the scouts of the valley-第26节

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ried　to　hold　back　the　frenzied　swarm　of　old　squaws　who　rushed　forward　and　began　to　practice　cruelties　at　which　even　the　most　veteran　warrior　might　shudder。　　But　Queen　Esther　urged　them　on；　and　〃Indian〃　Butler　himself　and　the　chiefs　were　afraid　of　her。

Henry；　despite　himself；　despite　all　his　experience　and　powers　of　self…control；　shuddered　from　head　to　foot　at　the　cries　that　came　from　the　lost　field；　and　he　was　sure　that　the　others　were　doing　the　same。　　The　sun　was　setting；　but　its　dying　light；　brilliant　and　intense；　tinged　the　field　as　if　with　blood；　showing　all　the　yelling　horde　as　the　warriors　rushed　about　for　scalps；　or　danced　in　triumph；　whirling　their　hideous　trophies　about　their　heads。　　Others　were　firing　at　men　who　were　escaping　to　the　far　bank　of　the　Susquehanna；　and　others　were　already　seeking　the　fugitives　in　their　vain　hiding　places　on　the　little　islet。

The　five　moved　farther　into　the　forest；　retreating　slowly；　and　sending　in　a　shot　now　and　then　to　protect　the　retreat　of　some　fugitive　who　was　seeking　the　shelter　of　the　woods。　　The　retreat　had　become　a　rout　and　then　a　massacre。　　The　savages　raged　up　and　down　in　the　greatest　killing　they　had　known　since　Braddock's　defeat。　　The　lodges　of　the　Iroquois　would　be　full　of　the　scalps　of　white　men。

All　the　five　felt　the　full　horror　of　the　scene；　but　it　made　its　deepest　impress；　perhaps；　upon　Paul。　　He　had　taken　part　in　border　battles　before；　but　this　was　the　first　great　defeat。　　He　was　not　blind　to　the　valor　and　good　qualities　of　the　Indian　and　his　claim　upon　the　wilderness；　but　he　saw　the　incredible　cruelties　that　he　could　commit；　and　he　felt　a　horror　of　those　who　used　him　as　an　ally；　a　horror　that　he　could　never　dismiss　from　his　mind　as　long　as　he　lived。

〃Look！〃　he　exclaimed；　〃look　at　that！〃

A　man　of　seventy　and　a　boy　of　fourteen　were　running　for　the　forest。　　They　might　have　been　grandfather　and　grandson。　　Undoubtedly　they　had　fought　in　the　Battalion　of　the　Very　Old　and　the　Very　Young；　and　now；　when　everything　else　was　lost；　they　were　seeking　to　save　their　lives　in　the　friendly　shelter　of　the　woods。　　But　they　were　pursued　by　two　groups　of　Iroquois；　four　warriors　in　one；　and　three　in　the　other；　and　the　Indians　were　gaining　fast。

〃I　reckon　we　ought　to　save　them；〃　said　Shif'less　Sol。

〃No　doubt　of　it；〃　said　Henry。　　〃Paul；　you　and　Sol　move　off　to　the　right　a　little；　and　take　the　three；　while　the　rest　of　us　will　look　out　for　the　four。〃

The　little　band　separated　according　to　the　directions；　Paul　and　Sol　having　the　lighter　task；　as　the　others　were　to　meet　the　group　of　four　Indians　at　closer　range。　　Paul　and　Sol　were　behind　some　trees；　and；　turning　at　an　angle；　they　ran　forward　to　intercept　the　three　Indians。　　It　would　have　seemed　to　anyone　who　was　not　aware　of　the　presence　of　friends　in　the　forest　that　the　old　man　and　the　boy　would　surely　be　overtaken　and　be　tomahawked；　but　three　rifles　suddenly　flashed　among　the　foliage。　　Two　of　the　warriors　in　the　group　of　four　fell；　and　a　third　uttered　a　yell　of　pain。　　Paul　and　Shif'less　Sol　fired　at　the　same　time　at　the　group　of　three。　　One　fell　before　the　deadly　rifle　of　Shif'less　Sol；　but　Paul　only　grazed　his　man。　　Nevertheless；　the　whole　pursuit　stopped；　and　the　boy　and　the　old　man　escaped　to　the　forest；　and　subsequently　to　safety　at　the　Moravian　towns。

Paul；　watching　the　happy　effect　of　the　shots；　was　about　to　say　something　to　Shif'less　Sol；　when　an　immense　force　was　hurled　upon　him；　and　he　was　thrown　to　the　ground。　　His　comrade　was　served　in　the　same　way；　but　the　shiftless　one　was　uncommonly　strong　and　agile。　　He　managed　to　writhe　half　way　to　his　knees；　and　he　shouted　in　a　tremendous　voice：

〃Run；　Henry；　run！　　You　can't　do　anything　for　us　now！〃

Braxton　Wyatt　struck　him　fiercely　across　the　mouth。　　The　blood　came；　but　the　shiftless　one　merely　spat　it　out；　and　looked　curiously　at　the　renegade。

〃I've　often　wondered　about　you；　Braxton；〃　he　said　calmly。　　〃　I　used　to　think　that　anybody；　no　matter　how　bad；　had　some　good　in　him；　but　I　reckon　you　ain't　got　none。〃

Wyatt　did　not　answer；　but　rushed　forward　in　search　of　the　others。　　But　Henry；　Silent　Tom；　and　Long　Jim　had　vanished。　　A　powerful　party　of　warriors　had　stolen　upon　Shif'less　Sol　and　Paul；　while　they　were　absorbed　in　the　chase　of　the　old　man　and　the　boy；　and　now　they　were　prisoners；　bound　securely。　　Braxton　Wyatt　came　back　from　the　fruitless　search　for　the　three；　but　his　face　was　full　of　savage　joy　as　he　looked　down　at　the　captured　two。

〃We　could　have　killed　you　just　as　easily；〃　he　said；　〃but　we　didn't　want　to　do　that。　　Our　friends　here　are　going　to　have　their　fun　with　you　first。〃

Paul's　cheeks　whitened　a　little　at　the　horrible　suggestion；　but　Shif'less　Sol　faced　them　boldly。　　Several　white　men　in　uniform　had　come　up；　and　among　them　was　an　elderly　one；　short　and　squat；　and　with　a　great　flame　colored　handkerchief　tied　around　his　bead。

〃You　may　burn　us　alive；　or　you　may　do　other　things　jest　ez　bad　to　us；　all　under　the　English　flag；〃　said　Shif'less　Sol；　〃　but　I'm　thinkin'　that　a　lot　o'　people　in　England　will　be　ashamed　uv　it　when　they　hear　the　news。〃

〃Indian〃　Butler　and　his　uniformed　soldiers　turned　away；　leaving　Shif'less　Sol　and　Paul　in　the　hands　of　the　renegade　and　the　Iroquois。　　The　two　prisoners　were　jerked　to　their　feet　and　told　to　march。


〃Come　on；　Paul；〃　said　Shif'less　Sol。　〃'Tain't　wuth　while　fur　us　to　resist。　　But　don't　you　quit　hopin'；　Paul。　　We've　escaped　from　many　a　tight　corner；　an'　mebbe　we're　goin'　to　do　it　ag'in。〃

〃Shut　up！〃　said　Braxton　Wyatt　savagely。　　〃If　you　say　another　word　I'll　gag　you　in　a　way　that　will　make　you　squirm。〃

Shif'less　Sol　looked　him　squarely　in　the　eye。　　Solomon　Hyde；　who　was　not　shiftless　at　all；　had　a　dauntless　soul；　and　he　was　not　afraid　now　in　the　face　of　death　preceded　by　long　torture。

〃I　had　a　dog　once；　Braxton　Wyatt；〃　he　said；　〃an'　I　reckon　he　wuz　the　meanest；　ornierest　cur　that　ever　lived。　　He　liked　to　live　on　dirt；　the　dirtier　the　place　he　could　find　the　better；　he'd　rather　steal　his　food　than　get　it　honestly；　he　wuz　sech　a　coward　that　he　wuz　afeard　o'　a　rabbit；　but　ef　your　back　wuz　turned　to　him　he'd　nip　you　in　the　ankle。　　But　bad　ez　that　dog　wuz；　Braxton；　he　wuz　a　gentleman　'longside　o'　you。〃

Some　of　the　Indians　understood　English；　and　Wyatt　knew　it。　　He　snatched　a　pistol　from　his　belt；　and　was　about　to　strike　Sol　with　the　butt　of　it；　but　a　tall　figure　suddenly　appeared　before　him；　and　made　a　commanding　gesture。　　The　gesture　said　plainly：　　〃Do　not　strike；　put　that　pistol　back！〃　　Braxton　Wyatt；　whose　soul　was　afraid　within　him；　did　not　strike；　and　he　put　the　pistol　back。

It　was　Timmendiquas；　the　great　White　Lightning　of　the　Wyandots；　who　with　his　little　detachment　had　proved　that　day　how　mighty　the　Wyandot　warriors　were；　full　equals　of　Thayendanegea's　Mohawks；　the　Keepers　of　the　Western　Gate。　　He　was　bare　to　the　waist。　　One　shoulder　was　streaked　with　blood　from　a　slight　wound；　but　his　countenance　was　not　on　fire　with　passion　for　torture　and　slaughter　like　those　of　the　others。

〃There　is　no　need　to　strike　prisoners；〃　he　said　in　English。　　〃Their　fate　will　be　decided　later。〃

Paul　thought　that　he　caught　a　look　of　pity　from　the　eyes　of　the　great　Wyandot；　and　Shif'less　Sol　said：

〃I'm　sorry；　Timmendiquas；　since　I　had　to　be　captured；　that　you　didn't　capture　me　yourself。　　I'm　glad　to　say　that　you're　a　great　warrior。〃

Wyatt　growled　under　his　breath；　but　he　was　still　afraid　to　speak　out；　although　he　knew　that　Timmendiquas　was　merely　a　distant　and　casual　ally；　and　had　little　authority　in　that　army。　　Yet　he　was　overawed；　and　so　were　the　Indians　with　him。

〃We　were　merely　taking　the　prisoners　to　Colonel　Butler；〃　he　said。　　〃That　is　all。〃

Timmendiquas　stared　at　him；　and　the　renegade's　face　fell。　　But　he　and　the　Indians　went　on　with　the　prisoners；　and　Timmendiquas　looked　after　them　until　they　were　out　of　sight。

〃I　believe　White　Lightning　was　sorry　that　we'd　been　captured；〃　whispered　Shif'less　Sol。

〃I　think　so；　too；〃　Paul　whispered　back。

They　had　no　chance　for　further　conversation；　as　they　were　driven　rapidly　now　to　that　point　of　the　battlefield　which　lay　nearest　to　the　fort；　and　here　they　were　thrust　into　the　midst　of　a　gloomy　company；　fellow　captives；　all　bound　tightly；　and　many　wounded。　　No　help；　no　treatment　of　any　kind　was　offered　for　hurts。　　The　Indians　and　renegades　stood　about　and　yelled　with　delight　when　the　agony　of　some　man's　wound　wrung　from　him　a　groan。　　The　scene　was　hideous　in　every　respect。　　The　setting　sun　shone　blood　red　over　forest；　field；　and　river。　　Far　off　burning　houses　still　smoked　like　torches。　　But　the　mountain　wall　in　the　east；　was　growing　dusky　with　the　coming　twilight。　　From　the　island；　where　they　were　massacring　the　fugitives　in　their　vain　hiding　places；　came　the　sound　of　shots　and　cries；　but　elsewhere　the　firing　had　ceased。　　All　who　could　escape　had　done　so　already；　and　of　the　others；　those　who　were　dead　were　fortunate。

The　sun　sank　like　a　red　ball　behind　the　mountains；　and　darkness　swept　down　over　the　earth。　　Fires　began　to　blaze　up　here　and　there；　some　for　terrible　purpose。　　The　victorious　Iroquois；　stripped　to　the　waist　and　painted　in　glaring　colors；　joined　in　a　savage　dance　that　would　remain　forever　photographed　on　the　eye　of　Paul　Cotter。　　As　they　j