In the battle there were, on the patriot3 side, about two hundred and thirty enrolled4 men, and seventy old people, boys, civil magistrates5, and other volunteers, embracing six companies, which were mustered6 at Forty Fort, where the families from the east side of the Susquehanna had taken refuge.
A young man, slight of frame and weak of body, was chased by several Indians, one of whom was almost close enough to throw his tomahawk. The fugitive7, despite his fleetness, was losing ground, when Zebulon Butler, one of the last to leave the field, galloped8 by him on horseback. The fugitive caught the tail of the animal, and thus helped, made good progress. But the warriors10, knowing he could not keep his hold long, continued the chase.
Sure enough, the poor fellow speedily lost his hold, and was about to give up, when he caught sight of a drunken soldier, lying in the wheat-fields. As Colonel Butler went by, he shouted to the stupid fellow to fire at the Indians. He roused up, rubbed his eyes, and pointing his wabbling musket11 in the direction where he supposed his pursuers to be, let fly.
The leading warrior9 dropped dead, and his companions, supposing there was an ambush12 in front, turned and ran for life, while the exhausted13 fugitive pitched forward on the ground and was saved. Unfortunately, however, this soldier was not the only intoxicated14 patriot at Wyoming on that day.
A wealthy settler, finding a party of Indians at his heels, did his utmost to throw them off his trail, but failed, and was in despair.
While still struggling forward he came upon the trunk of a large hollow tree, into which he crept. Knowing the red men would soon be along, he remained quiet for several hours, scarcely daring to move a limb.
By and by he heard footsteps, and to his consternation15, several warriors actually sat down on the log itself. The murmur16 of their voices, as they talked together, was audible, and he saw no way by which he could escape discovery.
The opening in the log through which he had crawled was in plain sight of the Indians, who stooped down and peered in.
The fugitive saw the painted faces, as they strained their eyes to pierce the gloom, and he was certain they would detect him as soon as they became used to the darkness.
But shortly after he crawled into the refuge a spider spun17 his web across the opening, and the quick eye of the warriors noted18 it. With good reason they accepted it as a proof that no one had taken refuge there, and they accordingly left.
The fugitives19, whose history we have set out to give, crouched20 behind the rocks in the woods, and tremblingly listened to the approaching footsteps, that all believed were those of Indians.
The gathering21 twilight22 was already strong enough in the wilderness23 to hide them from the observation of any who might stray to that section, and a fight was almost certain to be the result of detection.
It was noticeable that Habakkuk McEwen took more precaution against discovery than the African, or even the ladies. He lay flat on his face, where no one could see him unless he passed directly by the spot.
He kept whispering to the others to be quiet, and to "scrooch" lower, for the Indians are proverbial for their keen sightedness.
The curiosity of the ladies got the better of their prudence24, and each one peered cautiously from behind the sheltering rock. Aunt Peggy besought25 Maggie and Eva to keep out of sight, but all the time she was thrusting her own head forward and drawing it back again in a way that was more likely to attract attention to herself than if she remained stationary26.
"If you girls ain't more careful, some of the scand'lous villains—"
At that instant Eva Brainerd sprang to her feet with a faint scream, and, to the horror of her friends, leaped nimbly upon the rock, then down to the ground, and ran like a fawn27 in the direction whence came the disturbance28, and where the outlines of a dark figure were dimly observed.
"Oh, it's papa! my own papa!" exclaimed the joyful29 girl, who was caught in the arms of her no less delighted parent, and pressed to his breast.
"Heaven be thanked!" exclaimed Mr. Brainerd, kissing and embracing the fond child again and again, and then, holding her hand in his, he fairly ran toward the bewildered fugitives, who had sprung to their feet as they recognized him.
Then the laughing, happy Maggie's white arms were thrown around her father's neck, and both cried for joy.
Mr. Brainerd was in a sorry plight30. His coat, vest, and hat were gone, and his draggling garments were dripping with river water, but it was his own genial31 self who stood before them. And when he released his daughter, he shook the hand of Aunt Peggy warmly, as he did that of Habakkuk McEwen, who was an old acquaintance, and at whose Indian-like disguise he laughed.
All were talking, smiling, and congratulating each other for the next few minutes, and nothing was thought of the peril32 incurred33 in giving way to their feelings at such a time, and in such a place.
But there was one still missing—the loved brother, who had gone so valiantly34 in search of his parent. When the latter had told his story, Maggie asked:
"Papa, where can Fred be?"
"I hope he is safe; but we cannot be sure of it for some time yet. He is a brave, noble boy. I will never cease to be grateful, if he is spared to join us."
The father, hiding his own misgivings35 as best he could, only said that he and his son (as he always regarded his step-son), were compelled to separate a short time before, on the other side of the river, and since a man of his age was able to rejoin his friends, there surely must be reason to believe that one so young and active as Fred would soon show himself. So all resolved to hope, though their fears made the hope more painful than cheering.
"It won't do to stay here," said Mr. Brainerd, when told that they thought of camping where they were till morning.
"The Tories and Indians are continually crossing the river, and there must be at least a hundred on this side; their whole purpose is massacre. I do not think it possible for us to escape discovery if we wait another hour."
"Then let's be off!" said Habakkuk, throwing his rifle over his shoulder, and starting in the direction of the mountains.
"Hold on!" interposed Gimp; "Ise de guide ob dis procession, and if you takes my place you'll be lost sartin sure."
"Many of the poor people," explained Mr. Brainerd, as the party made ready to start, "are following the trails through the woods and mountains, and they are suffering frightfully—hark!"
As he spoke39, the sharp crack of two guns was heard, so close at hand that all started and looked behind them.
Nothing however was seen, and the elder added, as they resumed their flight, "Others of our friends have done like us and left the trails, but without avoiding danger, though they may lessen40 it."
"But we can't tramp all the way through the woods in this fashion," protested Aunt Peggy, as she caught her foot in a root and narrowly saved herself from falling forward on her hands.
"No; after getting to the other side of the mountains we will work off to the right and strike the regular Stroudsburg trail, and keep to it until beyond the reach of the Tories and Indians."
"That's the doctrine41 I subscribe42 to," assented Habakkuk; "Mr. Brainerd, you will take charge of the extra gun, which allows one to each man; that's three, and we ought to be able to give a good account of ourselves, though I do hope we shall get through without any more trouble."
As before, the African acted the part of guide. He had tramped through these woods so many times that it may be said he was familiar with every acre. In the preceding winter he and Mr. Brainerd had hunted deer, and both remembered a romantic spot where there was a natural cavern43, not very deep, which they availed themselves of for shelter when overtaken by a driving snow-storm.
As Mr. Brainerd recalled the place he directed Gimp to conduct them thither44, it being his purpose to stay there until night should fully38 settle upon the wilderness.
His reason for what might seem a singular step was that the sounds of firing, and the occasional whoops45 of Indians near at hand, convinced him that, if they attempted to go much farther while it was so light, they would be sure to come in collision with some of these savage46 bands, in which event it would be hardly possible to escape the loss of several, if not all the party.
"We will take advantage of the natural fort," said he, "until it is dark, and then Gravity knows the woods so well, he can lead us through the mountains to the other side, where we need not hesitate to take the main trail to Stroudsburg."
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1
massacre
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| n.残杀，大屠杀；v.残杀，集体屠杀 | |
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patriots
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| 爱国者，爱国主义者( patriot的名词复数 ) | |
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patriot
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| n.爱国者，爱国主义者 | |
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4
enrolled
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| adj.入学登记了的v.[亦作enrol]( enroll的过去式和过去分词 )；登记，招收，使入伍（或入会、入学等），参加，成为成员；记入名册；卷起，包起 | |
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magistrates
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| 地方法官，治安官( magistrate的名词复数 ) | |
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mustered
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| v.集合，召集，集结（尤指部队）( muster的过去式和过去分词 )；（自他人处）搜集某事物；聚集；激发 | |
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7
fugitive
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| adj.逃亡的，易逝的；n.逃犯，逃亡者 | |
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8
galloped
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| （使马）飞奔，奔驰( gallop的过去式和过去分词 )； 快速做[说]某事 | |
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warrior
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| n.勇士，武士，斗士 | |
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warriors
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| 武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
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musket
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| n.滑膛枪 | |
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ambush
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| n.埋伏(地点)；伏兵；v.埋伏；伏击 | |
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exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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intoxicated
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| 喝醉的，极其兴奋的 | |
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consternation
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| n.大为吃惊，惊骇 | |
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murmur
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| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
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spun
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| v.纺，杜撰，急转身 | |
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noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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fugitives
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| n.亡命者，逃命者( fugitive的名词复数 ) | |
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crouched
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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twilight
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| n.暮光，黄昏；暮年，晚期，衰落时期 | |
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wilderness
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| n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等，荒漠 | |
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prudence
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| n.谨慎，精明，节俭 | |
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25
besought
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| v.恳求，乞求（某事物）( beseech的过去式和过去分词 )；(beseech的过去式与过去分词) | |
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stationary
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| adj.固定的，静止不动的 | |
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fawn
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| n.未满周岁的小鹿；v.巴结，奉承 | |
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disturbance
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| n.动乱，骚动；打扰，干扰；(身心)失调 | |
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joyful
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| adj.欢乐的，令人欢欣的 | |
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plight
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| n.困境，境况，誓约，艰难；vt.宣誓，保证，约定 | |
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genial
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| adj.亲切的，和蔼的，愉快的，脾气好的 | |
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peril
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| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
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incurred
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| [医]招致的，遭受的； incur的过去式 | |
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valiantly
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| adv.勇敢地，英勇地；雄赳赳 | |
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35
misgivings
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| n.疑虑，担忧，害怕；疑虑，担心，恐惧( misgiving的名词复数 )；疑惧 | |
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36
imminent
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| adj.即将发生的，临近的，逼近的 | |
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37
assented
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| 同意，赞成( assent的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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38
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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39
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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40
lessen
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| vt.减少，减轻；缩小 | |
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41
doctrine
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| n.教义；主义；学说 | |
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42
subscribe
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| vi.(to)订阅，订购；同意；vt.捐助，赞助 | |
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43
cavern
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| n.洞穴，大山洞 | |
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44
thither
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| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
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45
whoops
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| int.呼喊声 | |
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46
savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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