CHAPTER V. THE SORTIE

There could be no question but that Master Bartlett had guessed rightly as to the purpose of the savages, for there was no other way by which we could account for the fire which had just been kindled.

They would not have camped so far from Wintermoot’s in order to break a day’s march, and even if they had halted for the purpose of resting, common prudence would have dictated that they do so secretly.

When I had reasoned all this out in my mind, and been forced to believe the worst, it was no longer possible for me to think of ourselves as Minute Boys, if by so acting we were forced to remain inside the fort. Only one idea found lodgment in my brain, which was that we must, at all hazards, do what we might toward aiding the unfortunate lads, who were thus come to the stake while in pursuance of duty.

To remain idle within the stockade, as Master Bartlett seemed willing to do, while they suffered such torture as those fiendish savages could invent, seemed to me more heartless than anything I had ever heard, and, forgetting my duty to the company of which I was captain, I cried, passionately:

“It shall not be. We will not remain here with folded hands and allow those murderers to do their cruel work!”

“Ay, it would not be if it were in our power to give them aid,” Master Bartlett said, grimly. “Stephen Morley had fair chance to judge of the strength of the red-skinned wolves, and from him we know that there must, at the very least, be more than an hundred gathered around yonder fire. To venture out now is but to play into their hands, leaving the fort so illy manned that its capture would be certain.”

“We are stronger than before Stephen Morley’s party came in,” I said, half to myself, and Master Bartlett replied:

“True, we are, and yet the number here is all too small for the defence of the stockade.”

“If four or five should go out, there would still remain as many as our people of Wilkesbarre believe to be here,” I continued, thinking aloud rather than making a statement which demanded any answer, and the old man asked with more of impatience than I had yet seen him display:

“What wild plan have you in mind, Jonathan Ogden? Don’t forget that you are the captain of this company, and as such it is your duty to keep them together.”

“A poor captain have I made,” I replied, hotly. “It were better for all that the youngest of the party had been selected for the command. If I should go out, you can serve the lads more to their advantage than I could ever hope to do.”

“There is no good reason why you make such talk as that, and I would refuse to listen, save that it is necessary I know upon what your mind is dwelling.”

“That can be told quickly,” I replied, burning with the desire to be where I could strike a blow at those who were making ready for such work as the imps of the evil one would blush at. “I am minded to go out there, not boldly, nor in a careless manner, but to creep upon that band of demons until it be possible either to drive them away, or do the last friendly act to our comrades who are prisoners—bring them to their death quickly.”

“He who has had the most experience in warfare with the savages will tell you, Jonathan Ogden, that you haven’t one chance in ten thousand, even though you take all your company of Minute Boys, to drive away those savages after they have once begun, or made ready for their cruel work. I grant you it would be a blessed boon to kill the lads quickly; but to do that you would bring down, not only upon yourselves, but on all within this stockade, that horde of ravening wolves.”

I was not minded to continue the discussion when the moments were so precious, and knew beyond a peradventure that Simon Bartlett would never give his consent to my going in case I asked it; therefore did I put the matter plainly before him:

“It is my intent, Master Bartlett, to do whatsoever I can to aid my comrades, and with the expectation of meeting death while doing it. Neither the fact that I am in command of this company, nor that it is a forlorn hope on which I am embarking, can prevent me. If so be two others here want to go with me, I believe it possible the dear lads may be killed before they are tortured.”

“I am one who goes with you, Jonathan Ogden,” came a voice near at hand, and, looking down from the platform on which the old man and I were standing, I saw Giles March, who had come up unobserved and thus heard a goodly portion of the conversation.

“But you must stay here, Giles,” I cried, and he replied, sharply:

“What fetters have I more than you? Is the captain of a company the only one who is permitted to attempt a man’s work?”

As a matter of course, that silenced me. What reply could I make to such questions?

“You know how few are the chances that we shall come back into this stockade alive?” I ventured to ask, and he replied promptly:

“Ay, even as well as you, Jonathan Ogden, and yet would I go, for death were better, as I look at the matter, than remaining here idle, knowing what is being done yonder.”

“What is it you speak of in which death seems so certain?” Daniel Hinchman asked, as he came up hurriedly, and I would have held my peace, but Giles March must needs explain to him what I proposed to do.

“And who will go with you, Jonathan Ogden?” Daniel asked.

“I am going,” Giles said, before it was possible for me to make reply.

“Then you shall count me in also. It would be the least I could do, after this company of lads has saved my sister from a doom even worse than that which you say probably awaits those who went out hunting.”

Again I would have protested; but Master Bartlett, laying his hand heavily on my shoulder, said gravely:

“Haven’t they as good right as you to risk life in the hope of aiding a comrade? Now you have the two you asked for, and, if it still be in your mind to go out on what I shall count a hopeless task, then let me beg you do it secretly, allowing no person inside this enclosure, save only Stephen Morley and myself, to know that the force has been weakened by seven.”

“How seven?” I asked, with irritation.

“The four hunters and you three, for there is no more chance one will return than the other.”

Leaping down from the stockade, I began hurriedly to make my preparations, for however determined I was to sally forth, such talk as Master Bartlett was indulging in could have no other effect than that of making me for the moment faint-hearted, and surely just then I had need of all the courage which could be summoned.

I would take with me nothing save my musket and ammunition; every garment that could be dispensed with should be left behind, lest it impede me in the short journey which must be made as silently as death, and Giles and Daniel followed my example, until we stood in little more clothing than was indulged in by those fiends whom we hoped to kill.

While this was being done, Master Bartlett held a whispered conversation with Stephen Morley, after which the old man said:

“If you go out through the gate, lads, one or more of the company will know your purpose, therefore I propose that you let yourselves down from the top of the stockade at whatsoever point seems best to you, and, although we dare not hope you may return, both Stephen Morley and I will stand here on watch, ready to open the small gate when we see you coming, or to summon the rest of the company to shoot down those who may be pursuing.”

“As well go from here as anywhere?” I said to Giles, pointing just above our heads, and he nodded.

Master Bartlett gripped each of us by the hand in turn, and thus we climbed up, swinging ourselves over the top of the stockade and dropping down on the outside.

I had feared that one or both of the men might attempt to indulge in leave-taking, and so tensely were my nerves strung then that I could not have endured anything of the kind; but, fortunately for me, not a word was spoken.

After reaching the ground, it was not necessary we should hold any converse one with the other. Each of us understood what was to be done, and could see plainly before us the goal. The fire was leaping higher and higher, and a deathly sickness came into my heart, as I asked myself whether the tongues of flame had not already fastened upon the bodies of our comrades.

It was as if Giles March read my thoughts, for he said in a whisper:

“They haven’t begun the work of torture yet, else would we have heard songs and shouts. Yonder light comes from the camp-fire, where doubtless they are making ready supper.”

As nearly as I could judge, the Indians were less than a mile away, and the night was so far advanced that it seemed necessary we take some chances of making a noise, else we might arrive too late, therefore I believe we covered the distance within half an hour, seeing nothing during that short journey betokening the presence of foes. It was as if the murdering villains, secure in their numbers, believed that no danger threatened them, or that it would not be necessary to send out scouts, because we in the fort were penned up like sheep awaiting the butcher.

When we had finally arrived so near the fire as to be able to distinguish objects within the circle of illumination, it was possible to see two of our lads bound to trees near by, and looking as one may well fancy human beings would look when watching preparations that are being made for the most cruel death which can come to man.

“Where are the others?” Daniel Hinchman asked in a whisper.

“Already dead,” Giles March replied, confidently, “and theirs was the happier fate.”

“Why can’t they have escaped?” I asked, hopefully.

“Because, if such had been the case, we should have seen them at the stockade before this. Stephen Morley has said that the Indians were advancing like soldiers on a skirmish-line, covering not less than half a mile in distance, and in such case, all ignorant of the fact that so many foes were near, the lads would not have made détour wide enough to avoid them.”

I hardly heard the last of his words. If, indeed, two of our lads were already dead, then were they the more fortunate. We could do nothing in their behalf, and it was of the living that care should be taken.

So nearly as could be told, there were less, instead of more, than an hundred savages encamping here to indulge in their fiendish sport, and the thought came to me like a flash of light that there were none of the red demons at Wintermoot’s who would miss seeing such a spectacle as that afforded by two white boys while they were being tortured to death. Therefore might we with good reason expect all that horde of bloodthirsty murderers would arrive before the final moment came.

I said to Giles that, if we were to effect anything, the task must be begun quickly, for, although it did not seem within the range of possibility we could overmaster four score or more, surely was all hope gone when that number should be doubled or trebled.

“Ay, I am of the same mind, Jonathan, therefore say what shall be done, and we will commence, selling our lives desperately, but making certain to hold the last shots for those poor lads yonder.”

I had no more idea than he how we could strike the heaviest blow; but, in turning over the matter in my mind, came the desire to lessen the number of the enemy by as many as might be possible, and therefore did it seem to me as if that might best be done by beginning the work at long range.

Acting on my suggestion, rather than commands, Daniel stole softly to the right of me, a distance of perhaps an hundred paces, and Giles as far in the opposite direction, while I remained with my musket resting on the branch of a tree, that there might be no question as to the trueness of aim until one or the other should open fire.

With the reports of three muskets coming from so many different points, each at quite a distance from the other, the savages would reasonably suppose they were surrounded by a considerable force, and therefore might be thrown in confusion sufficiently long for us to reload and get in a second volley before any move was made.

This would suffice for six of them, unless we were careless in the shooting, and after that had been done Daniel and Giles were to come back to me, when we would do whatsoever was dictated by the movements of the enemy.

It was Daniel who fired first, and I saw an Indian, who was standing somewhat apart from the others, as if he was one of the chiefs of the tribe, pitch forward on his face, dead.

Then came Giles’s shot, and a brave who was bending over the fire, evidently cooking meat, fell among the embers, getting a taste before he died, I hope, of what he would have inflicted upon our comrades. On the instant I discharged my musket, and the third Mohawk fell, never to rise again.

The Indians stood for a moment as if transfixed with amazement and terror, looking here and there questioningly, and not a movement toward us had been made, when once more Daniel fired.

That savage who was standing full in the light of the flames fell at the report of his musket, and his neighbor dropped an instant later under my bullet, while on the other side of the fire a sixth man sank down.

Then, as never before, did I work with utmost haste to reload my weapon, hoping to get in one more shot before my comrades joined me, and in this was I successful.

The seventh Mohawk had been sent to his happy hunting-grounds when Giles and Daniel came up, and we three, peering intently toward those bloodthirsty cowards, who dared not make a move, as if fearing that some supernatural power had stricken their fellows down, loaded our weapons.

Then, in a twinkling, we dashed toward the encampment, without any purpose save that of coming hand to hand with those whom we believed were speedily to kill us.

When we had arrived just at the edge of the thicket, and in another instant would have come out into the light of the fire, the Indians made their first move, which was to retreat until they gained cover, for the brutes were never known to be willing to stand up in the open against an unseen enemy.

“One more shot,” I whispered, hurriedly, and even as the last vanished, two of them fell to the ground dead; but whether the third bullet missed its billet, we could not see.

Now, on the instant, came to me a possible plan. There was one chance perhaps in a thousand of its succeeding, and yet, if it didn’t, we were in no worse position than before, for we had come fully expecting to yield up our lives in the hope of giving our comrades a merciful death.

“You two shall stand here within the shelter of the trees,” I said, hurriedly, “and fire as rapidly as may be possible whenever you see a target. In the meanwhile I will make my way through the thicket until coming up behind the prisoners, when there is the barest possibility I may be able to sever their bonds.”

Then, throwing down the musket and drawing my knife, I made my way outside the circle of light, hidden by the foliage, giving no heed as to preserving silence, and hearing, as I ran, the discharge of a weapon by one of my comrades.

My heart beat as if it were like to burst through the flesh, for there had suddenly come into my mind the belief that it was possible we should yet succeed, if not in holding our own lives, in giving liberty to those who had been so near death.

Hardly knowing if I walked or ran, giving no heed as to whether there might be any one in my path, I made all speed until, having gained the tree behind which John Coburn was bound, and slashing through the deer-hide thongs with my knife, I whispered, hoarsely:

“If it be possible to use your legs now, lad, make all speed to the fort, where Master Bartlett is watching for your coming. In case your limbs are numbed, stand where you are until the blood circulates again, and then make a rush.”

I question if thirty seconds had been spent in freeing John, and then, darting back into the bushes once more, I came up behind the other lad,—Oscar Stephenson,—just as another report from the rear told that an Indian had incautiously shown himself.

Oscar was free, and, as I made ready to go back where Giles and Daniel were waiting, I saw the lad straighten up, as if trying his muscles. An instant later the two were flying like startled deer; but their movements were the signal for the Indians to rush forward, and in a twinkling the whole savage horde was at my heels.

Crack! crack! rang out the muskets of my comrades, and, guided by that sound, I reached them as speedily as my legs could carry me, snatching the musket which Daniel held toward me, and starting hotfoot for the stockade.

Rapid as had been my movements, the rescued lads ran even more swiftly, for they had been looking death in the face an hour or more, and were able to accomplish that which at any other time would have been impossible.

Daniel was just behind me, not two paces distant, and close at his heels came Giles, who, when we had run half-way to the stockade, said, hoarsely:

“It were better we stopped here for one more shot than to cross the clearing while there are so many behind us.”

It was good advice, and, wheeling about, I charged my musket with trembling hands, for what with the excitement and the exertion, I was quivering like an aspen leaf.

Then we waited for a target. Beyond the glowing fire as we were, it was difficult to distinguish the enemy. I was on the point of proposing that we move on rather than lose valuable time, when hardly ten paces distant I saw a black form amid the foliage, and then another and another, until we could count five sneaking up, probably seeing us even more plainly than we saw them.

Fortunately all of our weapons were loaded, and, prodding my comrades to call their attention to that which I saw, we took steady aim and fired.

A howl of pain followed the report, as one of the figures turned and went halting back toward the fire, while two dropped, and the others stood as if suddenly turned into statues.

“Verily have we dealt a blow to the Mohawks of which we should be proud, even though we never reach the stockade again,” I said exultingly, and there was in my heart a fervent thanksgiving that I had been allowed to slay so many of those who would make of our valley a shambles.

“It will be better if we get to the stockade alive,” Giles said, grimly, and then we ran more slowly, because of trying to load our weapons as we moved.

I am making a long story of what should be told in few words, and, therefore, will cease trying to glorify myself and my comrades for our work of the night, to say that twice before coming out into the cleared space in front of the stockade we loaded and fired at skulking figures amid the trees, wasting no shot, and then was come that most dangerous portion of the work.

Full fifty yards, from the edge of the thicket to the small gate of the stockade, we must run exposed to the full view of those who might follow, and Giles said, as we slackened our pace before bursting out of the bushes:

“It were better we separated than ran in a bunch, for of a verity are we to be their targets now.”

As he said, so we did. Each for himself, and, twelve or fifteen yards apart, we started on that race with death.

It seemed to me as if I had no more than left the cover of the bushes when the muskets began to sound, and, before half the distance was covered, it was as if no less than an hundred were shooting at me; but I came to understand afterward that this multiplicity of reports arose from the fact that our friends within the stockade were keeping up quite as heavy a fusillade as were the Mohawks.

And now for that which seems almost beyond belief: We three lads covered the distance in the open, where we afforded the best targets to our pursuers, gaining the shelter of the fort without having been scratched by a bullet, and that when, I dare venture to say, no less than fifty missiles were sent after us by the excited foe whom we had outwitted so completely.

Once inside, with the gate barred behind us, I fell forward on my face, unable to move or speak, so thoroughly exhausted was I by the excitement and the exertion, and for a time I knew nothing whatsoever, until becoming dimly conscious that Master Bartlett was bending over me, saying:

“You have accomplished that this night, Jonathan Ogden, which I doubt if any man in the valley could have done, and, if our people at Wilkesbarre do not come to know of the courage and self-sacrifice you have shown in behalf of your comrades, it will be because I can no longer wag my tongue.”

“The others, where are they?” I managed to ask, and with speech came power of motion, until I stood upright.

“All are safe, lad, that is—you three who went out, and two who came back ahead of you.”

“Do you mean Oscar Stephenson and John Coburn?”

“Ay, lad.”

“And what of the other two? Were they killed?”

“Oscar claims that they must be at liberty, for, when the savages first appeared, the others made for the river, evidently counting on swimming across, and therefore, while there are two Minute Boys of the Wyoming Valley who will not answer to the roll just now, it is probable they are yet alive. I would not have believed, when you left, that twenty men could have rescued those lads who were so near the stake, and am burning to know how it was done.”

“There is nothing to be told, Master Bartlett,” I said, with a nervous laugh. “We simply advanced and fired upon the Indians while under cover; they were stampeded because of not being able to see us, and, consequently, as much was done by our remaining hidden as by our shooting. It did indeed seem like a dangerous task when we began, but, as matters turned, it was no more than you or many another man has done time and time again since the troubles concerning the ownership of this valley began.”

“As to that I have another opinion, lad; but we won’t discuss it now, for, unless I am mistaken in those red villains, there is a hot night ahead of us. I am of the mind that we will have another attack upon the stockade before morning, and it promises to be vastly different from the last one, for now the savages will fight to revenge the death of those whom you have killed. Therefore, as soon as may be, lad, I beg you to get your company in shape, and see to it that you call upon the women as you do the men.”

In a flash I understood that what Master Bartlett said was true; even at that moment I knew the fort must be surrounded by those who thirsted for vengeance, and, in addition to obeying the command of John Butler, they would strive to kill us because of what we had done that night. Nor would it be as easy to drive them away as before, and we were facing a greater danger than Giles, Daniel, and I faced when we went toward the camp-fire.

It can well be understood that I lost no time in doing whatsoever I might toward making ready for the battle which was to come, and my comrades who had shared with me the danger just past were not one whit behind in their efforts.

We put on sentinel duty every member of our company, including myself, leaving to Master Bartlett and Stephen Morley the task of making the rounds to ascertain if each fellow was doing his duty, and the women stationed themselves here and there under the walls, where they could load our weapons as soon as they were discharged, while the children we fastened securely inside the blockhouse, lest in their terror they come out and impede the defenders in their work.

Then we waited for that which we knew was surely to come, and I had more of timorousness in my heart during the few moments of quietude which reigned than when we were making the attack upon that horde who were preparing to torture our comrades.