Wilderness Fugitives , livre ebook

Pub One Info - Sylvester Ellis Edward

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73 pages

English

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The reader will recall that at the close of The River Fugitives the narrative left our friends in a situation, apparently, of safety; and the belief, on the part of Jo Minturn, his sister Rosa and Ned Clinton, was strong that, in their flight from the dreadful scenes of the Wyoming massacre of July, 1778, they had left all dangers behind. They were confident that, under the guidance of the matchless Mohawk, Lena-Wingo (temporarily absent in quest of food), the road to security was beset by no perils worth the mention.

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Publié par	Pub One Info
Date de parution	23 octobre 2010
Nombre de lectures	0
EAN13	9782819908067
Langue	English

Informations légales : prix de location à la page 0,0100€. Cette information est donnée uniquement à titre indicatif conformément à la législation en vigueur.

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CHAPTER I.
ALONE AND TOGETHER.
The reader will recall that at the close of TheRiver Fugitives the narrative left our friends in a situation,apparently, of safety; and the belief, on the part of Jo Minturn,his sister Rosa and Ned Clinton, was strong that, in their flightfrom the dreadful scenes of the Wyoming massacre of July, 1778,they had left all dangers behind. They were confident that, underthe guidance of the matchless Mohawk, Lena-Wingo (temporarilyabsent in quest of food), the road to security was beset by noperils worth the mention.
But, as has also been intimated, they werealtogether wrong in this belief. Brother and sister and Ned Clintonwere seated near each other on a fallen tree, and it was not yetfully dark when the soft tread of a moccasin was heard on theleaves, and they saw the tall, slim figure of the Mohawk come forthlike some spirit of the forest to ask them their business in thusinvading his domains. The supposition was so general that he hadgone in quest of food, that a common instinct led them to look tosee whether he brought anything of that nature with him. There wasenough light left to show that he carried nothing but his gun."Well, Jack," said Ned, "we thought you had gone out foraging, butif you did, you didn't make much success of it." "Lena-Wingo didn'thunt eat – he hunt something more." "Well, did he find it?" askedRosa, who was more daring in her questions than the others thoughtit prudent to be. "Yes – he find him." "Why don't you bring himhere, then, that we may see him?" "He gone," was the direct butrather unsatisfactory answer, for there was no telling to what hereferred.
Rosa was on the point of questioning him further,when it struck her that if he desired them to know what he had beendoing he would tell them only when he chose. And so she forbore. "Ihope the result was pleasing to you," ventured Ned Clinton, on whatseemed forbidden ground. "When Lena-Wingo look for Iroquois incanoe, he take knife along."
As this remark was clearly intended in the light ofa joke, all felt the duty of laughing at it, although the mirthfulinclination was not very tremendous, coming from such a grimsource. "Jo," added the redskin, after waiting for the applause towear itself out, "want to see you."
The young man thus appealed to sprang to his feet,and placed himself beside the red scout, wondering what he couldhave to say that he should keep from the rest. Ned and Rosa sawthem talking together for a minute or two, when they turned, as ifto walk deeper into the woods. At that moment, Jo looked around andcalled to them in a cautious voice, just loud enough to be heard:"We won't be back for some time."
This was a curious proceeding, indeed; but there wasno use of protesting against it. The Mohawk had a way of doing ashe pleased about such matters, and it was useless to interfere.When they had been gone several minutes, it struck Ned that, asthey would not be back for awhile, he was given a chance toconverse with Rosa, such as had not been his since the invasion ofthe Wyoming valley.
The consciousness came upon him so suddenly that hewas not a little confused by the problem of how he was to improvethe opportunity. True, he had spent many hours in the company ofthe beautiful girl, but it seemed to him that never had he felt ashe did then. He was sure that she must be aware of the unutterablytender affection he held toward her – a feeling that had grownwithin the last few days, until it took possession of his being.Not until the life of Rosa Minturn was placed in peril did hecomprehend how much he loved her. When there was reason to fear shewas in the hands of the Iroquois or the Tory colonel, and that hemight never see her more, then it was that it seemed his heart mustbreak from grief alone. And when, a short time after, she was foundwithout a hair of her head injured, his joy was correspondinglygreat – so great, indeed, that he was sure all noticed it, evenRosa herself.
The couple were seated upon a fallen tree, therebeing some two or three feet of space between them. The twilight,which was fairly upon forest and stream, threw the faces of both inshadow, and Ned was glad of it. If there was one thing in the worldof which he was absolutely certain, it was that he was never so illat ease as he was at that moment, it following, as a matter ofcourse, that Rosa could not but be aware of it, and that she lookedupon him with pity and contempt. She was wonderfully kind, itseemed to him, and so far as he could judge, showed noconsciousness of the pitiful exhibition he was making of himself."When we once arrive at Wilkesbarre, and you are safe from theIndians and Tories, I suppose Jack will hasten back to your parentswith the tidings, for it will be a great relief to them." "Hehasn't said anything to me about it, but it will be just like him,for he is never content with anything except danger and action.""It would have gone hard with you if you had had any one besideshim to lead you through the woods." "None is so capable as he whenhe chooses to exert himself; but I think he has been a littlecareless. There was no need of his being caught as he was in thathouse when you went to his rescue."
Although it was too dark for it to be seen, yet acrimson flush overspread the face of the young scout again atreceiving such a compliment from those fair lips. He checked theprotest that rose to his own with the remembrance of the reproof ofJo, fearing that he might appear to assume a modesty that he didnot feel. "Where one has done so much for us as the Mohawk, itwould be ungrateful not to give him what assistance I could. I wasas much pleased as was he that I was able to divert the attentionof the Iroquois until he found a chance to get away. But, Rosa, youknow as well as I that they could not have held him there, for hehas been in many a worse situation than that." "That may all betrue, Edward, but you do wrong to throw aside all the credit, asyou seem anxious to do. You acted bravely, and you know it. Jo hastold me about it, and he said more than that, too!" "I don't knowwhat he could say more than that," said young Clinton in surprise."He told me that you had a dreadful time in getting away from thebattle. You had to swim the river out to Monacacy island, and theIndians followed you, and came near capturing both. You acted verybravely again, as any one who knows you might have been sure youwould, and helped him very much, indeed. I thank you for that,Edward." "I don't want to appear in the light of disputant of allthat Jo says, but he gives me more credit in that matter thanbelongs to me. It was all we could do, and more than appearedpossible, to take care of ourselves – each of us alone, withoutthinking of the other. He surely helped me as much as I helpedhim." "Well, I shall have to wait till I hear what he has to sayabout that," responded Rosa, with that persistency so charming in abeautiful woman when it is in favor of him with whom she is holdingher argument.
The certainty that he possessed the good opinion ofthis girl, in spite of his own sense of awkwardness andembarrassment, caused more than one thrill of delight to passthrough the young hero as he listened to the words – a thousandtimes more delightful – coming from such lips as hers. "I ampleased beyond measure," he said, gathering courage from herutterances, and the darkness that now veiled their faces from eachother, "to find that I have earned your good opinion, and all thatI ask is that I may continue to deserve it." "Why, of course youwill," she was prompt to reply. "What could you do to make any onerespect you less?" "Well, I might do a great many things that Ihope I won't do," he laughed. "Not to mention my own principles,the fear of displeasing you would be enough at any time – " "'Sh!"interrupted Rosa, in a frightened whisper. "I am sure I heard someone just then behind us."
CHAPTER II.
SOFT AND LOW.
At the mention of suspected danger, Clinton sprangup and moved in the direction whence he supposed it came, though heheard nothing of it himself. It was so dark that he could see but alittle way in the woods. After stealing a few paces, rifle in hand,he paused and listened, thinking that if any enemies were at hand,they would be sure to betray themselves by attempting to advance.But the stillness remained unbroken, and he suspected that Rosa hadbeen mistaken. Even though he knew not where Jo and the Mohawk werejust then, he was sure that they were at no great distance, and theredskin was certain to discover the approach of any foe. When fiveor ten minutes passed he turned about and rejoined his fair friend."You must have been in error," said he. "I was mistaken,"she said, with a laugh; "and I was on the point of calling andtelling you what it was." "Well, what was it?" "Lena-Wingo; he washere a minute ago, and said he had come to see if all was right,after which he went back to where Jo is waiting for him." "How longbefore they will be here again?" "Not very long," said Rosa. "Hetold me they were not quite ready to start, but would be shortly;he made a little noise when he was coming, so as to let us know hewas near!" "And I didn't hear him. If it hadn't been for you, hewould have come right upon us."
Ned sat down on the fallen tree beside Rosa. Somehowor other, the space between the two was reduced almost to no spaceat all. It may have been that the young scout was so absent-minded,that he forgot about the respectable gap that existed a short timebefore. But be that as it may, Rosa herself was so absent-minded,also, that she forgot to remind him of it. So they sat, so nearthat they could afford to understand each other without speakingabove a whisper.
Having resumed his seat, Ned sat a while trying tothink of something appropriate to say, but it seemed that all hisideas were scattered to the winds. When that interruption broke inupon them, he flattered himself that he was getting along very well– that is, for him – but