the scouts of the valley-第36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！


thward　and　eastward；　into　the　country　of　the　Iroquois。　　They　had　a　plan　of　approaching　the　upper　Mohawk　village　of　Canajoharie；　where　one　account　says　　that　Thayendanegea　was　born；　although　another　credits　his　birthplace　to　the　upper　banks　of　the　Ohio。

They　turned　now　from　the　valley　to　the　deep　woods。　　The　trail　showed　that　the　great　Indian　force；　after　disembarking　again；　split　into　large　parties；　everyone　loaded　with　spoil　and　bound　for　its　home　village。　　The　five　noted　several　of　the　trails；　but　one　of　them　consumed　the　whole　attention　of　Silent　Tom　Ross。

He　saw　in　the　soft　soil　near　a　creek　bank　the　footsteps　of　about　eight　Indians；　and；　mingled　with　them；　other　footsteps；　which　he　took　to　be　those　of　a　white　woman　and　of　several　children；　captives；　as　even　a　tyro　would　infer。　　The　soul　of　Tom；　the　good；　honest；　and　inarticulate　frontiersman；　stirred　within　him。　　A　white　woman　and　her　children　being　carried　off　to　savagery；　to　be　lost　forevermore　to　their　kind！　　Tom；　still　inarticulate；　felt　his　heart　pierced　with　sadness　at　the　tale　that　the　tracks　in　the　soft　mud　told　so　plainly。　　But　despair　was　not　the　only　emotion　in　his　heart。　　The　silent　and　brave　man　meant　to　act。

〃Henry；〃　he　said；　〃see　these　tracks　here　in　the　soft　spot　by　the　creek。〃

The　young　leader　read　the　forest　page；　and　it　told　him　exactly　the　same　tale　that　it　had　told　Tom　Ross。

〃About　a　day　old；　I　think；〃　he　said。

〃Just　about；〃　said　Tom；　〃an'　I　reckon；　Henry；　you　know　what's　in　my　mind。〃

〃I　think　I　do；〃　said　Henry；　〃　and　we　ought　to　overtake　them　by　to…morrow　night。　　You　tell　the　others；　Tom。〃

Tom　informed　Shif'less　Sol；　Paul；　and　Long　Jim　in　a　few　words；　receiving　from　everyone　a　glad　assent；　and　then　the　five　followed　fast　on　the　trail。　　They　knew　that　the　Indians　could　not　go　very　fast；　as　their　speed　must　be　that　of　the　slowest；　namely；　that　of　the　children；　and　it　seemed　likely　that　Henry's　prediction　of　overtaking　them　on　the　following　night　would　come　true。

It　was　an　easy　trail。　　Here　and　there　were　tiny　fragments　of　cloth；　caught　by　a　bush　from　the　dress　of　a　captive。　　In　one　place　they　saw　a　fragment　of　a　child's　shoe　that　had　been　dropped　off　and　abandoned。　　Paul　picked　up　the　worn　piece　of　leather　and　examined　it。

〃I　think　it　was　worn　by　a　girl；〃　he　said；　〃and；　judging　from　its　size；　she　could　not　have　been　more　than　eight　years　old。　　Think　of　a　child　like　that　being　made　to　walk　five　or　six　hundred　miles　through　these　woods！〃

〃Younger　ones　still　have　had　to　do　it；〃　said　Shif'less　Sol　gravely；　〃an'　them　that　couldn't…well；　the　tomahawk。〃

The　trail　was　leading　them　toward　the　Seneca　country；　and　they　had　no　doubt　that　the　Indians　were　Senecas；　who　had　been　more　numerous　than　any　others　of　the　Six　Nations　at　the　Wyoming　battle。　　They　came　that　afternoon　to　a　camp　fire　beside　which　the　warriors　and　captives　had　slept　the　night　before。

〃They　ate　bar　meat　an'　wild　turkey；〃　said　Long　Jim；　looking　at　some　bones　on　the　ground。

〃An'　here；〃　said　Tom　Ross；　〃on　this　pile　uv　bushes　is　whar　the　women　an'　children　slept；　an'　on　the　other　side　uv　the　fire　is　whar　the　warriors　lay　anywhars。　　You　can　still　see　how　the　bodies　uv　some　uv　'cm　crushed　down　the　grass　an'　little　bushes。〃

〃An'　I'm　thinkin'；〃　said　Shif'less　Sol；　as　he　looked　at　the　trail　that　led　away　from　the　camp　fire；　　〃that　some　o'　them　little　ones　wuz　gittin'　pow'ful　tired。　　Look　how　these　here　little　trails　are　wobblin'　about。〃

〃Hope　we　kin　come　up　afore　the　Injuns　begin　to　draw　thar　tomahawks；〃　said　Tom　Ross。

The　others　were　silent；　but　they　knew　the　dreadful　significance　of　Tom's　remark；　and　Henry　glanced　at　them　all；　one　by　one。

〃It's　the　greatest　danger　to　be　feared；〃　he　said；　〃and　we　must　overtake　them　in　the　night　when　they　are　not　suspecting。　　If　we　attack　by　day　they　will　tomahawk　the　captives　the　very　first　thing。〃

〃Shorely；'；　said　the　shiftless　one。

〃Then；〃　said　Henry；　〃　we　don't　need　to　hurry。　　〃We'll　go　on　until　about　midnight；　and　then　sleep　until　sunrise。〃

They　continued　at　a　fair　pace　along　a　trail　that　frontiersmen　far　less　skillful　than　they　could　have　followed。　　But　a　silent　dread　was　in　the　heart　of　every　one　of　them。　　As　they　saw　the　path　of　the　small　feet　staggering　more　and　more　they　feared　to　behold　some　terrible　object　beside　the　path。

〃The　trail　of　the　littlest　child　is　gone；〃　suddenly　announced　Paul。

〃Yes；〃　said　Henry；　〃but　the　mother　has　picked　it　up　and　is　carrying　it。　　See　how　her　trail　has　suddenly　grown　more　uneven。〃

〃Poor　woman；〃　said　Paul。　　〃Henry；　we're　just　bound　to　overtake　that　band。〃

〃We'll　do　it；〃　said　Henry。

At　the　appointed　time　they　sank　down　among　the　thickest　bushes　that　they　could　find；　and　slept　until　the　first　upshot　of　dawn。　　Then　they　resumed　the　trail；　haunted　always　by　that　fear　of　finding　something　terrible　beside　it。　　But　it　was　a　trail　that　continually　grew　slower。　　The　Indians　themselves　were　tired；　or；　feeling　safe　from　pursuit；　saw　no　need　of　hurry。　　By　and　by　the　trail　of　the　smallest　child　reappeared。

〃It　feels　a　lot　better　now；〃　said　Tom　Ross。　　〃So　do　I。〃

They　came　to　another　camp　fire；　at　which　the　ashes　were　not　yet　cold。　　Feathers　were　scattered　about；　indicating　that　the　Indians　had　taken　time　for　a　little　side　hunt；　and　had　shot　some　birds。

〃They　can't　be　more　than　two　or　three　hours　ahead；〃　said　Henry；　〃and　we'll　have　to　go　on　now　very　cautiously。〃

They　were　in　a　country　of　high　hills；　well　covered　with　forests；　a　region　suited　to　an　ambush；　which　they　feared　but　little　on　their　own　account；　but；　for　the　sake　of　extreme　caution；　they　now　advanced　slowly。　　The　afternoon　was　long　and　warm；　but　an　hour　before　sunset　they　looked　over　a　hill　into　a　glade；　and　saw　the　warriors　making　camp　for　the　night。

The　sight　they　beheld　made　the　pulses　of　the　five　throb　heavily。　　The　Indians　had　already　built　their　fire；　and　two　of　them　were　cooking　venison　upon　it。　　Others　were　lying　on　the　grass；　apparently　resting；　but　a　little　to　one　side　sat　a　woman；　still　young　and　of　large；　strong　figure；　though　now　apparently　in　the　last　stages　of　exhaustion；　with　her　feet　showing　through　the　fragments　of　shoes　that　she　wore。　　Her　head　was　bare；　and　her　dress　was　in　strips。　　Four　children　lay　beside　her'　the　youngest　two　with　their　heads　in　her　lap。　　The　other　two；　who　might　be　eleven　and　thirteen　each；　had　pillowed　their　heads　on　their　arms；　and　lay　in　the　dull　apathy　that　comes　from　the　finish　of　both　strength　and　hope。　　The　woman's　face　was　pitiful。　　She　had　more　to　fear　than　the　children；　and　she　knew　it。　　She　was　so　worn　that　the　skin　hung　loosely　on　her　face；　and　her　eyes　showed　despair　only。　　The　sad　spectacle　was　almost　more　than　Paul　could　stand。

〃I　don't　like　to　shoot　from　ambush；〃　he　said；　〃but　we　could　cut　down　half　of　those　warriors　at　our　firs　fire　and　rush　in　on　the　rest。〃

〃And　those　we　didn't　cut　down　at　our　first　volley　would　tomahawk　the　woman　and　children　in　an　instant；〃　replied　Henry。　　〃　We　agreed；　you　know；　that　it　would　be　sure　to　happen。　　We　can't　do　anything　until　night　comes；　and　then　we've　got　to　be　mighty　cautious。〃

Paul　could　not　dispute　the　truth　of　his　words；　and　they　withdrew　carefully　to　the　crest　of　a　hill；　where　they　lay　in　the　undergrowth；　watching　the　Indians　complete　their　fire　and　their　preparations　for　the　night。　　It　was　evident　to　Henry　that　they　considered　themselves　perfectly　safe。　　Certainly　they　had　every　reason　for　thinking　so。　　It　was　not　likely　that　white　enemies　were　within　a　hundred　miles　of　them；　and；　if　so；　it　could　only　be　a　wandering　hunter　or　two；　who　would　flee　from　this　fierce　band　of　Senecas　who　bad　taken　revenge　for　the　great　losses　that　they'　had　suffered　the　year　before　at　the　Oriskany。

They　kept　very　little　watch　and　built　only　a　small　fire；　just　enough　for　broiling　deer　meat　which　they　carried。　　They　drank　at　a　little　spring　which　ran　from　under　a　ledge　near　them；　and　gave　portions　of　the　meat　to　the　woman　and　children。　　After　the　woman　had　eaten；　they　bound　her　hands；　and　she　lay　back　on　the　grass；　about　twenty　feet　from　the　camp　fire。　　Two　children　lay　on　either　side　of　her；　and　they　were　soon　sound　asleep。　　The　warriors；　as　Indians　will　do　when　they　are　free　from　danger　and　care；　talked　a　good　deal；　and　showed　all　the　signs　of　having　what　was　to　them　a　luxurious　time。　　They　ate　plentifully；　lolled　on　the　grass；　and　looked　at　some　hideous　trophies；　the　scalps　that　they　carried　at　their　belts。　　The　woman　could　not　keep　from　seeing　these；　too；　but　her　face　did　not　change　from　its　stony　aspect　of　despair。　　Then　the　light　of　the　fire　went　out；　the　sun　sank　behind　the　mountains；　and　the　five　could　no　longer　see　the　little　group　of　captives　and　captors。

They　still　waited；　although　eagerness　and　impatience　were　tugging　at　the　hearts　of　every　one　of　them。　　But　they　must　give　the　Indians　time　to　fall　asleep　if　they　would　secure　rescue；　and　not　merely　revenge。　　They　remained　in　the　bushes；　saying　but　little　and　eating　of　venison　that　they　carried　in　their　knapsacks。

They　let　a　full　three　hours　pass；　and　the　night　remained　dark；　but　with　a　faint　moon　showing。　　Then　they　descended　slowly　into　the　valley；　approaching　by　cautious　degrees　the　spot　where　they　knew　the　Indian　camp　lay。　　This　work　required　at　least