Part 24 (1/2)

Both Barton and Ruth, notwithstanding their thankfulness at this escape, surveyed the destruction of the cottage with feelings of melancholy. To Barton, it was the home of his old age--where he had planted his household G.o.ds, with the hope that they would survive him. The cottage had been erected, and had gradually been made a comfortable dwelling, by his labor; while around it, he had rescued fair fields from the wilderness, from which he had hoped to derive the means of prosperity.

To Ruth, it was endeared by other a.s.sociations; and they both saw that all the hopes and dreams which they had cherished, were ended, and that this place must again--even if they ultimately succeeded in escaping from their enemies--pa.s.s from their possession, if not from their remembrance. Barton continued, in answer to Singing-Bird:

”And my power to repay him, is gone. I am now an old man, deprived of everything but my daughter and my life. But I cannot complain. The Lord's will be done.”

”Let us not think about our loss,” said Ruth earnestly, ”since we have saved so much. We truly have need to be thankful to a kind Providence, that we and all our friends have escaped with our lives.”

At this moment, a rifle was heard, at a few rods distance apparently on the western sh.o.r.e; and at the same instant, there was a sound as of a heavy body falling into the water. The idea occurred to each in the boat, that this might be the Tuscarora, and the boat was instantly moved in that direction. As they approached the sh.o.r.e, they heard some of the enemy talking, and evidently laboring under a great excitement; and it was easy to believe that it was owing to the escape of Eagle's-Wing.

They had reached, in perfect silence, within eight or ten rods of the sh.o.r.e, when Ichabod discovered an Indian swimming towards the boat. It was the Tuscarora, and he was lifted in, panting with fatigue.

”Long run had this time,” said he, ”They almost catch me--they shoot me a little; but better have arm shot, than lose scalp though.”

It was found, on examination, that the ball had merely penetrated the fleshy part of his arm, without having done any very serious injury. It was immediately bandaged by Ralph, with as much care as their means would permit; while Ichabod and the negro paddled the boat towards the northern sh.o.r.e.

It has been mentioned before, in the brief description which we gave of the pond, that on the north was a low marshy flat, and that the edge of the pond was thickly bordered with willows and other bushes; but back a short distance from the sh.o.r.e, the bushes were few and stinted in growth, while the marsh was so soft, that it was impa.s.sable to one unacquainted with it, even by the aid of day-light. Ichabod and the Tuscarora were both confident that the Senecas had no canoes upon the pond; and that there was only one upon the river in the possession of the Senecas, and that this one was only capable of carrying three or four persons. There were no materials at hand with which a raft could be constructed; and it was with a feeling of security that the boat was made fast among the willows for the night.

The fire about the cottage, for a time, had been gradually diminis.h.i.+ng; and thicker and thicker fell the darkness upon forest and water.

Gradually the shrieks and cries of the Indians subsided, and silence at length fell upon the scene.

CHAPTER XX.

”Hence, strangers, to your native sh.o.r.e!

Far from our Indian shades retire.”

Freneau.

When the morning light had rendered objects sufficiently visible, the party in the boat endeavored to get a view of their precise situation.

The place where the cottage had stood, could be distinctly seen; but instead of the dwelling, there appeared nothing but a ma.s.s of black and smoking ruins. But not an Indian was to be seen. The party partook of a very frugal breakfast; for previous to their flight, they had secured a few articles of food--sufficient, if sparingly used, to last them for three or four days.

”The question now seems to be,” said Ichabod, ”what we're going to do next. Here we are--the cottage is burnt down--that factory project is blowed up, for a while, at least; and providing--I say, _providing_, we _can_ get away from these villainous reptiles, I'm for steering for the settlements.”

”I think that will be the course that we must adopt,” said Ralph. ”It will be a tedious undertaking, in the face of all our difficulties, as we shall be obliged to walk the whole distance the horses will undoubtedly either be destroyed or captured by the Indians. Could they be saved, so that Miss Barton and Singing-Bird could ride, it would not be so difficult.”

Barton a.s.sented with a melancholy look. ”There's no use,” he said, ”in my attempting to rebuild the cottage, even if the Senecas abandon the country. I am getting old, and cannot labor as I once could. Yes--we shall have to go to the settlements.”

Ruth a.s.sured them that she could walk the distance necessary with perfect ease. As for Singing-Bird, she laughed at the idea of riding.

As all a.s.sented to this proposal, the next thing was to find the means of escape from their present difficulties. It would not be safe to leave their cover in the willows, so long as the Senecas remained; and it was hoped, that not discovering them upon the pond, they would, after searching for them in the woods, for a day or two, finally abandon the hope of capturing them, and either set out on their return to their own country, or remove farther down the valley.

A feeling of joyful excitement pervaded the party. The extreme danger of their situation on the previous night, their fortunate flight, and the hope of an early escape, served to awaken this feeling, which, even Barton and Ruth, who were so much the greatest sufferers by recent events, shared with the others.

”I suppose,” said Barton, ”that Jenkins will most seriously feel the consequences of our removal to the settlements. First, he loses a fortune by the failure of that city-lot and factory speculation; and next, he runs the risk of escape from the Senecas, to be captured and imprisoned by his pale-faced friends.”

”Now, that's rather too hard, Squire,” said Ichabod. ”That factory business will keep for some years, at least: and as for that other matter, I hope that fellow Parsons will discover from the fate of his two officers, who took up the business on speculation, that there's a special Providence agin his collecting it. But if he don't see reason, we'll try and manage it.”

The Tuscarora, who had taken no part in the conversation but who had simply exchanged a few words, at intervals, with Singing-Bird, which seemed to cloud her face with anxiety, now arose, and stretching his arm towards the south, merely uttered the common Indian e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.i.o.n of surprise.

”Ugh!”