"Sir, awaiting the dread onset of Sir John with that firmness which becomes a good American, I am,
And it was, I think, an hour later when Nick comes a-running to find me.
"A fire at Fish House," he cries, "and a dense smoke mounting to the sky!"
I flung aside my letter, ran to the kitchen, and called Penelope.
"Pack up and be ready to leave!" said I. And, to Nick: "Saddle Kaya and be ready to take Penelope a-horse to Mayfield block-house. Call my Indian!"
As I belted my shirt and stood ready, my Saguenay came swiftly, trailing his rifle.
"Come," said I, "we must learn why that smoke towers yonder to the sky."
"Do nothing rash, John Drogue," she said in a breathless way.
"Get you ready for flight," said I, fixing a fresh flint. "Nick shall run at your stirrup if it comes to that pinch----"
"Why, I am well enough; and if the Iroquois are at Fish House then I retreat through Varick's, and so by Fonda's Bush to Mayfield Fort."
"I do not wish to leave Summer House," she said pitifully. "What is to happen to our sheep and cattle--and to our fowls and all our stores--and to Summer House itself?"
"God knows," said I impatiently. "Why do you stand there idle when you must make ready for flight!"
"I--I can not bear to have you go to Fish House--all alone----"
"I have the Yellow Leaf, and can keep clear o' trouble. Come, Penelope!----"
"When you move toward trouble I do not desire to flee the other way, toward safety!----"
"Pack up, Penelope!" shouted Nick, leading Kaya into the orchard, all saddled; and fell to making up his pack on the grass.
"At Mayfield Fort!" I called across to Nick. "And if I be not there by night, then take Penelope to Johnstown, for it means that the Iroquois are on the Sacandaga!"
"I mark you, Jack!" he replied. I turned to the girl:
"Farewell, Penelope," I said. "You shall be safe with Nick."
"Safe in the forest, always, and the devil himself could not catch me," said I cheerily.
She stretched out her hand. I took it, looked at her, then kissed her fingers. And so went away swiftly, to where our canoe lay, troubled because of this young girl whom I had no desire to fall truly in love with, and yet knew I had been near to it many times that spring.
I got into the canoe and took the stern paddle; my Saguenay kneeled down in the bow; and we shot out across the Vlaie Water.