patriot commander, are
attached.
In accordance with this agreement, the gates of
the fort were thrown open, and Butler, at the
head of the Rangers, and a Seneca chief at the
head of the Indians, marched in. The arms of
the men were stacked, and given by Butler as a
presentto theIndians with the remark, "See what
a present the Yankees have made you."
Among the patriots in the fort at this time were
Lorimer Minturn, a gentleman of means, but so
old and decrepit that he was physically unable to
march out.with the force that went forth to bat-
tle. He had insisted upon bearing a gun, and
taking part in the fight, but, when Colonel Butler
saw his helplessness, he refused to allow him to
go with them, and so, much against his will, he
was compelled to remain behind. With him were
his wife, Susan, andhis daughter, Rosa. By acuri-
ous combination of circumstances, all the relatives
of Ned Clinton were fortunately absent at this
critical period, on a visit to some of their con-
nections in Wilkesbarre.
A hundred years ago the Wyoming valley con-
tained, as it does now, some of the sweetest and
fairest daughters the sun ever shone upon, and
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there was no one who was sweeter and fairer
than the young and beautiful Rosa Minturn.
She was the twin of her brother and therefore
about seventeen; but in mind,in amiability,in grace
of movement, and, indeed, in all the charms that
make womanhood so winning and attractive, she
was all that is seen in those whose years outnum-
ber hers. The lustrous blue eyes; the wealth of
waving hair, as black and glossy as the raven's
wing; the pearly teeth; the tint of the rounded
cheeks; the willowy frame; the musical voice and
laugh,-these, added to a simplicity of character
and an indescribable charm of manner, made
Rosa Minturn a girl who could not fail to attract
attention, and win admiration, no matter where,
or under what circumstances, she might be seen.
There was only one person in the Wyoming val-
ley who was insensible of the beauty of Rosa,
and that was herself--certainly the most appro-
priate one that could have been named. True,
some ardent admirer now and then gave expres-
sion to the wonder excited by her remarkable
attractiveness; but the forest beauty accepted the
florid compliments more in the light of a general
acknowledgment to her sex than as a personal
tribute to herself.
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On the day of the surrender Rosa was busy
passing to and fro with her parents, and striving
to wean her mind from the contemplation of the
horrors of the past ahd present by interesting
herself in the details of the yielding up of the
fort.
In one respect she and her folks had been
favored above most of those who were in the
refuge with them. They had received intelligence
from one of the settlers, in- whom they placed
implicit trust, that the son and brother Jo, in
company with Ned Clinton, had succeeded in mak-
ing off when it became apparent that the fortunes
of the day were turned irretrievably against
them and they could accomplish no good by stay-
ing and fighting longer. Confirmed in so much
good tidings, the parents and friends found it very
easy to believe that the young scouts were able
to take care of themselves, and they were confi-
dent that the two had reached some place of
safety long before.
All the hum and buzz of the surrender were
under way, and Rosa was standing a little apart,
gazing upon the scene and occasionally exchang-
ing a word with her mother, seated near, as to
their own arrangements for taking up their
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quarters again in their own home. It was
natural that she should feel some interest
in the British Colonel Butler, and when he was
pointed out to her, she scrutinized him more
closely than any one else, with the exception of
the Seneca chief that led the Indians into the
fort.
If there were better-looking men than Colonel
Butler, there were also worse-appearing, from
which it will be inferred that he was a person
without any very striking characteristics of
appearance, which was the fact. He showed a
slight inclination to corpulency, though not
enough to disfigure him, as his military training
had imparted a quickness of movement not
usually seen in one who had reached middle life;
but no one could look upon the face of the
Briton by adoption, without being unfavorably
impressed, for there were signs not of coarseness
alone, but of positive cruelty of disposition.
More than one settler, when he met for the first
time the cousin of the leader of the patriots,
wondered how it was that he agreed to receive
the surrender of the fort at all, for he seemed to
be one who would enjoy the braining of the
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helpless women and children as much as Thayen-
danaga, the Indian chief, himself.
Colonel Butler, the Tory, wore no beard, except-
ing that which had grown within two or three
days; his nose was large and unshapely; his
under jaw heavy and suggestive of his combative,
bulldog disposition; his face broad, especially
between the eyes, so that in this respect he bore
considerable resemblance to a common type of
the cruel Indian. Add to the "points" already
mentioned the coarseness of the skin, which, to
one standing near, suggested the ravages of small-
pox, the cold, piggish appearance of the eyes, and
a set of shaggy, broken teeth, and our readers
have all that is necessary to say of his personal
appearance.
CHAPTER VIII.
DANGEROUS ADMIRATION.
RosA MINTURN, as we have already said, was
standing somewhat apart in the fort, watching
the details of the surrender, as they passed under
her own eyes, the time not having come as yet in
which her own folks should make their prepara-
tions to return to their home. It seemed to her,
since the terms of the capitulation had been
agreed to, that there was no need of further
delay; but her father simply replied that they
would wait until matters settled down a little,
and most of the Indians should depart.
And just there the old gentleman was wise, for
his experience in the French and Indian war had
given him a knowledge of the character of the
Indian, which he could not forget at a critical
time. He doubted very much whether his family
and those around him were safe anywhere just
then, but he was quite confident that the fort
came nearer supplying that protection than any
62
THE RIVER FUGITIVES.
other place they could select. which was the
reason for his staying there.
At the moment when the eye of Rosa was first
arrested by the figure of Colonel Butler, the latter
was standing just outside the fort, with his arms
folded, in conversation with Colonel Denison,
from whom he had received the surrender of the
post. The Tory was somewhat the taller, and
seemed to look down and listen to the words of
the patriot, who was talking quite vigorously.
The latter gesticulated very freely, swinging his
arms almost in the face of his listener, while his
eyes snapped with anger.
Colonel Denison was protesting against the
outrages committed by the Tories and Indians
with all the dignity of outraged manhood.
The face of Colonel Butler was marked by a cyn-
ical smile, that had been there for several minutes,
so that it resembled that which is seen upon the
face of a man suffering from a cramp, the main
difference in this case being that there was a grim,
sardonic expression, as if the conqueror was
rather pleased than otherwise at the accounts of
the numerous atrocities that were being poured
into his ears. Finally, he yawned, as if growing
tired.
THB RIVER FUGITIVES.
"Well, well, colonel," he said, with the grin still
there, and displaying his tobacco-stained teeth,
"these things must happen, you know, and why
make such a rumpus about them? "
"I don't see why they need take place at all,"
was the instant response of the patriot. "If
civilized nations must go to war, there is no
reason why they should transform themselves
into barbarians!"
"Well, no, you would think not, but the thing
can't always be helped, you know. It is you who
have committed the greatest blunder."
"How is that?"
"By rising in rebellion against King George,
one of the most humane and Christian monarchs
the sun ever shone upon."
The countenance of Denison flamed up, for he
could not but regard these words in the light of
an insult, when the respective situations of these
participants were borne in mind. Military
officers, as a rule, are not noted for the sweetness
of their dispositions, and hot words came to
the lips of the patriot. But he suppressed
them, under the reflection that the safety of the
women, men, and children might be very easily
involved in the indiscretion of their commander.
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"It will be easier to decide as to who has made
the mistake when a few more years shall have
passed."
"No one but a fool can doubt the complete
extinguishment of this rebellion within a year or
so from now."
"It happens, then, that the country abounds
with fools, and the number seems likely to
increase."
"It has always been the case. I have no doubt
that if the people were left free to say what they
wished, they would declare the rebels should lay
down their arms, and that ragamuffin of yours,
Washington, ought to be hanged so high that all
the world might see him, and remember the lesson.
He will soon be caught, and made to dangle
between heaven and earth."
It would require a man of a very sluggish nature,
or one whose patriotism was dead, to listen to
such a slur upon one of the greatest and best men
the world ever knew-he who was "first in war,
first in peace, and first in the hearts of his country-
men." Hadthe two officers been alone, or had the
fate of no one beside himself depended on the result
of Colonel Denison's words and actions, he would
6
THE RIVER FUGITIVES.
have checked-the slur, ere it was finished, with a
blow.
"It is idle for you and me to discuss this ques-
tion," replied Denison, holding his anger downs
best he could. "I concede to you the right to do
your own thinking, and claim the same preroga-
tive for myself. We are banded together in a sol-
emn compact to fight to the end for our liberties,
and we do not believe merely, but we know, that
we are performing a high duty before heaven. If
it is possible for you to think you do right to
enslave us, why, I will do my best to fancy that
you are not particularly to blame for your clouded
understanding. As to Washington, I cannot listen
to any reflection upon him from anyone."
It would be impossible to describe or picture the
intense passion with which this patriotic but dar-
ing declaration was made. Denison spoke in a
low voice, rather lower, in fact, than usual, only
varying the ominous undertone by a slight
emphasis; but, as he uttered his reply, he looked
straight into the eye of the Tory, and there was a
lurking, quivering fire in his own eye, such as is
seen in the orb of the jungle tigerwhen he crouches
for his fatal spring. Colonel Butler gazed into the
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countenance of the officer with an expression of
disgust, but therewas something that so "backed
up" the daring words, that he held down the
exasperating expression that was on the end of his
tongue. Instead, thereof, he laughed.
"See here, my fiery rebel, what's the use of you
and me talking over a matter that we can never
agree upon if we keep it up to the crack of doom?
I have a question that I want to ask you."
"I am ready to hear it," responded Denison,
appreciating the wisdom of the Tory in steering
clear of the collision that was so imminent.
"For the last ten minutes or so, I have.noticed
a young lady standing off yonder who has kept
her eye upon me pretty steadily. In short, she
shows very plainly that there is something about
me which has caught her notice. Don't look too
suddenly, for I don't want to stop her pleasant
occupation. Who is she?"
The cooling indignation of Colonel Denison was
instantly turned to disgust at hearing a married
man speak in the style of one who was not too old
to be his own daughter. Nevertheless, he chose to
give the insolent information asked for.
"That young lady is Miss Rosa Minturn, the
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daughter of one of the most prominent citizens of
Wyoming."
At the moment of making this reply, the speaker
purposely fixed his eyes upon the fair object, in
such a pointed way that she could not fail to
understand that she was the one who was
referred to.
"You ought to have been more careful, colonel,"
said Butler, in an impatient tone. "She has taken
the alarm, and is walking away."
"Like all pure-minded youngladies, sheisembar-
rassed to find herself the object of admiration."
"She is certainly a remarkable beauty."
"And as good as she is handsome,"' added Deni-
son, who would not withhold the tribute due the
young lady.
"Then I'll be hanged if she isn't a phenomenon
of goodness! exclaimed the redcoat, his gaze fol-
lowing the object as she moved quietly out of their
field of vision.
"Men like you and me, colonel, who have fami-
lies of our own, cannot fail to be pleased when we
have the privilege of meeting those whom we can
hold up as models to our daughters."
The fine irony and rebuke contained in these
THR RIVER FUGITIVES. 69
words, were lost upon the brutal Tory, whose eyes
were still fixed upon the spot where he had last
seen the object of his sudden admiration. Hemut-
tered, as if speaking to himself:
"I must see more of that beautiful young
rebel!"
CHAPTER IX.
A QUARREL.
THE sudden turning of Colonel Denison's head,
accompanied as it was by a peculiar expression of
the speaker, while he was in conversation with
the Tory Butler, was the first appraisal Rosa Min-
turn received that she was doing an imprudent
thing in thus scrutinizing the leader of their ene-
mies in so pointed a manner. Her face flushed
crimson as she saw the eyes of Butler follow those
of his informant, and she turned on her heel and
lost no time in making herself invisible.
There is an instinct in woman that warns her of
the approach of danger, and she felt as if she
would give worlds had she refrained from attract-
ing the attention of the Tory by her own actions.
But, as that could not be recalled, she resolved, as
the next best thing, to keep out of his sight alto-
gether, refraining from showing herself, as much
as possible, until after the departure of the invad-
ers from the valley. This would have been no very
difficult matter, provided she had not drawn the
70
THE RIVER FUGITIVES.
attention of the Tory to herself and awakened a
determination on his own part to see her further,
in short, to cultivate her acquaintance.
And so, as Rosa passed outside the fort, and
sought to lose herself from the sight of her too
ardent admirer, the latter did not wait' long, but
followed her. This was done in an apparently
aimless manner; for Butler wished to make it
appear that he was merely lounging about, with
no other purpose than to watch the actions of
those under his command. He was especially
desirous of not alarming the object of his search
by too great precipitancy. In fact, he acted, just
as if he had gone out to show off his handsome
form for her admiration, while he was not anxious
to see any one himself. But there was an eager
look in his face as he gazed around upon the motly
swarm of people constantly coming and going.
"She does n't appear to be in sight," he muttered,
after he had searched among the group for several
minutes for the one who had so captivated him at
first sight. "Denison tells me that she is modest,
bashful, and all that sort of thing. Well, I'm sure
I've no objection, for I'm blessed she is just the
prettiest lot of homespun that I've seen for a long
time. I wonder where on earth she could have
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taken herself so quick. From the way she gaped
at me, there is no doubt she was impressed.
That's one reason why I take so much pains with
my uniform, for it's just the thing to catch the eye
of a young girl like her, even though it's getting
pretty well worn. There is something in a soldier,
especially if he is a brave officer, that they don't
seem able to resist. I am sure that it will be an
easy thing to win her love, and the taking of her
away as a prisoner will be still easier. A fellow
might as well enjoy himself in this world, and,
indeed, it becomes the duty of him to do all the
injury to the enemies of King George he can-
though I don't mean to harm a hair of her head.
Ah, no, the dear girl! But I was just thinking
that the old folks, as a matter of course, would
make a great fuss if their rosebud were plucked
by a British colonel and carried away, and
such a result, bringing distress, would be my
bounden duty to my king."
Colonel Butler was growing quite confidential
with himself; and as he stood staring round the
space before him, where the Tories, Indians and
patriots were passing to and fro, as if in review,
his gaze flitted here and there in his search for the
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fair one, who seemed to grow more beautiful and
attractive the longer she kept from his sight.
"Rosa Minturn, I am told, is her name. Well,
that's pretty, but it can't be compared to her.
Minturn, Minturn," he repeated to himself,
musingly. "I know most of the families in the
valley, but I don't recall him. Now, if that dog
of a cousin of mine, Zeb, that fought us so hard
had n't slid out to Wilkesbarre, I could have found
out all I wanted to from him, after which I would
have had him shot as sure as I'm a living man,
and I would have pleased my superiors by doing
so, too."
When a man is very eager to meet some one,
and is kept waiting, he is apt to lose his temper;
and Colonel Butler, who was not possessed of an
angelic disposition, was growing angry. For
awhile he smothered his wrath for fear the beauty
of his face might be marred when Rosa should
catch the next view of it; but as this glimpse
was a long time coming, he became so impatient
that he was compelled to give expression to his
feelings. This, as might be supposed, came at
first in the shape of an imprecation, which all but
himself and the recording angel failed to hear.
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"It beats everything!" he added, "that all
that I don't want to see are passing back and
forth, and them that I do want to look upon ain't
visible. I'll be hanged if I don't stand here all
day, if it's necessary, to see her! "
The time was ill for any one to approach the
colonel, but as it so happened, Colonel Denison, of
all others, was the one who appeared at his elbow
at this moment, and gently touched him.
"I am sorry to trouble you, Colonel Butler, but
the Indians under your command are becoming
worse every minute, and there is reason to fear
that blood will soon be shed."
"What's the matter now?" growled the Tory
leader, wheeling about and scowling at him.
"The Indians, who seem to belong to all the
tribes of the Six Nations, are pillaging the houses
of the settlers, and when Iventure to remonstrate
with them, they only grin in my face and appear
to care nothing for my threat to complain to
you."
"If they don't care for such a threat, what is
the use of your coming to me with your whining,
then?"
"To have it checked at once, as due to the
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capitulation which you and I signed, and which
has been fulfilled to the letter by me."
Angry as was the Tory, he saw it would not do
to throw this appeal entirely aside, coming as it
did from the officer with whom he had treated,
and whose sword he had received.
"I'll see what can be done to stop it," replied
Butler; "but the blood of the Indians is up, and
there are so many of them that I don't believe
they can be controlled."
"A colonel should never assume command of
any body which he cannot control."
The Tory turned upon the patriot, his face
working, for the rebuke was a cutting one, and all
the more so from its unquestionable truth. The
enraged Butler answered by assuring Denison he
might go to the hottest place known, and then
suddenly paused and glowered fiercely in his face,
as if to hear what he was going to do about it.
There was but one course open for a gentleman.
Colonel Denison was unarmed and on parole.
Without a word he turned his back upon the
conqueror of Wyoming, and walked away from
him. Thus ended all intercourse between the two
officers. Butler started after the patriot, as if he
THB RIVER FUGITIVES.
expected to see him turn and come back, but he
was disappointed.
"I expected the Indians would kick up a muss
about this time; it's the waythey have of making
war, and those who resist them must be prepared,
to pay the piper."
When a few minutes more had gone by he
moved his position, concluding that it was best
for Mohammed to go to the mountain, as there
were no signs of the mountain calling upon him.
"The Iroquois may tomahawk every rebel in
the valley-women, children and all-for ought I
care, so long as they don't disturb any of the
glossy tresses of my charmer."
An hour had passed since he had seen that won-
drous face and form, and her continued absence
led him to begin to suspect that perhaps, after all,
there was a purpose in her remaining so long
invisible.
"I don't know what it can be," he said to
himself, as he reflected over the matter; "but
whatever it is I will soon find out."
CHAPTER X.
RATHER TOO KIND.
COLONEL BUTLER carried out one of his threats,
at least. Finding that the prospect of seeing
Rosa Minturn was slight, so long as he held his
first position, he changed it. But a merechangefail-
ing, also, to bring her to light, he resorted to inquiry
or stratagem. The first point he played was to
hunt up old Mr. Minturn, who was full of apprehen-
sions of the trouble from the Indians. His house
stood near the fort, and he was leaning on his
cane in front of the building, with one or two of
his neighbors, as if he were dubious whether it
would do to attempt to occupy it for some time
yet. They varied their occupation by stealing
furtive glances at a group of Mohawks lounging
about the settlement under the influence of liquor,
and whom the patriots were anxious to avoid.
When the little party of white men saw the
Tory colonel approaching, they saluted him, and
Mr. Minturn ventured to ask whether the savages
79
THE RIVER FUGITIVES.
might not be put under a stricter surveillance, so
that the danger could be nipped at the bud. The
reply of Butler was a signal to Minturn to come
to one side, so they could converse without being
overheard.
"You must have discovered," said he, in a confi-
dential manner, "that there are more Indians than
white soldiers, and I see that they have managed
to get hold of some liquor somewhere; so there'll
be trouble. We shan't be able to control and keep
them down."
"Great heavens!" exclaimed the horrified old
man. "What is to become of us, then, if you can't
do anything with them? If you will give us our
arms back again, we'll take care of ourselves."
"That I would do if they were not already in
the hands of the Indians. However, there is no
reason for you to fear any harm to yourself and
family."
"Pardon me; but I fail to see why we are not in
as great peril as the rest of them."
"We shall be able to take care of some of the
rebels, and I promise you that I will see that no
harm comes to you and yours."
"I am sure I am deeply grateful for your kind-
ness," replied the old gentleman, somewhat at a
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loss to understand why it was he had been singled
out for this mark of leniency. "But I wish you
could extend your authority far enough to save all
whose lives have been intrusted to your keeping."
"So do I; but as that is clearly impossible, I
will do the next best thing-save all those whomI
can. I understand that you have not been quite
so outspoken in your denunciation of his majesty
as many of your neighbors around you."
This was something after the order of the wolf
and the lamb. The Tory felt that he must make
some show of reason for the step he had decided
to take, and he threw out this feeler, entertaining
no doubt that the listener would greedily snap at
it as a piece of diplomacy. But he underrated the
sturdy patriotism of the old man, who answered,
without a moment's hesitation:
"I cannot consent that you should grant indul-
gence or kindness under false pretenses on my part.
I am sure that of all the settlers of the Wyoming
valley there is not one who has been more bitter
and severe than I in my denunciation of the brutal
attempt of your king to subjugate the colonies of
America. This much I must say in deference to
truth itself. I cannot lie, even for the sake of say-
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ing my own life, and the lives of those who are
dearer to me than all the world besides."
"At any rate," continued the Tory, with a lame
effort to make his action appear consistent, "I
understand that you have comported yourself
more like a gentleman than the majority of your
neighbors."
"That would be an arraignment of the motives
of my friends, to which I cannot in justice submit,
without protest. No, sir; you must class us all
together in that respect."
Unable to explain satisfactorily what he had
decided to do, the Tory had to resort to the only
thing left at his command.
"Rest content with the assurance that I have
the best of reasons for showing a more careful
protection of the families of yourself and several
of your neighbors. This is your house, Ibelieve ?"
"It is."
"Very well; how many members are there in
your family ? "
"I have awife and daughter. My son is away."
"Where are the lady members? "
"I saw them a few minutes ago, but cannot say
where they are just now."
THE RIVER FUGITIVES.
"Hunt them up as soon as you can, and such
others as you can accommodate comfortably in
your residence. When you have done so, I will
have a guard placed before the house and no one
shall interfere with you."
"I am sure I am greatly obliged to you for your
kindness, of which I shall avail myself without
delay."
"Do so, and good-bye for the present."
And, saluting the little group, the members of
which had been allowed to hear the last words,
Colonel Butler withdrew. In the course of the
next half hour, several families had installed them-
selves in the house of Mr. Minturn and among
them were his wife and daughter. Later he
received a call from no less a personage than Colo-
nel Nathan Denison, the guard being in the act of
assuming charge of the premises at that moment.
After saluting the inmates, the colonel called Mr.
Minturn aside and talked very earnestly with him.
At the end of a few minutes he said:
"You may be safe here, but, if you will take the
advice of a friend, you will not let your daughter
Rosa stay until to-morrow."
"What shall I do?" asked the sorely troubled
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old man, fully appreciating the warning he had
received.
"Send her to Wilkesbarre to-night."
"But who will take her there? "
"I will find some one, and, if I fail to do so, I
will escort her myself."
"Very well. It shall be done, if the thing is pos-
sible."
"Say nothing to anyone about it till the time
arrives, which will be several hours after dusk."
The agreement having been made, Colonel Deni-
son took his departure, little dreaming what was
to come to pass before Rosa Minturn should be
allowed to start on her flight through the wilder-
ness to avoid the Tory colonel
CHAPTER XI.
THE PLAN.
THE shades of night closed over Wyoming val-
ley, and still no one knew of the intention of Lori-
mer Minturn, except himself and Colonel Denison.
The good officer while carefully avoiding any
direct contact with Colonel Butler, managed
to keep his eye upon his movements and sat-
isfied himself that the contemplated flight of
Rosa Minturn was absolutely necessary for
her safety. His knowledge of the unscrupulous
Tory, aside lrom what he had witnessed during
the day, convinced him that the man would not
hesitate a moment to carry the girl back with
him. But he believed that daring andnervewould
speedily place her beyond her enemy's reach.
His great desire was to obtain the proper per-
son to take charge of the undertaking; for,
although ready to do it himself, he was sensible of
his own disqualifications. There were plenty whom
he could call to mind, but, unfortunately, they
85
THE RIVER FUGITIVES.
were not within reach. There was the old scout,
Ike Wells, whom he had not seen for weeks past;
but, superior to him, and indeed to all others, was
the famous friendly Mohawk, Lena-Wingo, or Red
Jack, as he was more generally known among the
whites. This singular Indian had been one of the
most devoted and faithful friends of the settlers
for a half dozen years, and had performed deeds
in their service almost incredible. Especially on
the bloody field of Oriskany he had imperiled his
life over and over again for the sake of the
wretched fugitives, whose situation was fully as
terrible as their fellow sufferers at Wyoming. But
no one could tell where Red Jack was. There were
rumors among the Tories and Indians that hehad
recently fallen by the hand of that dusky miscre-
ant Brandt, but none of the patriots believed it.
For all that, he had not been seen in the Wyoming
valley for days, and so Colonel Denison dismissed
him from his mind with a sigh of regret.
Next to these, in the estimation of the officer,
came Ned Clinton and Jo Minturn, who, if the
reports could be believed, werestill prowlingsome-
where, keeping out of the way of the Indians and
,Tories. They were brave with a spirit of adven-
ture, added to which was the fact that one was
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the brother and the other the warm friend of the
young lady; so there could be no question about
their readiness to engage in anything of the kind
for her sake. But they, too, were absent, and were
unlikely to return until the invaders should with-
draw from the valley.
"So it looks as if I shall have to take charge of
the business myself," said the colonel, as he
revolved the matter in his mind for the twentieth
time; "and if I do I'll gothrough withit, orsome-
body will get hurt. Colonel Butler hates me as
bad as he does his own cousin, and he will go to
any lengths to square accounts formyinterference
in an affair of his heart. If I wasn't actuated by
a wish to befriend such a good girl as Rosa, whom
I have known from her infancy, the prospect of
checkmating such a scoundrel as he would be all
the motive I could need."
It was certain that the Tory leader held not
the remotest suspicion of the trick that was
being arranged, for there was no reason that
could possibly suggest itself to his mind. He still
believed the young lady had been charmed by her
first sight of him, and was only acting in
accordance with the shy, coy disposition which
hehad been given to understand was a part of her
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nature. When she came to learn what extraordi-
nary care he had taken to guard herself and family
from disturbance, she would be filled with grati-
tude. It was more than likely that she would fall
on her knees; or, what would be infinitely more
agreeable to the old scamp, would throw her
arms around his neck, and, with streaming eyes,
call down the blessings of Heaven upon him for
his noble generosity in her behalf. Nothing,
therefore, was further from his thoughts than
that this little bird-of-paradise would beat the
bars of her cage, and, breaking out, fly away
beyondhisreach. Such being the case, the parties
planning the piece of strategy were possessed
of every opportunity they could ask, except the
selection of the proper one to prosecute it through
to the end.
Although Colonel Butler scowled upon Denison
more than once when he saw him going to or
returning from the house which was the great
attraction to him, yet he was too politic to inter-
fere, when it was plain the patriot was a particu-
lar friend of the family. The villain could afford
to wait awhile before steppingin and spoiling that
game.
THE RIVER FUGITIVES. 89
The night was well advanced when Colonel
Denison and the father of Rosa called her and her
mother into an apartment wherethey were secure
against interruption, and made known their
whole plan, which could not but create dismay
when first heard. The mother, more than the
daughter, was disposed to oppose such a wild
scheme as the departure of the child in the night,
when it was necessary to cross the river and make
a journey of several miles through the wilder-
ness before they could reach a place of safety.
But a few pointed words from Colonel Denison
convinced both the ladies so thoroughly of the
purposes of the Tory, that they were not only
ready, but eager, that the imperiled one should be
off.
"Having satisfied you of the necessity," said
the colonel, with a quiet emphasis that could not
be mistaken, "it only remains to agree upon the
precise means."
"You will go with me?" said Rosa, with such
an evident dread that the officer had arranged
for her to make the journey alone that the others
could not forbear a smile.
"I had strong hopes all day that I could find
some one better qualified than I, but the very men
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whom I want, and to whom only I would entrust
your escort-Red Jack, the Mohawk, old Ike Wells,
and Ned Clinton and your brother Jo-are beyond
reach, and so we'll have to get along without
them. Consequently, I must elect myself com-
mander-in-chief of the retreating party. There-
fore, Rosa, if you will accept me as your escort, I
will see you safely through, if the thing be
among the possibilities."
"I would rather have you than any one in the
world," replied the young lady, with the trusting
simplicity of her nature.
Colonel Denison bowed gracefully in acknowledg-
ment of the compliment to his friendship and
honor, which was not misplaced.
"It is natural that you should look upon the
venture with a little shrinking; but I have spent
a good deal of time in thinking it over, and I can-
not see that there is anything very formidable
about it. We will cross the river within a mile
from this point-"
"But how?" interrupted Rosa, who was natu-
rally anxious to learn all about the expedition in
which she was to play so important a part.
"I believe you are an excellent swimmer? "
THE RIVER FUGITIVES.
"I have swam the Susquehanna, but I don't
want to do it at night if it can be helped."
"Noi is it my intention that you shall. We
shall have little trouble in finding a boat that will
bear us safely-"
"Oh, yes," interrupted Rosa, again, in her
impulsive way. "I know the exact spot where a
canoe is drawn up in the bushes on the bank."
"And, if necessary, you can manage the pad-
dle."
"Give me the chance, and I will show you."
"In short, I don't see why you are not fitted
to make the journey without any companion at
all. But that is all fixed, as I told you a minute
ago. When across, we have less than five miles
to travel, and as Rosa knows every foot of the
way, we will reach Wilkesbarre before daylight."
You are sure that Butler suspects nothing of
this?" asked the father, in a low voice. "And
none of the guards either ?"
"It is impossible. Hello! What's that?"
At that moment there was a gentle knock at
the door. As Colonel Denison sprang up and
opened it, an Indian stood before them.
CHAPTER XIn.
A VALUABLE ALLY.
THE consternation of the little group was over-
whelmingwhenthe door was opened and they saw
an Indian in his war-paint standing before them,
his black, serpent-like eyes glittering as he looked
down in the faces of the dismayed group.
All believed that this warrior was one of the
guards, thathad been set by Butler to spy out the
doings of the conspirators, and who had been sent
at this moment either to arrest or scatter them.
For a few seconds not a word escaped any of the
whites. They stared at each other, seemingly
overcome to that extent that they could not com-
mand their utterance.
The Indian was very tall, and of thinner frame
and more handsome features than are generally
seen among his race. His face was so thicklycov-
ered with a compound of paint that, had he been
an Adonis himself, hewopld have appeared fright-
ful to the ordinary observer; but the patriots had
long since become so accustomed to the most for-
92
THE RIVER FUGITIVES.
bidding-looking creatures of his kind, that they
were not impressed in this respect. The redskin
was the first to break the silence.
"Am I welcome?"
The instant these words were spoken, in good
English, and in a low, cautious voice, Colonel Den-
ison gave a gasp of delight, and sprang toward
the door.
"Give me your hand! Heaven itself has sent
you, of all others, for I have been prayingforyour
coming all day. Don't you recognize him, friends?
This is Red Jack, our Mohawk scout, worth a
dozen men at any time."
On being introduced in this fashion, the noted
redskin grinned, showing a set of teeth as white,
even and beautiful as those of Rosa Minturn. At
the same time, he took a step forward, and softly
closed the door behind him. Every white person
present was acquainted with the famous Mohawk
scout, and they instantly gathered about him,
taking his hand, telling him, in cautiously modu-
lated tones, of their pleasure at seeing him at this
time.
He was a great favorite with Rosa herself, for
whom he had shown an attachment from her ear-
liest girlhood. He had taken her many a mile in
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his canoe, before the tide of war swept through
the valley; he had shown her how to handle the
long ashen paddle, and had taught her to fire the
rifle with a skill scarcely second to that of the
ordinary hunter. Rosa had accompanied the
Mohawk many a time on long excursions into the
forest, the confidence of all the settlers in the
friendly Indian being perfect, as he had proven his
loyalty on so many occasions and in so marked a
manner that there could be no doubting it. Such
being the case, it followed that Lena-Wingo, or
Red Jack, was held in special abhorrence by the
redskins of the Six Nations, or Iroquois, whowere
among the most faithful allies of the Tories, fight-
ing in the interest of the sovereign of Great Brit-
ain. It was known that for years the Indians had
been seeking the life of Red Jack, and Brandt had
even offered a reward to any warrior who would
bring him the scalp of the remarkable scout.
No one besides Red Jack himself could guess how
often the attempts had been made against his life.
Nor would it be safe to hazard a conjecture as to
the number of times that, in the depths of the
great wilderness, he had been attacked by some
sinewy warrior ambitious of winning the distinc-
tion of killing so distinguished a character as the
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renegade Mohawk, as he was called by his own
people and the white miscreants who had turned
against their own race.
After Red Jack had shaken the hands of his
friends over and over again, with his face on the
grin all the time, Colonel Denison asked:
"How did you manage to get inside, Jack?
Colonel Butler has a guard around the house, and
the Tories know you so well that I should have
been sure of their stopping you."
"Don't know Jack all the time," he answered,
signifying that he possessed more than one plan of
disguising his manner and appearance, so that his
worst enemy and best acquaintance could not
recognize him, particularly if he was favored with
the darkness of the night beside.
"I see," said the colonel-"I see, but where have
you been? We have had bad times in the
valley-"
"Jack know all about it," he interrupted. "See
Seneca Injun-he tell me."
"And you were missed, I can assure you."
"Didn't know Butler come here," said Jack,.in
his quick, jerky fashion. "Jack was coming down
from Cherry valley-meet Seneca--he tell him all
about it--he hurry here."
THE RIVER FUGITIVES.
This remark, it may as well be stated, strength-
ened a suspicion that Colonel Denison, in common
with others, held, to the effect that, although Red
Jack was practically outlawed by his race, yet he
had more than one friend among them, who
apprised him of many movements intended to
work him ill. But the officer was careful to keep
his suspicion from the Mohawk himself. Red
Jack made some inquiries of the whites as to the
fate of their friends-particularly of the two
young men, Ned Clinton and Jo Minturn-and he
was not a little pleased to be told that there was
every reason to believe they were out of danger.
Colonel Denison then proceeded to tell the scheme
for placing Rosa Minturn beyond the reach of the
Tory leader-the girl, of course, to be put in care
of the Mohawk. The latter stood in the middle
of the rooni, looking down into the face of the
colonel while he was unfolding the scheme. When
it was finished, he nodded his head to signify
that he understood what was expected of him.
"All right, all right; Jack will take her to
Wilkesbarre. He knows the way. He lead her
there to-night."
Rosa was the most delighted one of the party,
for, despite the enthusiasm with which she
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received the announcement of the colonel that he
was to be her escort, she was more pleased over
the companionship of the Mohawk than she could
be with any one else, for the reason that she knew
that no five men were as competent as he. This
was the whole thing in a nutshell, and so great
was her trust in her dusky friend that she looked
on the expedition much as she did upon her former
excursions into the wilderness. The night was
clear. There was a partial moon,and the air was
just cool enough to make it pleasant without or
within. So she was rather desirous of being
under way.
The long slowly ticking clock in the corner
showed that the fan-like hour hand was close on
the figure eleven. It was time, therefore, that
some move was made to carry out the programme,
for at that season of the year the nights were
short and the fugitives likely to need all the hours
remaining to them. It was agreed, therefore,
that in the course of the next ten or fifteen minutes
the start should be made.
Red Jack, when he had the whole scheme of
Colonel Denison, said that he would vary it
considerably. Instead of crossing the Susquehanna
at the point designated by the officer, he intended
I
/
/
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to keep on up the stream till he passed above
"Queen Esther's Rock," as it has since been
christened, for the reason that there was less like-
lihood of their attracting the notice of their
enemies above than below the place named. After
going over, he was inclined to favor a circuitous
route instead of a direct- ond to Wilkesbarre, and
he thought it likely that he would push back to
the mountain range to the southeast, before mak-
ing it.
It will be understood that the house of Mr.
Minturn was simply guarded from disturbance
from the outside, there being no intention of
interfering with the freedom of the inmates. At
the same time there was no restriction put upon
the movements of those who desired to call at the
house. The task which was projected was, there-
fore, so far as appearances went, quite simple in
its character-about the only difficulty consisting
in getting away without the departure being
noticed. The faint moonlight, the presence of the
two sentinels pacing up and down in front, and
the single one keeping faithful ward at the rear of
the premises, surrounded the work with some
labor, but all were confident it could be accom.
polished with little danger.
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Red Jack, having entered as a messenger from
Colonel Butler to the owner of the place, it was
advisable that he should pass out again in the
same guise. The plan fixed upon, therefore, was
for him to stalk boldly out of the front door and
make his way to a well known oak, standing just
outside the small cluster of settlements, and
scarcely a couple of hundred yards from the fort
itself, where he would await the coming of Rosa.
When she should reach that point, the rest of the
journey, to their minds, would be clear sailing.
Within five minutes of explanation of the whole
plan the Mohawk passed out of the front door,
with as proud a step as if he were the leader of
the Iroquois himself, who had been holding an
important council of war with his commander.
He made his way to the appointed rendezvous,
where he prepared to wait with the calm patience
of his race, willing, if necessary, to stay there the
night through, without the first twinge of dis-
satisfaction at the delay of others. The plan of
Rosa was simple, and, no doubt, the best one
possible. She intended to throw her shawl over
her shoulders and walk out of the front door just
as the Mohawk had done, but to make her way
with more caution to the old oak, taking care
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