the scouts of the valley-第27节
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oined in a savage dance that would remain forever photographed on the eye of Paul Cotter。 As they jumped to and fro； hundreds of them； waving aloft tomahawks and scalping knives； both of which dripped red； they sang their wild chant of war and triumph。 White men； too； as savage as they； joined them。 Paul shuddered again and again from head to foot at this sight of an orgy such as the mass of mankind escapes； even in dreams。
The darkness thickened； the dance grew wilder。 It was like a carnival of demons； but it was to be incited to a yet wilder pitch。 A singular figure； one of extraordinary ferocity； was suddenly projected into the midst of the whirling crowd； and a chant； shriller and fiercer； rose above all the others。 The figure was that of Queen Esther； like some monstrous creature out of a dim past； her great tomahawk stained with blood； her eyes bloodshot； and stains upon her shoulders。 Paul would have covered his eyes had his hands not been tied instead； he turned his head away。 He could not bear to see more。 But the horrible chant came to his ears； nevertheless； and it was reinforced presently by other sounds still more terrible。 Fires sprang up in the forest； and cries came from these fires。 The victorious army of 〃Indian〃 Butler was beginning to burn the prisoners alive。 But at this point we must stop。 The details of what happened around those fires that night are not for the ordinary reader。 It suffices to say that the darkest deed ever done on the soil of what is now the United States was being enacted。
Shif'less Sol himself； iron of body and soul； was shaken。 He could not close his ears； if he would； to the cries that came from the fires； but he shut his eyes to keep out the demon dance。 Nevertheless； he opened them again in a moment。 The horrible fascination was too great。 He saw Queen Esther still shaking her tomahawk； but as he looked she suddenly darted through the circle； warriors willingly giving way before her； and disappeared in the darkness。 The scalp dance went on； but it had lost some of its fire and vigor。
Shif'less Sol felt relieved。
〃She's gone；〃 he whispered to Paul； and the boy； too； then opened his eyes。 The rest of it； the mad whirlings and jumpings of the warriors； was becoming a blur before him； confused and without meaning。
Neither he nor Shif'less Sol knew how long they had been sitting there on the ground； although it had grown yet darker； when Braxton Wyatt thrust a violent foot against the shiftless one and cried：
〃Get up！ You're wanted！〃
A half dozen Seneca warriors were with him； and there was no chance of resistance。 The two rose slowly to their feet； and walked where Braxton Wyatt led。 The Senecas came on either side； and close behind them； tomahawks in their hands。 Paul； the sensitive； who so often felt the impression of coming events from the conditions around him； was sure that they were marching to their fate。 Death he did not fear so greatly； although he did not want to die； but when a shriek came to him from one of the fires that convulsive shudder shook him again from head to foot。 Unconsciously he strained at his bound arms； not for freedom； but that he might thrust his fingers in his ears and shut out the awful sounds。 Shif'less Sol； because he could not use his hands； touched his shoulder gently against Paul's。
〃Paul；〃 he whispered； 〃I ain't sure that we're goin' to die； leastways； I still have hope； but ef we do； remember that we don't have to die but oncet。〃
〃I'll remember； Sol；〃 Paul whispered back。
〃Silence； there！〃 exclaimed Braxton Wyatt。 But the two had said all they wanted to say； and fortunately their senses were somewhat dulled。 They had passed through so much that they were like those who are under the influence of opiates。 The path was now dark； although both torches and fires burned in the distance。 Presently they heard that chant with which they had become familiar； the dreadful notes of the hyena woman； and they knew that they were being taken into her presence； for what purpose they could not tell； although they were sure that it was a bitter one。 As they approached； the woman's chant rose to an uncommon pitch of frenzy； and Paul felt the blood slowly chilling within him。
〃Get up there！〃 exclaimed Braxton Wyatt； and the Senecas gave them both a push。 Other warriors who were standing at the edge of an open space seized them and threw them forward with much violence。 When they struggled into a sitting position； they saw Queen Esther standing upon a broad flat rock and whirling in a ghastly dance that had in it something Oriental。 She still swung the great war hatchet that seemed always to be in her hand。 Her long black hair flew wildly about her head； and her red dress gleamed in the dusk。 Surely no more terrible image ever appeared in the American wilderness！ In front of her； lying upon the ground； were twenty bound Americans； and back of them were Iroquois in dozens； with a sprinkling of their white allies。
What it all meant； what was about to come to pass； nether Paul nor Shif'less Sol could guess； but Queen Esther sang：
We have found them； the Yengees Who built their houses in the valley； They came forth to meet us in battle； Our rifles and tomahawks cut them down； As the Yengees lay low the forest。 Victory and glory Aieroski gives to his children； The Mighty Six Nations； greatest of men。
There will be feasting in the lodges of the Iroquois； And scalps will hang on the high ridge pole； But wolves will roam where the Yengees dwelt And will gnaw the bones of them all； Of the man； the woman； and the child。 Victory and glory Aieroski gives to his children； The Mighty Six Nations； greatest of men。
Such it sounded to Shif'less Sol； who knew the tongue of the Iroquois； and so it went on； verse after verse； and at the end of each verse came the refrain； in which the warriors joined：
〃Victory and glory Aieroski gives to his children。 The mighty Six Nations； greatest of men。〃
〃What under the sun is she about？〃 whispered Shif'less Sol。
〃It is a fearful face；〃 was Paul's only reply。
Suddenly the woman； without stopping her chant； made a gesture to the warriors。 Two powerful Senecas seized one of the bound prisoners； dragged him to his feet； and held him up before her。 She uttered a shout； whirled the great tomahawk about her head； its blade glittering in the moonlight； and struck with all her might。 The skull of the prisoner was cleft to the chin； and without a cry he fell at the feet of the woman who had killed him。 Paul uttered a shout of horror； but it was lost in the joyful yells of the Iroquois； who； at the command of the woman； offered a second victim。 Again the tomahawk descended； and again a man fell dead without a sound。
Shif'less Sol and Paul wrenched at their thongs； but they could not move them。 Braxton Wyatt laughed aloud。 It was strange to see how fast one with a bad nature could fall when the opportunities were spread before him。 Now he was as cruel as the Indians themselves。 Wilder and shriller grew the chant of the savage queen。 She was intoxicated with blood。 She saw it everywhere。 Her tomahawk clove a third skull； a fourth； a fifth； a sixth； a seventh； and eighth。 As fast as they fell the warriors at her command brought up new victims for her weapon。 Paul shut his eyes； but he knew by the sounds what was passing。 Suddenly a stern voice cried：
〃Hold； woman！ Enough of this！ Will your tomahawk never be satisfied？〃
Paul understood it ； the meaning； but not the words。 He opened his eyes and saw the great figure of Timmendiquas striding forward； his hand upraised in protest。
The woman turned her fierce gaze upon the young chief。 〃Timmendiquas；〃 she said； 〃we are the Iroquois； and we are the masters。 You are far from your own land； a guest in our lodges； and you cannot tell those who have won the victory how they shall use it。 Stand back！〃
A loud laugh came from the Iroquois。 The fierce old chiefs； Hiokatoo and Sangerachte； and a dozen warriors thrust themselves before Timmendiquas。 The woman resumed her chant； and a hundred throats pealed out with her the chorus：
Victory and glory Aieroski gives to his children The mighty Six Nations； greatest of men。
She gave the signal anew。 The ninth victim stood before her； and then fell； cloven to the chin； then the tenth； and the eleventh； and the twelfth； and the thirteenth； and the fourteenth； and the fifteenth； and the sixteenth…sixteen bound men killed by one woman in less than fifteen minutes。 The four in that group who were left had all the while been straining fearfully at their bonds。 Now they bad slipped or broken them； and； springing to their feet； driven on by the mightiest of human impulses； they dashed through the ring of Iroquois and into the forest。 Two were hunted down by the warriors and killed； but the other two； Joseph Elliott and Lebbeus Hammond； escaped and lived to be old men； feeling that life could never again hold for them anything so dreadful as that scene at 〃The Bloody Rock。〃
A great turmoil and confusion arose as the prisoners fled and the Indians pursued。 Paul and Shif'less Sol； full of sympathy and pity for the fugitives and hav
