CHAPTER XIII
IN WHICH NATHAN MAKES A PERILOUS SWIM
It is more than likely that the Senecas and their white alliesunderestimated the strength of the party in the flat, or else thediscovery and demolition of their ambuscade drove them to such desperatemeasures. At all events, they speedily found they had made a mistake,and in the brief and sharp struggle that followed they got scarcely ashow.
Of the four Indians who scrambled over the bulwark three cleared thecrouching men and landed beyond them, and the fourth fell heavily on topof Barnabas and McNicol. Before he could use his tomahawk he was pouncedupon by the Scotchman, and the two began a lively scuffle.
Mrs. Cutbush carried a loaded pistol at her waist, and while she pushedMolly behind her with one hand, with the other the courageous womandrew the weapon and shot one of the three remaining Indians through thehead. The second managed to inflict a severe slash with his tomahawk onCato's arm, and then Barnabas knocked him senseless with the butt of hismusket. The third did not wait to be killed, but with a screech, vaultedover the far side of the boat and disappeared, narrowly escaping a shotthat Cutbush sent after him.
At that moment the Seneca who was struggling with McNicol broke away,leaving his tomahawk in the other's hand, and, as he bounded forfreedom, Morgan Proud jumped in front of him. They grappled, and fellheavily against the bulwark. The wall of timbers gave way under thestrain and both splashed into the river.
There was a quick rush to that side to help Proud, but he and the Indianhad disappeared utterly.
As the missing man's friends anxiously scanned the water, a Torybelonging to the attacking party scrambled up in the stern of the boat.McNicol instantly saw him and fired, and the man dropped back with acry.
Meanwhile, during the entire struggle, Simon Glass had been crouchingunseen amid the deep shadows at the bow of the flat, from which place ofvantage he had more than one opportunity for a certain shot at hisenemies. Now, just as McNicol fired at the Tory in the stern, Nathancaught sight of the figure at the opposite end. With his empty musket inhis hand the lad ran toward the spot, little dreaming of the man'sidentity, or that he was affording Glass just the opportunity for whichhe had been watching and waiting.
The ruffian rose a little higher, leveled his rifle, and fired. But forthe second time he missed his victim at close range, the ball whizzingwithin a fraction of an inch of Nathan's ear. The report drew theattention of the others, and Godfrey discovered and shot at the Toryjust as he made a bound to escape. He half jumped, half fell, into thewater, and all ran eagerly to the bow of the boat, which was nowdrifting slowly down to the falls.
"Was that Simon Glass, lad?" exclaimed Barnabas.
"Yes," declared Nathan, "and he very nearly finished me!"
"There he is!" cried Godfrey, as a dark object rose to the surface nearthe verge of the falls. An instant later it slipped over and vanished,nor could it be seen again. Equally futile was the search for MorganProud and the Indian; beyond a doubt they had perished together.
"It's no use," muttered Barnabas. "Poor Proud is gone. But I have mydoubts about that Tory ruffian. He's got as many lives as a cat, an'it's possible he's makin' for shore now, out of sight yonder below thefalls."
"Where's the rest of the party?" said McNicol. "It ain't possible wecleaned them all up. We'd better be looking." With this he led hiscompanions back to the stern, past the bodies of the two Indians. Mrs.Cutbush was engaged in binding up Cato's wounded arm, and Molly wassobbing hysterically from fright as she clung to her mother's gown.
The whole affair had transpired in such brief time that the cumbrousboat had moved only a short distance. In plain view above was themysterious little island, now readily seen to be a long, narrow canoetrimmed with bushes and pine boughs. The collision with the flat hadupset it, but it still rested stationary on the water, showing that itwas anchored.
There was no sound or motion in the near vicinity, but a subduedsplashing in the channel between the canoe and the promontory toldclearly enough that some survivors of the enemy were swimming to theshore.
"It ain't likely they can do us any more harm," said Barnabas, "for Ireckon their guns an' powder are wet. Of all the infernal tricks I'veheard of, that was the neatest. They got ahead of us by land, run acrossthat canoe somewhere, an' anchored it yonder, where they knew we'd haveto pass within close range."
"And expecting to pour in a volley, while we were exposed above thebulwarks," replied Nathan.
"Exactly, lad," assented Barnabas, "only we didn't give 'em a chance."Turning to Cutbush, he added: "Better take the rudder, man; we're nearlyat the falls."
Just then Mrs. Cutbush, who was in the bow, uttered a cry, and a tongueof fire was seen to leap up from the bed of dry grass in the middle ofthe boat. Evidently a bit of wadding had lain there smouldering, and nowa breeze had fanned it into a blaze.
Godfrey was nearest, but before he could get to the spot the firereached an open powderhorn that lay in the grass. It blew up with a dullreport, and instantly the whole bed was a mass of hissing, roaringflames. And in the very midst of the blaze, where it had been thrownthat morning to protect it from the damp floor, lay the cask of powder.All realized at once their terrible danger.
"It's too late to outen the fire," cried Barnabas. "The explosion maycome any moment! Jump for your lives!"
Just then the flat swung over the falls, quivered and tossed amid therocks and waves, and darted on to the deep and sluggish water below.Barnabas and Cutbush sprang past the flames to the bow, the formertaking Molly in his arms, and the latter grabbing his wife. They andCato sprang into the river at the same time that McNicol and the twolads jumped from the stern, and as hard as they could the whole partyswam out toward mid-channel, scarcely heeding the two shots that werefired at them from the cover of the bank. They safely gained a clusterof rocks with a fringe of gravel at the base, and from behind thisshelter they turned to watch the blazing flat as it drifted by at adistance of twenty feet.
AS THEY LOOKED THE EXPLOSION CAME]
They had hardly looked when a terrific explosion came, casting a redglare all around, and seeming to shake the very bottom of the river. Ashower of sparks and splinters fell, and huge waves rolled in alldirections. For a second or two the shattered craft bobbed up and down,still blazing here and there. Then it lurched under and disappeared, anddarkness and silence settled on the scene.
The situation of the little party was now disheartening. They werestranded on a rocky bar well out in the channel, dripping wet, andwithout means of safely getting away. They were almost defenseless incase of an attack, and to attempt to swim to shore would be a desperateand foolhardy proceeding under the circumstances.
But, in the stupor that followed the explosion, the first impression ofthe castaways--one and all--was a feeling of intense gratitude for theperils they had escaped, and, before they could realize how badly offthey still were, a faint shout came floating over the water, and a darkform was seen struggling toward the rocks from a ledge higher up streamand nearer the bank. The swimmer made a gallant fight against thecurrent, and when he finally gained the bar all were surprised andoverjoyed to recognize Morgan Proud.
"Given me up, had you?" the plucky fellow exclaimed, as he clasped handswith his friends. "Well, I had a close call. That redskin stuck to metill we went over the falls. Then we parted company, and after I reachedyonder rock I didn't spy him again. I was lying over there getting mybreath back when the flat took fire and blew up."
"Did you see anything of Simon Glass?" inquired Barnabas.
"He shot by, swimming like a fish," declared Proud, "and I lost sight ofhim among the ledges and shoals below my rock. I daresay he got safe toshore."
"I'm sure he did," Barnabas muttered grimly. "So that ruffian is stillalive, an' there's likely half a dozen more to keep him company. We'rein a pretty tight place, comrades. We can't make the far shore without aboat, an' if we try to swim to yonder bank it means certain death. Glassan' what's left of his party ar
e prowlin' about on watch now--you heardthem fire twice as we were swimmin' away from the boat. An' the worst ofit is that we're defenseless."
Immediate investigation proved the old woodman to be right. Nathan andMcNicol alone had held on to their muskets when they plunged from theflat, and Mrs. Cutbush had her empty pistol. But all the weapons werewet and useless, and though several of the party had a supply of ball,the only powder that had survived the explosion was a small quantity inProud's water-proof horn.
"It's aggravating to think how near we are to the forts and toNorthumberland," said Nathan. "Glass will hardly dare to prowl about theneighborhood long."
"I'm sure he won't leave yet," muttered Godfrey; "that is, if he knowswe are here."
"He does, lad," replied Barnabas. "The light of the burning flat showedus up plainly when we reached the rocks. The enemy will do one of twothings. The first--which is to come down an' attack us in their canoe upyonder--I consider unlikely. The second is that they'll lie hid in thetimber till morning, expectin' we'll believe they've gone then, an'we'll venture over to shore."
"Hurrah!" exclaimed Nathan, who had suddenly conceived a brilliant idea;"I know how to outwit them nicely, Barnabas, provided they don't try thefirst of those two plans."
"How, lad?"
"Why, the canoe, of course! I can get it by swimming over to the bigisland, running a quarter of a mile up the shore, and then swimmingquietly down and over to the spot."
"But Glass or some of the Indians may be up there now," said McNicol.
"No," replied Nathan, "I'm sure they are all straight across herewatching to get a shot. And they won't see me leave if I keep down inthe water."
"The lad is right," declared Barnabas. "It's a good plan, but a mightyrisky one, since we can't be certain of the whereabouts of the enemy.But I'll go myself."
"I only wish I could," muttered Godfrey, "but I'm a wretchedly poorswimmer."
"No, I'm going," insisted Nathan. "I am long-winded, and ever since Ican remember I could swim like a fish."
"Don't risk your young life, my brave boy," pleaded Mrs. Cutbush. "Leavethis to some of the older men."
But Nathan refused to yield, and since he was obviously the best fittedfor carrying out the undertaking, and the canoe offered the only meansof escape for the party from a most perilous situation, a reluctantconsent was finally given.
"Take this to cut the canoe loose," said Barnabas, handing the lad asharp knife. "You'll likely find it anchored by a rope."
Nathan stripped off all but his light trousers, put the hilt of theknife between his teeth, and swam quickly away from the outer edge ofthe rocks, followed by anxious eyes and heartfelt wishes for his safety.
Packer's Island extended some distance below the falls, as well asabove, and the current drifted Nathan nearly to the lower point beforehe struck shallow water. He waded the remainder of the distance, andthen ran briskly up the bushy and sandy shore. The night was dark, buthe could dimly make out the jutting promontory when he came opposite it.He continued five hundred yards further toward the head of the island,and then softly entered the water for his diagonal swim of rather morethan a quarter of a mile.
Only his head peeped over the surface and a slight ripple trailingbehind him was all that marked the gentle strokes of his arms and legs.He was soon in mid-channel, from where he could darkly make out thecanoe. He swam to a point ten feet above it, and dropped down with thestealth of a mink. As he drew nearer he saw that the craft lay bottomup, and was held by a tow rope running down into the water from the bow.A couple of half-submerged pine boughs still clung to it.
The lad caught hold of the rope with one hand, and with the other hetook the knife from between his teeth. He was about to slash when ahusky screech made his blood run cold, and he looked up to see thepainted face of an Indian glaring at him within ten inches.
The redskin had evidently been shot in the first volley from the flat,and had been clinging to the canoe ever since, too badly hurt to cry outor to swim to shore. But the sight of a hated foe revived his strength,and on the very second that he made his presence known he sprang atNathan and clutched his throat.
Down went both, entangled with the rope, and tearing it loose from theanchorage in their struggles. The lad kept one hand free, and while heheld his breath he stabbed repeatedly with the knife. After a fewterrible seconds the grip on his neck relaxed, and he shot to thesurface.
The Indian did not reappear, and Nathan lost no time in striking for thecanoe. He swung it around by the dangling rope, and started to swim withit down-stream. Bang! went a musket from the promontory, and a bulletwhistled overhead. A second shot followed after an interval of half aminute, but now lad and canoe were on the verge of the open passagethrough the falls. They went plunging down the slope of spray and waves,and three minutes later Nathan skillfully landed his prize on the outerside of the cluster of rocks.
Nathan's safe return was a joyful disappointment, for his friends hadgiven him up when they heard the firing. In a few words the lad told thestory of his adventurous swim, and some of the tributes to his braverymade him blush.
"Now let's be off while we've got the chance," cried Barnabas. "I judge,from the shootin', a part of the varmints are still lurkin' above thefalls."
So the canoe was turned right-side up and the fugitives hurriedlyembarked. They were a little crowded, but that discomfort they did notmind.
Either the enemy's weapons were empty, or else they could not see whatwas taking place for the darkness of the night. At all events, no shotswere fired from the bank, and presently a swifter current took the canoepast the distant lights of Northumberland and out into the broad channelof the main river. The two muskets were reversed and used for paddles,and an hour before midnight the fort at Shamokin was safely reached.
Here the weary fugitives were warmly welcomed, and provided with supperand lodging. Barnabas extracted the packet of papers from his boot, andafter drying them over a fire he restored them to their hiding-place.Much to Nathan's disappointment, no news had lately been received fromthe army; but the tidings of the Wyoming massacre had traveled quickly,and great alarm was felt lest the enemy should advance down theSusquehanna to raid the extensive military stores at Carlisle.
Cato was unfit for travel, and Proud and Cutbush, with the latter'sfamily, decided to remain at Shamokin fort for a few days. McNicol alsowished to stay, so that he might visit a married sister who lived at thesettlement of Northumberland.
So, at dawn the next morning, Barnabas and the two lads said good-bye totheir friends, and resumed their journey down the river in the canoe,satisfied that Simon Glass would give them no further trouble. Indeed,they were by no means sure that the ruffian had escaped drowning.
Below the point of junction of the two branches the current of theSusquehanna was very swift, and the little party traveled rapidly. Theymade brief stops at McKeesport and the Halifax fort, where they foundthe same ignorance prevailing concerning the seat of war. Just as thesun was setting they came in sight of Fort Hunter, which stood on ajutting bluff half a mile above the beautiful Kittochtinny Gap, wherethe river flings itself over a barrier of rocks as it leaves themountains behind.
Barnabas hauled the canoe high and dry under the stockade, and led hiscompanions up the bank and around to the gate. A sentry was on guard,and after a little questioning he passed the party through. As they wentacross the yard they observed a horse tied to a post; the animal wassaddled and bridled, and showed traces of recent hard riding.
In the middle room of the block-house something of a stirring natureseemed to be taking place. The new arrivals heard voices raised inshrill and angry dispute, and as they entered they saw two soldiersroughly pushing a man toward a door at one side of the room.
The prisoner was strenuously resisting, and clamoring to be set free,and in his struggles he revealed his face to Nathan. With a thrill ofexcitement the lad recognized the last man he could have expected tofind here.
In the Days of Washington: A Story of the American Revolution Page 13