Among the most eager pursuers of the Tory and his Seneca allies, was Habakkuk McEwen, who had to the rear of the settlers that held the Indians at their mercy during the interview between Jake Golcher and Fred Godfrey.  
The natural timidity of the new Englander led him to do this, but he was so infuriated by the act of the party, that he lost all thought of personal danger, and charged through the wood at the very head of the avengers.
 
McEwen had no rifle, but he quickly supplied himself with one. sight of a Seneca who had fallen before the volley of Dick Durkee and his comrades, he snatched the weapon from his grasp and sped along like a deer.
 
He had , and a hasty examination showed that the gun was unloaded. With a coolness hardly to be expected, McEwen stopped in his pursuit and recharged the rifle, which seemed to be a fine weapon.
 
"I don't want to be catched without anything to help myself with," he said to himself, resuming the chase.
 
This was conducted in such a blind, headlong fashion, that Habakkuk speedily found himself not only out of sight of the Indians, but of his comrades, who were threshing in different directions, some of them shouting like madmen.
 
"I think they'll make for the river," concluded the New Englander, after a moment's pause, "and I'll keep on till I reach the water myself."
 
As the flush of the first excitement wore off, Habakkuk began to doubt whether he was doing a thing, in chasing a whole war party in this single-handed style.
 
"I'll take a little pains that they don't get after me," he thought, beginning to use more caution in his movements.
 
It was a considerable distance to the Susquehanna, but he pushed on, and just as the gray light of the morning was the and spreading over the water, he caught the familiar gleam of the beautiful stream.
 
Looking across, he paused in silent contemplation of the familiar scene. Naturally, he first noticed that so well remembered by old settlers, which was known as the "umbrella tree," on account of its shape, and which was visible a long distance, as it did on the mountains of the western shore.
 
But he was withdrawn from viewing the general features of the landscape, by the sight of the heavy smoke that rested like a on the other bank. It partly shut out from sight the straggling houses, most of which were ashes, and suggested the awful desolation that had been in Wyoming Valley during the few hours that had passed since the battle was fought near Forty Fort.
 
"I've no doubt was let loose there last night," muttered Habakkuk, "and it was a good thing for us that we got across when we did, and a much better thing that Dick Durkee and his men j'ined us—Hello!"
 
He was standing where his body was pretty well screened, and was wondering that he saw no one moving, when he was alarmed by a splash in the water a short distance above him.
 
Fearful of being discovered, Habakkuk down, and cocked his gun.
 
"It must be some of the scoundrels, who are everywhere; I hadn't orter been quite so rash—"
 
At that moment some one sprang into the river, and, out a short distance, began swimming for the other shore.
 
The timid did not dare look out at him until he had gotten some distance away, when he peeped through the undergrowth, and the head and shoulders that were moving rapidly across the stream.
 
Then, to his , he recognized the man as Jake Golcher, the Tory, who had wrought all this ruin and sorrow; though Habakkuk was far from suspecting the whole result of the shot of the renegade.
 
"By the great Cæsar! it's him," Habakkuk, trembling with excitement; "and that gives me a chance to win some with the other folks, especially with pretty Maggie."
 
Assuming a kneeling position, he took the most careful aim of his life at the unsuspecting , and when certain there could be no miss, pulled the trigger.
 
There was no flash in the pan nor miss of aim. The career of Jake Golcher ended then and there, with a suddenness and freedom from suffering that were mercy compared to what he deserved.
 
Habakkuk McEwen lingered long enough to make certain that there was no mistake, and then he stealthily reloaded his rifle before stirring from the spot. He was when several Indians appeared on the other shore and showed some signs of an intention to cross the stream.
 
This was enough for McEwen, who out of his hiding-place, and scarcely paused until he reached the camp, where he came upon the sorrowful scene to which we have already referred.
 
Mr. Brainerd was no more, and the mourning friends, having rallied from their first shock of grief, were preparing to leave the spot, which for a while to come must be one of exceeding great danger to them.
 
After some , Fred Godfrey, Dick Durkee, and Gravity Gimp tenderly lifted the body and carried it to a mass of rocks but a short distance away.
 
Had they a they would have given it burial until they could return, but that was impossible.
 
Accordingly, it was laid away in a natural sepulchre, and the were so piled around it as to prevent from animals; then all bade it a tearful adieu, and the faces of the little party were turned toward the far-off settlements of the upper Delaware.
 
Already the sounds of firing and the shouts of Indians were heard from the other side of the Susquehanna, while terrified were continually encountered.
 
Some of these were in such sore that they were taken charge of by Fred Godfrey and Dick Durkee. Maggie and Eva Brainerd were so melted by their own sufferings that they found it impossible to pass by any of ............