the scouts of the valley-第11节

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〃You　speak　well；　Timmendiquas；〃　he　said。　　〃　All　the　red　men　must　unite　to　fight　for　the　land　of　Konspioni　which　Aieroski　raised　above　the　sea；　and　we　be　two；　you　and　I；　Timmendiquas；　fit　to　lead　them　to　battle。〃

〃It　is　so；〃　said　Timmendiquas　gravely。




CHAPTER　V

THE　IROQUOIS　TOWN


Henry　lay　fully　an　hour　in　the　bushes。　　He　had　forgotten　about　the　dogs　that　he　dreaded；　but　evidently　he　was　right　in　his　surmise　that　the　camp　contained　none。　　Nothing　disturbed　him　while　he　stared　at　what　was　passing　by　the　firelight。　　There　could　be　no　doubt　that　the　meeting　of　Timmendiquas　and　Thayendanegea　portended　great　things；　but　he　would　not　be　stirred　from　his　task　of　rescuing　his　comrades　or　discovering　their　fate。

They　two；　great　chiefs；　sat　long　in　close　converse。　　Others…older　men；　chiefs；　also…came　at　times　and　talked　with　them。　　But　these　two；　proud；　dominating；　both　singularly　handsome　men　of　the　Indian　type；　were　always　there。　　Henry　was　almost　ready　to　steal　away　when　he　saw　a　new　figure　approaching　the　two　chiefs。　　The　walk　and　bearing　of　the　stranger　were　familiar；　and　HENRY　knew　him　even　before　his　face　was　lighted　tip　by　the　fire。　　It　was　Braxton　Wyatt；　the　renegade；　who　had　escaped　the　great　battles　on　both　the　Ohio　and　the　Mississippi；　and　who　was　here　with　the　Iroquois；　ready　to　do　to　his　own　race　all　the　evil　that　he　could。　　Henry　felt　a　shudder　of　repulsion；　deeper　than　any　Indian　could　inspire　in　him。　　They　fought　for　their　own　land　and　their　own　people；　but　Braxton　Wyatt　had　violated　everything　that　an　honest　man　should　hold　sacred。

Henry；　on　the　whole；　was　not　surprised　to　see　him。　　Such　a　chance　was　sure　to　draw　Braxton　Wyatt。　　Moreover；　the　war；　so　far　as　it　pertained　to　the　border；　seemed　to　be　sweeping　toward　the　northeast；　and　it　bore　many　stormy　petrels　upon　its　crest。

He　watched　Wyatt　as　he　walked　toward　one　of　the　fires。　　There　the　renegade　sat　down　and　talked　with　the　warriors；　apparently　on　the　best　of　terms。　　He　was　presently　joined　by　two　more　renegades；　whom　Henry　recognized　as　Blackstaffe　and　Quarles。　　Timmendiquas　and　Thayendanegea　rose　after　a　while；　and　walked　toward　the　center　of　the　camp；　where　several　of　the　bark　shelters　had　been　enclosed　entirely。　　Henry　judged　that　one　had　been　set　apart　for　each；　but　they　were　lost　from　his　view　when　they　passed　within　the　circling　ring　of　warriors。

Henry　believed　that　the　Iroquois　and　Wyandots　would　form　a　fortified　camp　here；　a　place　from　which　they　would　make　sudden　and　terrible　forays　upon　the　settlements。　　He　based　his　opinion　upon　the　good　location　and　the　great　number　of　saplings　that　had　been　cut　down　already。　　They　would　build　strong　lodges　and　then　a　palisade　around　them　with　the　saplings。　　He　was　speedily　confirmed　in　this　opinion　when　he　saw　warriors　come　to　the　forest　with　hatchets　and　begin　to　cut　down　more　saplings。　　He　knew　then　that　it　was　time　to　go；　as　a　wood　chopper　might　blunder　upon　him　at　any　time。

He　slipped　from　his　covert　and　was　quickly　gone　in　the　forest。　　His　limbs　were　somewhat　stiff　from　lying　so　long　in　one　position；　but　that　soon　wore　away；　and　he　was　comparatively　fresh　when　he　came　once　more　to　the　islet　in　the　swamp。　　A　good　moon　was　now　shining；　tipping　the　forest　with　a　fine　silvery　gray；　and　Henry　purveyed　with　the　greatest　satisfaction　the　simple　little　shelter　that　he　had　found　so　opportunely。　　It　was　a　good　house；　too；　good　to　such　a　son　of　the　deepest　forest　as　was　Henry。　　It　was　made　of　nothing　but　bark　and　poles；　but　it　had　kept　out　all　that　long；　penetrating　rain　of　the　last　three　or　four　days；　and　when　he　lifted　the　big　stone　aside　and　opened　the　door　it　seemed　as　snug　a　place　as　he　could　have　wished。

He　left　the　door　open　a　little；　lighted　a　small　fire　on　the　flat　stones；　having　no　fear　that　it　would　be　seen　through　the　dense　curtain　that　shut　him　in；　and　broiled　big　bear　steaks　on　the　coals。　　When　he　had　eaten　and　the　fire　had　died　he　went　out　and　sat　beside　the　hut。　　He　was　well　satisfied　with　the　day's　work；　and　he　wished　now　to　think　with　all　the　concentration　that　one　must　put　upon　a　great　task　if　he　expects　to　achieve　it。　　He　intended　to　invade　the　Indian　camp；　and　he　knew　full　well　that　it　was　the　most　perilous　enterprise　that　he　had　ever　attempted。　　Yet　scouts　and　hunters　had　done　such　things　and　had　escaped　with　their　lives。　　He　must　not　shrink　from　the　path　that　others　had　trodden。

He　made　up　his　mind　firmly；　and　partly　thought　out　his　plan　of　operations。　　Then　he　rested；　and　so　sanguine　was　his　temperament　that　he　began　to　regard　the　deed　itself　as　almost　achieved。　　Decision　is　always　soothing　after　doubt；　and　he　fell　into　a　pleasant　dreamy　state。　　A　gentle　wind　was　blowing；　the　forest　was　dry　and　the　leaves　rustled　with　the　low　note　that　is　like　the　softest　chord　of　a　violin。　　It　became　penetrating；　thrillingly　sweet；　and　hark！　it　spoke　to　him　in　a　voice　that　he　knew。　　It　was　the　same　voice　that　he　had　heard　on　the　Ohio；　mystic；　but　telling　him　to　be　of　heart　and　courage。　　He　would　triumph　over　hardships　and　dangers；　and　he　would　see　his　friends　again。

Henry　started　up　from　his　vision。　　The　song　was　gone；　and　he　heard　only　the　wind　softly　moving　the　leaves。　　It　had　been　vague　and　shadowy　as　gossamer；　light　as　the　substance　of　a　dream；　but　it　was　real　to　him；　nevertheless；　and　the　deep　glow　of　certain　triumph　permeated　his　being；　body　and　mind。　　It　was　not　strange　that　he　had　in　his　nature　something　of　the　Indian　mysticism　that　personified　the　winds　and　the　trees　and　everything　about　him。　　The　Manitou　of　the　red　man　and　the　ancient　Aieroski　of　the　Iroquois　were　the　same　as　his　own　God。　　He　could　not　doubt　that　he　had　a　message。　　Down　on　the　Ohio　he　had　had　the　same　message　more　than　once；　and　it　had　always　come　true。

He　heard　a　slight　rustling　among　the　bushes；　and；　sitting　perfectly　still；　he　saw　a　black　bear　emerge　into　the　open。　　It　had　gained　the　islet　in　some　manner；　probably　floundering　through　the　black　mire；　and　the　thought　occurred　to　him　that　it　was　the　mate　of　the　one　he　had　slain；　drawn　perhaps　by　instinct　on　the　trail　of　a　lost　comrade。　　He　could　have　shot　the　bear　as　he　sat…and　he　would　need　fresh　supplies　of　food　soon…but　he　did　not　have　the　heart　to　do　it。

The　bear　sniffed　a　little　at　the　wind；　which　was　blowing　the　human　odor　away　from　him；　and　sat　back　on　his　haunches。　　Henry　did　not　believe　that　the　animal　had　seen　him　or　was　yet　aware　of　his　presence；　although　he　might　suspect。　　There　was　something　humorous　and　also　pathetic　in　the　visitor；　who　cocked　his　head　on　one　side　and　looked　about　him。　　He　made　a　distinct　appeal　to　Henry；　who　sat　absolutely　still；　so　still　that　the　little　bear　could　not　be　sure　at　first　that　he　was　a　human　being。　　A　minute　passed；　and　the　red　eye　of　the　bear　rested　upon　the　boy。　　Henry　felt　pleasant　and　sociable；　but　he　knew　that　he　could　retain　friendly　relations　only　by　remaining　quiet。

If　I　have　eaten　your　comrade；　my　friend；〃　he　said　to　himself；　〃it　is　only　because　of　hard　necessity。〃　The　bear；　little；　comic；　and　yet　with　that　touch　of　pathos　about　him；　cocked　his　head　a　little　further　over　on　one　side；　and　as　a　silver　shaft　of　moonlight　fell　upon　him　Henry　could　see　one　red　eye　gleaming。　　It　was　a　singular　fact；　but　the　boy；　alone　in　the　wilderness；　and　the　loser　of　his　comrades；　felt　for　the　moment　a　sense　of　comradeship　with　the　bear；　which　was　also　alone；　and　doubtless　the　loser　of　a　comrade；　also。　　He　uttered　a　soft　growling　sound　like　the　satisfied　purr　of　a　bear　eating　its　food。

The　comical　bear　rose　a　little　higher　on　his　hind　paws；　and　looked　in　astonishment　at　the　motionless　figure　that　uttered　sounds　so　familiar。　　Yet　the　figure　was　not　familiar。　　He　had　never　seen　a　human　being　before；　and　the　shape　and　outline　were　very　strange　to　him。　　It　might　be　some　new　kind　of　animal；　and　he　was　disposed　to　be　inquiring；　because　there　was　nothing　in　these　forests　which　the　black　bear　was　afraid　of　until　man　came。

He　advanced　a　step　or　two　and　growled　gently。　　Then　he　reared　up　again　on　his　hind　paws；　and　cocked　his　held　to　one　side　in　his　amusing　manner。　　Henry；　still　motionless；　smiled　at　him。　　Here；　for　an　instant　at　least；　was　a　cheery　visitor　and　companionship。　　He　at　least　would　not　break　the　spell。

〃You　look　almost　as　if　you　could　talk；　old　fellow；〃　he　said　to　himself；　〃and　if　I　knew　your　language　I'd　ask　you　a　lot　of　questions。〃

The　bear；　too；　was　motionless　now；　torn　by　doubt　and　curiosity。　　It　certainly　was　a　singular　figure　that　sat　there；　fifteen　or　twenty　yards　before　him；　and　he　had　the　most　intense　curiosity　to　solve　the　mystery　of　this　creature。　　But　caution　held　him　back。

There　was　a　sudden　flaw　in　the　light　breeze。　　It　shifted　about　and　brought　the　dreadful　man　odor　to　the　nostrils　of　the　honest　black　bear。　　It　was　something　entirely　new　to　him；　but　it　contained　the　quality　of　fear。　　That　still　strange　figure　was　his　deadliest　foe。　　Dropping　down　upon　his　four　paws；　he　fled　among　the　trees；　and　then　scrambled　somehow　through　the　swamp　to　the　mainland。

Henry　sighed。　　Despite　his　own　friendly　feeling；　the　bear；　warned　by　instinct；　was　afraid　of　him；　and；　as　he　was　bound　to　acknowledge　to　himself；　the　bear's　instinct　was　doubtless　right。　　He　rose；　went　into　the　hut；　and　slept　heavily