the scouts of the valley-第15节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　intently　and　with　expectancy。

He　was　a　professional　story…teller；　an　institution　great　and　honored　among　the　tribes　of　the　Iroquois　farther　back　even　than　Hiawatha。　　He　began　at　once　the　story　of　the　warrior　who　learned　to　talk　with　the　deer　and　the　bear；　carrying　it　on　through　many　chapters。　　Now　and　then　a　delighted　listener　would　cry　〃　Hah！〃　but　if　anyone　became　bored　and　fell　asleep　it　was　considered　an　omen　of　misfortune　to　the　sleeper；　and　he　was　chased　ignominiously　to　his　tepee。　　The　Iroquois　romancer　was　better　protected　than　the　white　one　is。　　He　could　finish　some　of　his　stories　in　one　evening；　but　others　were　serials。　　When　he　arrived　at　the　end　of　the　night's　installment　he　would　cry；　〃Si…ga！〃　which　was　equivalent　to　our　〃To　be　continued　in　our　next。〃　　Then　all　would　rise；　and　if　tired　would　seek　sleep；　but　if　not　they　would　catch　the　closing　part　of　some　other　story…teller's　romance。

At　three　fires　Senecas　were　playing　a　peculiar　little　wooden　flute　of　their　own　invention；　that　emitted　wailing　sounds　not　without　a　certain　sweetness。　　In　a　corner　a　half　dozen　warriors　hurt　in　battle　were　bathing　their　wounds　with　a　soothing　lotion　made　from　the　sap　of　the　bass　wood。

Henry　lingered　a　while　in　the　darkest　corners；　witnessing　the　feasting；　hearing　the　flutes　and　the　chants；　listening　for　a　space　to　the　story…tellers　and　the　enthusiastic　〃Hahs！〃　　They　were　so　full　of　feasting　and　merrymaking　now　that　one　could　almost　do　as　he　pleased；　and　he　stole　toward　the　southern　end　of　the　village；　where　he　had　noticed　several　huts；　much　more　strongly　built　than　the　others。　　Despite　all　his　natural　skill　and　experience　his　heart　beat　very　fast　when　he　came　to　the　first。　　He　was　about　to　achieve　the　great　exploration　upon　which　he　had　ventured　so　much。　　Whether　he　would　find　anything　at　the　end　of　the　risk　he　ran；　he　was　soon　to　see。

The　hut；　about　seven　feet　square　and　as　many　feet　in　height；　was　built　strongly　of　poles；　with　a　small　entrance　closed　by　a　clapboard　door　fastened　stoutly　on　the　outside　with　withes。　　The　hut　was　well　in　the　shadow　of　tepees；　and　all　were　still　at　the　feasting　and　merrymaking。　　He　cut　the　withes　with　two　sweeps　of　his　sharp　hunting　knife；　opened　the　door；　bent　his　head；　stepped　in　and　then　closed　the　door　behind　him；　in　order　that　no　Iroquois　might　see　what　had　happened。

It　was　not　wholly　dark　in　the　hut；　as　there　were　cracks　between　the　poles；　and　bars　of　moonlight　entered；　falling　upon　a　floor　of　bark。　　They　revealed　also　a　figure　lying　full　length　on　one　side　of　the　but。　　A　great　pulse　of　joy　leaped　up　in　Henry's　throat；　and　with　it　was　a　deep　pity；　also。　　The　figure　was　that　of　Shif'less　Sol；　but　be　was　pale　and　thin；　and　his　arms　and　legs　were　securely　bound　with　thongs　of　deerskin。

Leaning　over；　Henry　cut　the　thongs　of　the　shiftless　one；　but　he　did　not　stir。　　Great　forester　that　Shif'less　Sol　was；　and　usually　so　sensitive　to　the　lightest　movement；　be　perceived　nothing　now；　and；　had　he　not　found　him　bound；　Henry　would　have　been　afraid　that　he　was　looking　upon　his　dead　comrade。　　The　hands　of　the　shiftless　one；　when　the　hands　were　cut；　had　fallen　limply　by　his　side；　and　his　face　looked　all　the　more　pallid　by　contrast　with　the　yellow　hair　which　fell　in　length　about　it。　　But　it　was　his　old…time　friend；　the　dauntless　Shif'less　Sol；　the　last　of　the　five　to　vanish　so　mysteriously。

Henry　bent　down　and　pulled　him　by　the　shoulder。　　The　captive　yawned；　stretched　himself　a　little；　and　lay　still　again　with　closed　eyes。　　Henry　shook　him　a　second　time　and　more　violently。　　Shif'less　Sol　sat　up　quickly；　and　Henry　knew　that　indignation　prompted　the　movement。　　Sol　held　his　arms　and　legs　stiffly　and　seemed　to　be　totally　unconscious　that　they　were　unbound。　　He　cast　one　glance　upward；　and　in　the　dim　light　saw　the　tall　warrior　bending　over　him。

〃I'll　never　do　it；　Timmendiquas　or　White　Lightning；　whichever　name　you　like　better！〃　he　exclaimed。　　〃I　won't　show　you　how　to　surprise　the　white　settlements。　　You　can　burn　me　at　the　stake　or　tear　me　in　pieces　first。　　Now　go　away　and　let　me　sleep。〃

He　sank　back　on　the　bark；　and　started　to　close　his　eyes　again。　　It　was　then　that　he　noticed　for　the　first　time　that　his　hands　were　unbound。　　He　held　them　up　before　his　face；　as　if　they　were　strange　objects　wholly　unattached　to　himself；　and　gazed　at　them　in　amazement。　　He　moved　his　legs　and　saw　that　they；　too；　were　unbound。　　Then　he　turned　his　startled　gaze　upward　at　the　face　of　the　tall　warrior　who　was　looking　down　at　him。　　Shif'less　Sol　was　wholly　awake　now。　　Every　faculty　in　him　was　alive；　and　he　pierced　through　the　Shawnee　disguise。　　He　knew　who　it　was。　　He　knew　who　had　come　to　save　him；　and　he　sprang　to　his　feet；　exclaiming　the　one　word：

〃Henry！〃

The　hands　of　the　comrades　met　in　the　clasp　of　friendship　which　only　many　dangers　endured　together　can　give。

〃How　did　you　get　here？〃　asked　the　shiftless　one　in　a　whisper。

〃I　met　an　Indian　in　the　forest；〃　replied　Henry；　〃and　well　I　am　now　he。〃

Shif'less　Sol　laughed　under　his　breath。

〃I　see；〃　said　he；　〃but　how　did　you　get　through　the　camp？　　It's　a　big　one；　and　the　Iroquois　are　watchful。　　Timmendiquas　is　here；　too；　with　his　Wyandots。〃

〃They　are　having　a　great　feast；〃　replied　Henry；　〃and　I　could　go　about　almost　unnoticed。　　Where　are　the　others；　Sol？〃

〃In　the　cabins　close　by。〃

〃Then　we'll　get　out　of　this　place。　　Quick！　　Tie　up　your　hair！　　In　the　darkness　you　can　easily　pass　for　an　Indian。〃

The　shiftless　one　drew　his　hair　into　a　scalp　lock；　and　the　two　slipped　from　the　cabin；　closing　the　door　behind　them　and　deftly　retying　the　thongs；　in　order　that　the　discovery　of　the　escape　might　occur　as　late　as　possible。　　Then　they　stood　a　few　moments　in　the　shadow　of　the　hut　and　listened　to　the　sounds　of　revelry；　the　monotone　of　the　story…tellers；　and　the　chant　of　the　singers。

〃You　don't　know　which　huts　they　are　in；　do　you？〃　asked　Henry；　anxiously。

〃No；　I　don't；〃　replied　tile　shiftless　one。

〃Get　back！〃　exclaimed　Henry　softly。　　〃Don't　you　see　who's　passing　out　there？〃

〃Braxton　Wyatt；〃　said　Sol。　〃I'd　like　to　get　my　hands　on　that　scoundrel。　　I've　had　to　stand　a　lot　from　him。〃

〃The　score　must　wait。　　But　first　we'll　provide　you　with　weapons。　　See；　the　Iroquois　have　stacked　some　of　their　rifles　here　while　they're　at　the　feast。〃

A　dozen　good　rifles　had　been　left　leaning　against　a　hut　near　by；　and　Henry；　still　watching　lest　he　be　observed；　chose　the　best；　with　its　ammunition；　for　his　comrade；　who；　owing　to　his　semi…civilized　attire；　still　remained　in　the　shadow　of　the　other　hut。

〃Why　not　take　four？〃　whispered　the　shiftless　one。　　〃We'll　need　them　for　the　other　boys。〃

Henry　took　four；　giving　two　to　his　comrade；　and　then　they　hastily　slipped　back　to　the　other　side　of　the　hut。　　A　Wyandot　and　a　Mohawk　were　passing；　and　they　had　eyes　of　hawks。　　Henry　and　Sol　waited　until　the　formidable　pair　were　gone；　and　then　began　to　examine　the　huts；　trying　to　surmise　in　which　their　comrades　lay。

〃I　haven't　seen　'em　a…tall；　a…tall；〃　said　Sol；　〃but　I　reckon　from　the　talk　that　they　are　here。　　I　was　s'prised　in　the　woods；　Henry。　　A　half　dozen　reds　jumped　on　me　so　quick　I　didn't　have　time　to　draw　a　weepin。　　Timmendiquas　was　at　the　head　uv　'em　an'　he　just　grinned。　　Well；　he　is　a　great　chief；　if　he　did　truss　me　up　like　a　fowl。　　I　reckon　the　same　thing　happened　to　the　others。〃

〃Come　closer；　Sol！　　Come　closer！〃　whispered　Henry。　　More　warriors　are　walking　this　way。　　The　feast　is　breaking　up；　and　they'll　spread　all　through　the　camp。〃

A　terrible　problem　was　presented　to　the　two。　　They　could　no　longer　search　among　the　strong　huts；　for　their　comrades。　　　The　opportunity　to　save　had　lasted　long　enough　for　one　only。　　But　border　training　is　stern；　and　these　two　had　uncommon　courage　and　decision。

〃We　must　go　now；　Sol；〃　said　Henry；　〃but　we'll　come　back。〃

〃Yes；〃　said　the　shiftless　one；　〃we'll　come　back。〃

Darting　between　the　huts；　they　gained　the　southern　edge　of　the　forest　before　the　satiated　banqueters　could　suspect　the　presence　of　an　enemy。　　Here　they　felt　themselves　safe；　but　they　did　not　pause。　　Henry　led　the　way；　and　Shif'less　Sol　followed　at　a　fair　degree　of　speed。

〃You'll　have　to　be　patient　with　me　for　a　little　while；　Henry；〃　said　Sol　in　a　tone　of　humility。　　〃When　I　wuz　layin'　thar　in　the　lodge　with　my　hands　an'　feet　tied　I　wuz　about　eighty　years　old；　jest　ez　stiff　ez　could　be　from　the　long　tyin'。　　When　I　reached　the　edge　o'　the　woods　the　blood　wuz　flowin'　lively　enough　to　make　me　'bout　sixty。　　Now　I　reckon　I'm　fifty；　an'　ef　things　go　well　I'll　be　back　to　my　own　nateral　age　in　two　or　three　hours。〃

〃You　shall　have　rest　before　morning；〃　said　Henry；　〃and　it　will　be　in　a　good　place；　too。　　I　can　promise　that。〃

Shif'less　Sol　looked　at　him　inquiringly；　but　he　did　not　say　anything。　　Like　the　rest　of　the　five；　Sol　had　acquired　the　most　implicit　confidence　in　their　bold　young　leader。　　He　had　every　reason　to　feel　good。　That　painful　soreness　was　disappearing　from　his　ankles。　　As　they　advanced　through　the　woods；　weeks　dropped　from　him　one　by　one。　　Then　the　months　began　to　roll　away；　and　at　last　time　fell　year　by　year。　　As　they　approached　the　deeps　of　the　forest　where　the　swamp　lay；　Solomon　Hyde；　the　so　called　shiftless　one；　and　wholly　undeserving　of　the　name；　was　you