the scouts of the valley-第39节

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rom　the　woods；　but　Mary　Newton　and　her　children；　sleeping　soundly；　did　not　hear　it。　　The　five　themselves　knew　the　nature　of　the　sound；　and　paid　no　attention。　　The　boat　went　steadily　on；　the　three　riflemen　never　changing　their　position；　and　soon　the　day　began　to　come。　　Little　arrows　of　golden　light　pierced　through　the　foliage　of　the　trees；　and　sparkled　on　the　surface　of　the　water。　　In　the　cast　the　red　sun　was　coming　from　his　nightly　trip。　　Henry　looked　down　at　the　sleepers。　　They　were　overpowered　by　exhaustion；　and　would　not　awake　of　their　own　accord　for　a　long　time。

Shif'less　Sol　caught　his　look。

〃Why　not　let　'em　sleep　on？〃　he　said。

Then　he　and　Jim　Hart　took　the　oars；　and　the　shiftless　one　and　Tom　Ross　resumed　their　rifles。　　The　day　was　coming　fast；　and　the　whole　forest　was　soon　transfused　with　light。

No　one　of　the　five　had　slept　during　the　night。　　They　did　not　feel　the　need　of　sleep；　and　they　were　upborne；　too；　by　a　great　exaltation。　　They　had　saved　the　prisoners　thus　far　from　a　horrible　fate；　and　they　were　firmly　resolved　to　reach；　with　them；　some　strong　settlement　and　safety。　　They　felt；　too；　a　sense　of　exultation　over　Brant；　Sangerachte；　Hiokatoo；　the　Butlers；　the　Johnsons；　Wyatt；　and　all　the　crew　that　had　committed　such　terrible　devastation　in　the　Wyoming　Valley　and　elsewhere。

The　full　day　clothed　the　earth　in　a　light　that　turned　from　silver　to　gold；　and　the　woman　and　the　children　still　slept。　　The　five　chewed　some　strips　of　venison；　and　looked　rather　lugubriously　at　the　pieces　they　were　saving　for　Mary　Newton　and　the　children。

〃We　ought　to　hev　more'n　that；〃　said　Shif'less　Sol。　　Ef　the　worst　comes　to　the　worst；　we've　got　to　land　somewhar　an'　shoot　a　deer。〃

〃But　not　yet；〃　said　Henry　in　a　whisper；　lest　he　wake　the　sleepers。　　〃I　think　we'll　come　into　the　Susquehanna　pretty　soon；　and　its　width　will　be　a　good　thing　for　us。　　I　wish　we　were　there　now。　　I　don't　like　this　narrow　stream。　　Its　narrowness　affords　too　good　an　ambush。〃

〃Anyway；　the　creek　is　broadenin'　out　fast；〃　said　the　shiftless　one；　〃an'　that　is　a　good　sign。；　What's　that　you　see　ahead；　Henry…ain't　it　a　river？〃

〃It　surely　is；〃　replied　Henry；　who　caught　sight　of　a　broad　expanse　of　water；　〃and　it's　the　Susquehanna。　　Pull　hard；　Sol！　　In　five　more　minutes　we'll　be　in　the　river。〃

It　was　less　than　five　when　they　turned　into　the　current　of　the　Susquehanna；　and　less　than　five　more　when　they　heard　a　shout　behind　them；　and　saw　at　least　a　dozen　canoes　following。　　The　canoes　were　filled　with　Indians　and　Tories；　and　they　had　spied　the　fugitives。

〃Keep　the　women　and　the　children　down；　Paul；〃　cried　Henry。

All　knew　that　Henry　and　Shif'less　Sol　were　the　best　shots；　and；　without　a　word；　Long　Jim　and　Tom；　both　powerful　and　skilled　watermen；　swung　heavily　on　the　oars；　while　Henry　and　Shif'less　Sol　sat　in　the　rear　with　their　rifles　ready。　　Mary　Newton　awoke　with　a　cry　at　the　sound　of　the　shots；　and　started　to　rise；　but　Paul　pushed　her　down。

〃We're　on　the　Susquehanna　now；　Mrs。　Newton；〃　he　said；　〃　and　we　are　pursued。　　The　Indians　and　Tories　have　just　seen　us；　but　don't　be　afraid。　　The　two　who　are　watching　there　are　the　best　shots　in　the　world。〃

He　looked　significantly　at　Henry　and　Shif'less　Sol；　crouching　in　the　stern　of　the　boat　like　great　warriors　from　some　mighty　past；　kings　of　the　forest　whom　no　one　could　overcome；　and　her　courage　came　back。　　The　children；　too；　had　awakened　with　frightened　cries；　but　she　and　Paul　quickly　soothed　them；　and；　obedient　to　commands；　the　four；　and　Mary　Newton　with　them；　lay　flat　upon　the　bottom　of　the　boat；　which　was　now　being　sent　forward　rapidly　by　Jim　Hart　and　Tom。　　Paul　took　up　his　rifle　and　sat　in　a　waiting　attitude；　either　to　relieve　one　of　the　men　at　the　oars　or　to　shoot　if　necessary。

The　clear　sun　made　forest　and　river　vivid　in　its　light。　　The　Indians；　after　their　first　cry；　made　no　sound；　but　so　powerful　were　Long　Jim　and　Tom　that　they　were　gaining　but　little；　although　some　of　the　boats　contained　six　or　eight　rowers。

As　the　light　grew　more　intense　Henry　made　out　the　two　white　faces　in　the　first　boat。　　One　was　that　of　Braxton　Wyatt；　and　the　other；　he　was　quite　sure；　belonged　to　the　infamous　Walter　Butler。　　Hot　anger　swept　through　all　his　veins；　and　the　little　pulses　in　his　temples　began　to　beat　like　trip　hammers。　　Now　the　picture　of　Wyoming；　the　battle；　the　massacre；　the　torture；　and　Queen　Esther　wielding　her　great　tomahawk　on　the　bound　captives；　grew　astonishingly　vivid；　and　it　was　printed　blood　red　on　his　brain。　　The　spirit　of　anger　and　defiance；　of　a　desire　to　taunt　those　who　had　done　such　things；　leaped　up　in　his　heart。

〃Are　you　there；　Braxton　Wyatt？〃　he　called　clearly　across　the　intervening　water。　　〃Yes；　I　see　that　it　is　you；　murderer　of　women　and　children；　champion　of　the　fire　and　stake；　as　savage　as　any　of　the　savages。　　And　it　is　you；　too；　Walter　Butler；　wickeder　son　of　a　wicked　father。　　Come　a　little　closer；　won't　you？　　We've　messengers　here　for　both　of　you！〃

He　tapped　lightly　the　barrel　of　his　own　rifle　and　that　of　Shif'less　Sol；　and　repeated　his　request　that　they　come　a　little　closer。

They　understood　his　words；　and　they　understood；　also；　the　significant　gesture　when　he　patted　the　barrel　of　the　rifles。　　The　hearts　of　both　Butler　and　Wyatt　were　for　the　moment　afraid；　and　their　boat　dropped　back　to　third　place。　　Henry　laughed　aloud　when　he　saw。　　The　Viking　rage　was　still　upon　him。　　This　was　the　primeval　wilderness；　and　these　were　no　common　foes。

〃I　see　that　you　don't　want　to　receive　our　little　messengers；〃　he　cried。　　〃Why　have　you　dropped　back　to　third　place　in　the　line；　Braxton　Wyatt　and　Walter　Butler；　when　you　were　first　only　a　moment　ago？　　Are　you　cowards　as　well　as　murderers　of　women　and　children？〃

〃That's　pow'ful　good　talk；〃　said　Shif'less　Sol　admiringly。　　〃Henry；　you're　a　real　orator。　　Give　it　to　'em；　an'　mebbe　I'll　get　a　chance　at　one　o'　them　renegades。〃

It　seemed　that　Henry's　words　had　an　effect；　because　the　boat　of　the　renegades　pulled　up　somewhat；　although　it　did　not　regain　first　place。　　Thus　the　chase　proceeded　down　the　Susquehanna。

The　Indian　fleet　was　gaining　a　little；　and　Shif'less　Sol　called　Henry's　attention　to　it。

〃Don't　you　think　I'd　better　take　a　shot　at　one　o'　them　rowers　in　the　first　boat？〃　he　said　to　Henry。　　〃Wyatt　an'　Butler　are　a　leetle　too　fur　away。〃

〃I　think　it　would　give　them　a　good　hint；　Sol！〃　said　Henry。　　〃Take　that　fellow　on　the　right　who　is　pulling　so　hard。〃

The　shiftless　one　raised　his　rifle；　lingered　but　a　little　over　his　aim；　and　pulled　the　trigger。　　The　rower　whom　Henry　had　pointed　out　fell　back　in　the　boat；　his　hands　slipping　from　the　handles　of　his　oars。　　The　boat　was　thrown　into　confusion；　and　dropped　back　in　the　race。　　Scattering　shots　were　fired　in　return；　but　all　fell　short；　the　water　spurting　up　in　little　jets　where　they　struck。

Henry；　who　had　caught　something　of　the　Indian　nature　in　his　long　stay　among　them　in　the　northwest；　laughed　in　loud　irony。

〃That　was　one　of　our　little　messengers；　and　it　found　a　listener！〃　he　shouted。　　〃And　I　see　that　you　are　afraid；　Braxton　Wyatt　and　Walter　Butler；　murderers　of　women　and　children！　　Why　don't　you　keep　your　proper　places　in　the　front？〃

〃That's　the　way　to　talk　to　'em；〃　whispered　Shif'less　Sol；　as　he　reloaded。　　〃Keep　it　up；　an'　mebbe　we　kin　git　a　chance　at　Braxton　Wyatt　hisself。　　Since　Wyoming　I'd　never　think　o'　missin'　sech　a　chance。〃

〃Nor　I；　either；〃　said　Henry；　and　he　resumed　in　his　powerful　tones：　〃The　place　of　a　leader　is　in　front；　isn't　it？　　Then　why　don't　you　come　up？〃

Braxton　Wyatt　and　Walter　Butler　did　not　come　up。　　They　were　not　lacking　in　courage；　but　Wyatt　knew　what　deadly　marksmen　the　fugitive　boat　contained；　and　he　had　also　told　Butler。　　So　they　still　hung　back；　although　they　raged　at　Henry　Ware's　taunts；　and　permitted　the　Mohawks　and　Senecas　to　take　the　lead　in　the　chase。

〃They're　not　going　to　give　us　a　chance；〃　said　Henry。　　〃I'm　satisfied　of　that。　　They'll　let　redskins　receive　our　bullets；　though　just　now　I'd　rather　it　were　the　two　white　ones。　　What　do　you　think；　Sol；　of　that　leading　boat？　　Shouldn't　we　give　another　hint？〃

〃I　agree　with　you；　Henry；〃　said　the　shiftless　one。　　They're　comin'　much　too　close　fur　people　that　ain't　properly　interduced　to　us。　　This　promiskus　way　o'　meetin'　up　with　strangers　an'　lettin'　'em　talk　to　you　jest　ez　ef　they'd　knowed　you　all　their　lives　hez　got　to　be　stopped。　　It's　your　time；　Henry；　to　give　'em　a　polite　hint；　an'　I　jest　suggest　that　you　take　the　big　fellow　in　the　front　o'　the　boat　who　looks　like　a　Mohawk。〃

Henry　raised　his　rifle；　fired；　and　the　Mohawk　would　row　no　more。　　Again　confusion　prevailed　in　the　pursuing　fleet；　and　there　was　a　decline　of　enthusiasm。　　Braxton　Wyatt　and　Walter　Butler　raged　and　swore；　but；　as　they　showed　no　great　zeal　for　the　lead　themselves；　the　Iroquois　did　not　gain　on　the　fugitive　boat。　　They；　too；　were　fast　learning　that　the　two　who　crouched　there　with　their　rifles　ready　were　among　the　deadliest　marksmen　in　existence。　　They　fired　a　dozen　shots；　perhaps；　but　their　rifles　did　not　have　the　long　range　of　the　Kentucky　weapons；　and　again　the　bullets　fell　short；　causing　little　jets　of　water　to　spring　up。

〃They　won't　come　any　nearer；　at　least　not　for　the　present；〃　said　Henry；　〃but　will　hang　back　just　out　o