Page:Edward Ellis--Seth Jones.djvu/99

91 Haldidge and Graham looked at the speaker in astonishment.

"I tell you, it's so. Hallo, Haverland!" he called, stepping out from his concealment "Come out here; there is nothing to be afraid of." The manner of the speaker was singular, but the others well knew that he was not one to expose either himself or others to danger, and accordingly all gathered around him.

"Are you not running great risk?" asked Haverland, still experiencing some slight misgivings at stepping upon a spot which he well knew was so dangerous a short time before.

"No, sir; I reckon you needn't be at all skeerish, for it there was any danger of them Mohawks, I wouldn't be standing here."

"It's getting toward night, Seth, and we should make up our minds at once as to what we are going to do or how we are going to spend it." "Can you shoot a gun?" asked Seth suddenly, of Ina.

"I don't believe you can beat me," she answered lightly.

"That is good."

So saying, he stepped into the bushes, where the dead body of the Indian was lying. Stooping over him, he removed the rifle from his rigid grasp, took his bullet-pouch and powder, and handed them to Ina.

"Now, there are five of us, all well armed," said he, "and if any of them infarnal Mohawks gets ahead of us, we all desarve red night-caps for it."

"How are we to prevent it, when there seems to be ten times our number following us?" asked Haverland.

"The way on it is this ere: there is about a dozen trying to sarcumvent us. They're now ahead of us, and have laid an ambush for us. If we can pass that ambush we're safe as if we was home fair and sure. And there must be no if about it, for that ambush must be passed to-night."