the scouts of the valley-第2节

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e　could　not　tell；　but　they　were　wet；　and　they　looked　cold　and　miserable。　　Soon　they　were　opposite　him；　and　he　saw　the　outline　of　every　figure。　　Scalp　locks　drooped　in　the　rain；　and　he　knew　that　the　warriors；　hardy　as　they　might　be；　were　suffering。　　　　　　　　　

Henry　expected　to　see　the　long　boat　pass　on；　but　it　was　turned　toward　a　shelving　bank　fifty　or　sixty　yards　below；　and　they　beached　it　there。　　Then　all　sprang　out；　drew　it　up　on　the　land；　and；　after　turning　it　over；　propped　it　up　at　an　angle。　　When　this　was　done　they　sat　under　it　in　a　close　group；　sheltered　from　the　rain。　　They　were　using　their　great　canoe　as　a　roof；　after　the　habit　of　Shawnees　and　Wyandots。

The　boy　watched　them　for　a　long　time　through　one　of　the　little　openings　in　the　bushes；　and　he　believed　that　they　would　remain　as　they　were　all　night；　but　presently　he　saw　a　movement　among　them；　and　a　little　flash　of　light。　　He　understood　it。　　They　were　trying　to　kindle　a　fire…with　flint　and　steel；　under　the　shelter　of　the　boat。　　He　continued　to　watch　them　'lazily　and　without　alarm。

Their　fire；　if　they　succeeded　in　making　it；　would　cast　no　light　upon　him　in　the　dense　covert；　but　they　would　be　outlined　against　the　flame；　and　he　could　see　them　better；　well　enough；　perhaps；　to　tell　to　what　tribe　they　belonged。

He　watched　under　his　lowered　eyelids　while　the　warriors；　gathered　in　a　close　group　to　make　a　shelter　from　stray　puffs　of　wind；　strove　with　flint　and　steel。　　Sparks　sprang　up　and　went　out；　but　Henry　at　last　saw　a　little　blaze　rise　and　cling　to　life。　　Then；　fed　with　tinder　and　bark；　it　grew　under　the　roof　made　by　the　boat　until　it　was　ruddy　and　strong。　　The　boat　was　tilted　farther　back；　and　the　fire；　continuing　to　grow；　crackled　cheerfully；　while　the　flames　leaped　higher。

By　a　curious　transfer　of　the　senses；　Henry；　as　he　lay　in　the　thick　blackness　felt　the　influence　of　the　fire；　also。　　Its　warmth　was　upon　his　face；　and　it　was　pleasing　to　see　the　red　and　yellow　light　victorious　against　the　sodden　background　of　the　rain　and　dripping　forest。　　The　figures　of　the　warriors　passed　and　repassed　before　the　fire；　and　the　boy　in　the　boat　moved　suddenly。　　　His　body　was　not　shifted　more　than　an　inch；　but　his　surprise　was　great。

A　warrior　stood　between　him　and　the　fire；　outlined　perfectly　against　the　red　light。　　It　was　a　splendid　figure；　young；　much　beyond　the　average　height；　the　erect　and　noble　head　crowned　with　the　defiant　scalplock；　the　strong；　slightly　curved　nose　and　the　massive　chin　cut　as　clearly　as　if　they　had　been　carved　in　copper。　　The　man　who　had　laid　aside　a　wet　blanket　was　bare　now　to　the　waist；　and　Henry　could　see　the　powerful　muscles　play　on　chest　and　shoulders　as　he　moved。

The　boy　knew　him。　　It　was　Timmendiquas；　the　great　White　Lightning　of　the　Wyandots；　the　youngest；　but　the　boldest　and　ablest　of　all　the　Western　chiefs。　　Henry's　pulses　leaped　a　little　at　the　sight　of　his　old　foe　and　almost　friend。　　As　always；　he　felt　admiration　at　the　sight　of　the　young　chief。　　It　was　not　likely　that　he　would　ever　behold　such　another　magnificent　specimen　of　savage　manhood。

The　presence　of　Timmendiquas　so　far　east　was　also　full　of　significance。　　The　great　fleet　under　Adam　Colfax；　and　with　Henry　and　his　comrades　in　the　van；　had　reached　Pittsburgh　at　last。　　Thence　the　arms；　ammunition；　and　other　supplies　were　started　on　the　overland　journey　for　the　American　army；　but　the　five　lingered　before　beginning　the　return　to　Kentucky。　　A　rumor　came　that　the　Indian　alliance　was　spreading　along　the　entire　frontier；　both　west　and　north。　　It　was　said　that　Timmendiquas；　stung　to　fiery　energy　by　his　defeats；　was　coming　east　to　form　a　league　with　the　Iroquois；　the　famous　Six　Nations。　　These　warlike　tribes　were　friendly　with　the　Wyandots；　and　the　league　would　be　a　formidable　danger　to　the　Colonies；　the　full　strength　of　which　was　absorbed　already　in　the　great　war。

But　the　report　was　a　new　call　of　battle　to　Henry；　Shif'less　Sol；　and　the　others。　　The　return　to　Kentucky　was　postponed。　　They　could　be　of　greater　service　here；　and　they　plunged　into　the　great　woods　to　the　north　and；　east　to　see　what　might　be　stirring　among　the　warriors。

Now　Henry；　as　be　looked　at　Timmendiquas；　knew　that　report　had　told　the　truth。　　The　great　chief　would　not　be　on　the　fringe　of　the　Iroquois　country；　if　be　did　not　have　such　a　plan；　and　he　had　the　energy　and　ability　to　carry　it　through。　　Henry　shuddered　at　the　thought　of　the　tomahawk　flashing　along　every　mile　of　a　frontier　so　vast；　and　defended　so　thinly。　　He　was　glad　in　every　fiber　that　he　and　his　comrades　had　remained　to　hang　upon　the　Indian　hordes；　and　be　heralds　of　their　marches。　　In　the　forest　a　warning　usually　meant　the　saving　of　life。

The　rain　ceased　after　a　while；　although　water　dripped　from　the　trees　everywhere。　　But　the　big　fire　made　an　area　of　dry　earth　about　it；　and　the　warriors　replaced　the　long　boat　in　the　water。　　Then　all　but　four　or　five　of　them　lay　beside　the　coals　and　went　to　sleep。　　Timmendiquas　was　one　of　those　who　remained　awake；　and　Henry　saw　that　he　was　in　deep　thought。　　He　walked　back　and　forth　much　like　a　white　man；　and　now　and　then　he　folded　his　hands　behind　his　back；　looking　toward　the　earth；　but　not　seeing　it。　　Henry　could　guess　what　was　in　his　mind。　　He　would　draw　forth　the　full　power　of　the　Six　Nations；　league　them　with　the　Indians　of　the　great　valley；　and　hurl　them　all　in　one　mass　upon　the　frontier。　　He　was　planning　now　the　means　to　the　end。

The　chief；　in　his　little　walks　back　and　forth；　came　close　to　the　edge　of　the　bushes　in　which　Henry　lay；　It　was　not　at　all　probable　that　he　would　conclude　to　search　among　them；　but　some　accident；　a　chance；　might　happen；　and　Henry　began　to　feel　a　little　alarm。　　Certainly；　the　coming　of　the　day　would　make　his　refuge　insecure；　and　he　resolved　to　slip　away　while　it　was　yet　light。

The　boy　rose　a　little　in　the　boat；　slowly　and　with　the　utmost　caution；　because　the　slightest　sound　out　of　the　common　might　arouse　Timmendiquas　to　the　knowledge　of　a　hostile　presence。　　The　canoe　must　make　no　plash　in　the　water。　　Gradually　he　unwrapped　the　blanket　and　tied　it　in　a　folded　square　at　his　back。　　Then　he　took　thought　a　few　moments。　　The　forest　was　so　silent　now　that　he　did　not　believe　he　could　push　the　canoe　through　the　bushes　without　being　heard。　　He　would　leave　it　there　for　use　another　day　and　go　on　foot　through　the　woods　to　his　comrades。

Slowly　he　put　one　foot　down　the　side　until　it　rested　on　the　bottom；　and　then　he　remained　still。　　The　chief　had　paused　in　his　restless　walk　back　and　forth。　　Could　it　be　possible　that　he　had　heard　so　slight　a　sound　as　that　of　a　human　foot　sinking　softly　into　the　water？　　Henry　waited　with　his　rifle　ready。　　If　necessary　he　would　fire；　and　then　dart　away　among　the　bushes。

Five　or　six　intense　moments　passed；　and　the　chief　resumed　his　restless　pacing。　　If　he　had　heard；　he　had　passed　it　by　as　nothing；　and　Henry　raised　the　other　foot　out　of　the　canoe。　　He　was　as　delicate　in　his　movement　as　a　surgeon　mending　the　human　eye；　and　he　had　full　cause；　as　not　eye　alone；　but　life　as　well；　depended　upon　his　success。　　Both　feet　now　rested　upon　the　muddy　bottom；　and　he　stood　there　clear　of　the　boat。

The　chief　did　not　stop　again；　and　as　the　fire　had　burned　higher；　his　features　were　disclosed　more　plainly　in　his　restless　walk　back　and　forth　before　the　flames。　　Henry　took　a　final　look　at　the　lofty　features；　contracted　now　into　a　frown；　then　began　to　wade　among　the　bushes；　pushing　his　way　softly。　　This　was　the　most　delicate　and　difficult　task　of　all。　　The　water　must　not　be　allowed　to　plash　around　him　nor　the　bushes　to　rustle　as　he　passed。　　Forward　he　went　a　yard；　then　two；　five；　ten；　and　his　feet　were　about　to　rest　upon　solid　earth；　when　a　stick　submerged　in　the　mud　broke　under　his　moccasin　with　a　snap　singularly　loud　in　the　silence　of　the　night。

Henry　sprang　at　once　upon　dry　land；　whence　he　cast　back　a　single　swift　glance。　　He　saw　the　chief　standing　rigid　and　gazing　in　the　direction　from　which　the　sound　had　come。　　Other　warriors　were　just　behind　him；　following　his　look；　aware　that　there　was　an　unexpected　presence　in　the　forest；　and　resolved　to　know　its　nature。

Henry　ran　northward。　　So　confident　was　he　in　his　powers　and　the　protecting　darkness　of　the　night　that　he　sent　back　a　sharp　cry；　piercing　and　defiant；　a　cry　of　a　quality　that　could　come　only　from　a　white　throat。　　The　warriors　would　know　it；　and　he　intended　for　them　to　know　it。　　Then；　holding　his　rifle　almost　parallel　with　his　body；　he　darted　swiftly　away　through　the　black　spaces　of　the　forest。　　But　an　answering　cry　came　to　his；　the　Indian　yell　taking　up　his　challenge；　and　saying　that　the　night　would　not　check　pursuit。

Henry　maintained　his　swift　pace　for　a　long　time；　choosing　the　more　open　places　that　he　might　make　no　noise　among　the　bushes　and　leaves。　　Now　and　then　water　dripped　in　his　face；　and　his　moccasins　were　wet　from　the　long　grass；　but　his　body　was　warm　and　dry；　and　he　felt　little　weariness。　　The　clouds　were　now　all　gone；　and　the　stars　sprang　out；　dancing　in　a　sky　of　dusky　blue。　　Trained　eyes　could　see　far　in　the　forest　despite　the　night；　and　Henry　felt　that　he　must　be　wary。　　He　recalled　the　skill　and　tenacity　of　Timmendiquas。　　A　fugitive　could　scarcely　be　trailed　in　the　darkness；　but　the　great　chief　would　spread　out