The conference between Golcher and the chief, Gray Panther, was vigorous, even if brief. Orders of such a positive nature had been sent that it was probable neither dared disregard them.  
The Seneca chief called eight of his about him, said something in his guttural fashion, and then he and they disappeared in the wood.
 
It looked as if they had been commanded to cross the river and join the main force on the western bank in some important enterprise.
 
This left eleven Indians, so far as could be seen, with Jake Golcher to carry out his designs. When Fred Godfrey realized the size of the force, he said in an undertone to his father:
 
"If we only had our guns now, we could make a good fight against them."
 
"But we haven't—so what's the use of talking of an impossibility?"
 
It was apparent to the , who were watching everything, that Golcher himself was a little uneasy over the shape matters had taken. Instead of going to where the captives were sitting on the fallen tree, he stood apart with two of the warriors, discussing something with as much earnestness as he had talked to Gray Panther.
 
The meaning of this was soon made plain, when he came over, and, addressing Habakkuk McEwen, said loud enough for all ears:
 
"We've concluded to move camp."
 
"What's that for?" asked the New Englander.
 
"None of your business," was the reply, given with equal promptness.
 
The anxiety of McEwen to gain the good-will of his master, however, would not permit him to hold his peace, and he hastened to interject several questions.
 
"I say, Jake, ain't you going to unfasten these twists of wood that are cutting my arms almost in two? I think them Injins must have took a couple of hickory saplings to me."
 
"I ain't satisfied about you, yet," said the Tory, in that hesitating manner that showed he was pretty well convinced that his prisoner, after all, was what he to be, although, for some reason, he chose to restrain his indorsement to him.
 
"Wal, you orter be," Habakkuk; "I'm the best Tory in the Wyoming Valley; and this is a purty way to sarve me."
 
The renegade smiled, as if he rather liked that kind of talk, but he did not make any move to relieve his captive of his bonds. Within the next three minutes the entire party were moving through the wood toward some point of whose locality the prisoners had no idea.
 
Mr. Brainerd was glad, for he was hopeful it would give Fred the desperate chance for which he was waiting. During the last few minutes the father had some degree of hope, and he looked to the daring young to give a good account of himself, should any opening appear.
 
As for Fred, himself, he was on the alert; but it must have been that the subtl............