There was not a particle of in the movements of Gravity Gimp as he went through this programme, but his actions were like those of an athlete.  
up the gun of the Indian, he was off like a shot, running with the speed of a deer among the trees, and with great risk, for the darkness was too to permit him to see where he was going.
 
"Dat ere pertendin' dat I was was a stroke ob gen'us," he muttered, with a huge grin, as he slackened his gait somewhat, "and, if it hadn't been for dat lameness, I'd been 'sassinated.
 
"Shouldn't wonder if dey did in all de folks," he added, with a of fear, "and if dey does, why Aunt Peggy must go to buttin' de Injuns ober de same as I done. Sh!"
 
He listened for sounds of pursuit, but there was none, and he drew a sigh of relief, hoping that his friends were in as safe a situation as he.
 
Gray Panther, chief of the Senecas, conducted his portion of the programme, as we have already seen, with cunning and skill.
 
Fred Godfrey, Richard Brainerd, Maggie and Eva, Aunt Peggy, and Habakkuk McEwen were his prisoners, and within five minutes after they became such they were started, under the charge of the , for the camp, where Jake Golcher was expecting them.
 
The hands of the males were tied behind them so securely that they felt there was no possibility of freeing themselves. Their weapons were removed, as a matter of course, but no one of the three females was offered any by the Indians, who were carrying out the instructions of Jake Golcher himself.
 
Since the captors did not seem to feel any objection, several of the whites ventured on a few words. Habakkuk, however, as he stumbled along over the at the rear, felt in anything but a mood, and for a time held his peace.
 
"These are the most scand'lous purceedings that I ever heard tell of," ventured Aunt Peggy, in her snappish way.
 
"You are right," said Fred Godfrey; "it is the most terrible reverse I ever saw."
 
"Oh, I don't mean that."
 
"What do you refer to?"
 
"That Injin actually tried to kiss me—didn't you see him?"
 
"No, I wasn't aware of it."
 
"I gave him one slap that he'll remember, I reckon!"
 
The situation was too solemn for Fred to utter the remark that would have come to his lip at any other time. He therefore directed his next words to Maggie, who was close to her father, and holding the hand of Eva.
 
"This looks pretty bad, Maggie," said ............