the scouts of the valley-第25节
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Butler in the center； with a great blood…red handkerchief tied around his head； and； despite the forest； he noticed with a great sinking of the heart how far the hostile line extended。 It could wrap itself like a python around the defense。
〃It's a tale that will soon be told；〃 said Paul。
They went back swiftly； and warned Colonel Butler that the enemy was at band。 Even as they spoke they heard the loud wailing chant of Queen Esther； and then came the war whoop； pouring from a thousand throats； swelling defiant and fierce like the cry of a wounded beast。 The farmers； the boys； and the old men； most of whom had never been in battle； might well tremble at this ominous sound； so great in volume and extending so far into the forest。 But they stood firm； drawing themselves into a somewhat more compact body； and still advancing with their banners flying； and the boy beating out that steady roll on the drum。
The enemy now came into full sight； and Colonel Butler deployed his force in line of battle； his right resting on the high bank of the river and his left against the swamp。 Forward pressed the motley army of the other Butler； he of sanguinary and cruel fame； and the bulk of his force came into view； the sun shining down on the green uniforms of the English and the naked brown bodies of the Iroquois。
The American commander gave the order to fire。 Eager fingers were already on the trigger； and a blaze of light ran along the entire rank。 The Royal Greens and Rangers； although replying with their own fire； gave back before the storm of bullets； and the Wyoming men； with a shout of triumph； sprang forward。 It was always a characteristic of the border settler； despite many disasters and a knowledge of Indian craft and cunning； to rush straight at his foe whenever he saw him。 His； unless a trained forest warrior himself； was a headlong bravery； and now this gallant little force asked for nothing but to come to close grips with the enemy。
The men in the center with 〃Indian〃 Butler gave back still more。 With cries of victory the Wyoming men pressed forward； firing rapidly； and continuing to drive the mongrel white force。 The rifles were cracking rapidly； and smoke arose over the two lines。 The wind caught wisps of it and carried them off down the river。
〃It goes better than I thought；〃 said Paul as he reloaded his rifle。
〃Not yet；〃 said Henry； 〃we are fighting the white men only。 Where are all the Indians； who alone outnumber our men more than two to one？〃
〃Here they come；〃 said Shif'less Sol； pointing to the depths of the swamp； which was supposed to protect the left flank of the Wyoming force。
The five saw in the spaces； amid the briars and vines； scores of dark figures leaping over the mud； naked to the breech cloth； armed with rifle and tomahawk； and rushing down upon the unprotected side of their foe。 The swamp had been but little obstacle to them。
Henry and his comrades gave the alarm at once。 As many as possible were called off immediately from the main body； but they were not numerous enough to have any effect。 The Indians came through the swamp in hundreds and hundreds； and； as they uttered their triumphant yell； poured a terrible fire into the Wyoming left flank。 The defenders were forced to give ground； and the English and Tories came on again。
The fire was now deadly and of great volume。 The air was filled with the flashing of the rifles。 The cloud of smoke grew heavier； and faces； either from heat or excitement； showed red through it。 The air was filled with bullets； and the Wyoming force was being cut down fast； as the fire of more than a thousand rifles converged upon it。
The five at the fringe of the swamp loaded and fired as fast as they could at the Indian horde； but they saw that it was creeping closer and closer； and that the hail of bullets it sent in was cutting away the whole left flank of the defenders。 They saw the tall figure of Timmendiquas； a very god of war； leading on the Indians； with his fearless Wyandots in a close cluster around him。 Colonel John Durkee； gathering up a force of fifty or sixty； charged straight at the warriors； but he was killed by a withering volley； which drove his men back。
Now occurred a fatal thing； one of those misconceptions which often decide the fate of a battle。 The company of Captain Whittlesey； on the extreme left； which was suffering most severely； was ordered to fall back。 The entire little army； which was being pressed hard now； seeing the movement of Whittlesey； began to retreat。 Even without the mistake it is likely they would have lost in the face of such numbers。
The entire horde of Indians； Tories； Canadians； English； and renegades； uttering a tremendous yell； rushed forward。 Colonel Zebulon Butler； seeing the crisis； rode up and down in front of his men； shouting： 〃Don't leave me； my children！ the victory is ours！〃 Bravely his officers strove to stop the retreat。 Every captain who led a company into action was killed。 Some of these captains were but boys。 The men were falling by dozens。
All the Indians； by far the most formidable part of the invading force； were through the swamp now； and； dashing down their unloaded rifles； threw themselves； tomahawk in hand； upon the defense。 Not more than two hundred of the Wyoming men were left
standing； and the impact of seven or eight hundred savage warriors was so great that they were hurled back in confusion。 A wail of grief and terror came from the other side of the river； where a great body of women and children were watching the fighting。
〃The battle's lost；〃 said Shif'less Sol；
〃Beyond hope of saving it；〃 said Henry； 〃but； boys； we five are alive yet； and we'll do our best to help the others protect the retreat。〃
They kept under cover； fighting as calmly as they could amid such a terrible scene； picking off warrior after warrior； saving more than one soldier ere the tomahawk fell。 Shif'less Sol took a shot at 〃Indian〃 Butler； but he was too far away； and the bullet missed him。
〃I'd give five years of my life if he were fifty yards nearer；〃 exclaimed the shiftless one。
But the invading force came in between and he did not get another shot。 There was now a terrible medley； a continuous uproar； the crashing fire of hundreds of rifles； the shouts of the Indians； and the cries of the wounded。 Over them all hovered smoke and dust； and the air was heavy； too； with the odor of burnt gunpowder。 The division of old men and very young boys stood next； and the Indians were upon them； tomahawk in hand； but in the face of terrible odds all bore themselves with a valor worthy of the best of soldiers。 Three fourths of them died that day； before they were driven back on the fort。
The Wyoming force was pushed away from the edge of the swamp； which had been some protection to the left； and they were now assailed from all sides except that of the river。 〃Indian〃 Butler raged at the head of his men； who had been driven back at first； and who had been saved by the Indians。 Timmendiquas； in the absence of Brant； who was not seen upon this field； became by valor and power of intellect the leader of all the Indians for this moment。 The Iroquois； although their own fierce chiefs； I…Tiokatoo； Sangerachte； and the others fought with them； unconsciously obeyed him。 Nor did the fierce woman； Queen Esther； shirk the battle。 Waving her great tomahawk； she was continually among the warriors； singing her song of war and death。
They were driven steadily back toward the fort； and the little band crumbled away beneath the deadly fire。 Soon none would be left unless they ran for their lives。 The five drew away toward the forest。 They saw that the fort itself could not hold out against such a numerous and victorious foe； and they had no mind to be trapped。 But their retreat was slow； and as they went they sent bullet after bullet into the Indian flank。 Only a small percentage of the Wyoming force was left； and it now broke。 Colonel Butler and Colonel Dennison； who were mounted； reached the fort。 Some of the men jumped into the river； swam to the other shore and escaped。 Some swam to a little island called Monocacy； and hid； but the Tories and Indians hunted them out and slew them。 One Tory found his brother there； and killed him with his own hand； a deed of unspeakable horror that is yet mentioned by the people of that region。 A few fled into the forest and entered the fort at night。
CHAPTER X
THE BLOODY ROCK
Seeing that all was lost； the five drew farther away into the woods。 They were not wounded； yet their faces were white despite the tan。 They had never before looked upon so terrible a scene。 The Indians； wild with the excitement of a great triumph and thirsting for blood； were running over the field scalping the dead； killing some of the wounded； and saving others for the worst of tortures。 Nor were their white allies one whit behind them。 They bore a full part in the merciless war upon the conquered。 Timmendiquas； the great Wyandot； was the only one to show nobility。 Several of the wounded he saved from immediate death； and he tried to hold back the frenzied swarm of old squaws who rushed forward and began to practice crueltie
