the scouts of the valley-第45节

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ich　is　perhaps　as　much　to　us　as　his　great　city　of　London　is　to　him？〃

The　thickset　figure　of　〃Indian〃　Butler　moved；　and　his　swart　face　flushed　as　much　as　it　could。

〃You　know　as　much　about　the　king　as　I　do；　Joe　Brant；〃　he　replied。　　〃We　are　fighting　here　for　your　country　as　well　as　his；　and　you　cannot　say　that　Johnson's　Greens　and　Butler's　Rangers　and　the　British　and　Canadians　have　not　done　their　part。〃

〃It　is　true；〃　said　Thayendanegea；　〃but　it　is　true；　also；　that　one　must　fight　with　wisdom。　　Perhaps　there　was　too　much　burning　of　living　men　at　Wyoming。　　The　pain　of　the　wounded　bear　makes　him　fight　the　harder；　and　it；　is　because　of　Wyoming　that　Oghwaga　yonder　burns。　　Say；　is　it　not　so；　Colonel　John　Butler　？〃

〃Indian〃　Butler　made　no　reply；　but　sat；　sullen　and　lowering。　　The　Tory；　Coleman；　whispered　to　Braxton　Wyatt；　but　Timmendiquas　was　the　only　one　who　spoke　aloud。

〃Thayendanegea；〃　he　said；　〃I；　and　the　Wyandots　who　are　with　me；　have　come　far。　　We　expected　to　return　long　ago　to　the　lands　on　the　Ohio；　but　we　were　with　you　in　your　village；　and　now；　when　Manitou　has　turned　his　face　from　you　for　the　time；　we　will　not　leave　you。　　We　stay　and　fight　by　your　side。〃

Thayendanegea　stood　up；　and　Timmendiquas　stood　up；　also。

〃You　are　a　great　chief；　White　Lightning　of　the　Wyandots　〃　he　said；　〃　and　you　and　I　are　brothers。　　I　shall　be　proud　and　happy　to　have　such　a　mighty　leader　fighting　with　me。　　We　will　have　vengeance　for　this。　　The　power　of　the　Iroquois　is　as　great　as　ever。〃

He　raised　himself　to　his　full　height；　pointing　to　the　fire；　and　the　flames　of　hate　and　resolve　burned　in　his　eyes。　　Old　Hiokatoo；　the　most　savage　of　all　the　chiefs；　shook　his　tomahawk；　and　a　murmur　passed　through　the　group　of　Indians。

Braxton　Wyatt　still　talked　in　whispers　to　his　new　friend；　Coleman；　the　Tory；　who　was　more　to　his　liking　than　the　morose　and　savage　Walter　Butler；　whom　he　somewhat　feared。　　Wyatt　was　perhaps　the　least　troubled　of　all　those　present。　　Caring　for　himself　only；　the　burning　of　Oghwaga　caused　him　no　grief。　　He　suffered　neither　from　the　misfortune　of　friend　nor　foe。　　He　was　able　to　contemplate　the　glowing　tower　of　light　with　curiosity　only。　　　　　　　　Braxton　Wyatt　knew　that　the　Iroquois　and　their　allies　would　attempt　revenge　for　the　burning　of　Oghwaga；　and　he　saw　profit　for　himself　in　such　adventures。　　His　horizon　had　broadened　somewhat　of　late。　The　renegade；　Blackstaffe；　had　returned　to　rejoin　Simon　Girty；　but　be　had　found　a　new　friend　in　Coleman。　　He　was　coming　now　more　into　touch　with　the　larger　forces　in　the　East；　nearer　to　the　seat　of　the　great　war；　and　he　hoped　to　profit　by　it。

〃This　is　a　terrible　blow　to　Brant；〃　Coleman　whispered　to　him。　　〃The　Iroquois　have　been　able　to　ravage　the　whole　frontier；　while　the　rebels；　occupied　with　the　king's　troops；　have　not　been　able　to　send　help　to　their　own。　　But　they　have　managed　to　strike　at　last；　as　you　see。〃

〃I　do　see；〃　said　Wyatt；　〃and　on　the　whole；　Coleman；　I'm　not　sorry。　　Perhaps　these　chiefs　won't　be　so　haughty　now；　and　they'll　soon　realize　that　they　need　likely　chaps　such　as　you　and　me；　eh；　Coleman。〃

〃You're　not　far　from　the　truth；〃　said　Coleman；　laughing　a　little；　and　pleased　at　the　penetration　of　his　new　friend。　　They　did　not　talk　further；　although　the　agreement　between　them　was　well　established。　　Neither　did　the　Indian　chiefs　or　the　Tory　leaders　say　any　more。　　They　watched　the　tower　of　fire　a　long　time；　past　midnight；　until　it　reached　its　zenith　and　then　began　to　sink。　　They　saw　its　crest　go　down　behind　the　trees；　and　they　saw　the　luminous　cloud　in　the　south　fade　and　go　out　entirely；　leaving　there　only　the　darkness　that　reined　everywhere　else。

Then　the　Indian　and　Tory　leaders　rose　and　silently　marched　northward。　　It　was　nearly　dawn　when　Henry　and　his　comrades　lay　down　for　the　rest　that　they　needed　badly。　　They　spread　their　blankets　at　the　edge　of　the　open；　but　well　back　from　the　burned　area；　which　was　now　one　great　mass　of　coals　and　charred　timbers；　sending　up　little　flame　but　much　smoke。　　Many　of　the　troops　were　already　asleep；　but　Henry；　before　lying　down；　begged　William　Gray　to　keep　a　strict　watch　lest　the　Iroquois　attack　from　ambush。　　He　knew　that　the　rashness　and　confidence　of　the　borderers；　especially　when　drawn　together　in　masses；　had　often　caused　them　great　losses；　and　he　was　resolved　to　prevent　a　recurrence　at　the　present　time　if　he　could。　　He　had　made　these　urgent　requests　of　Gray；　instead　of　Colonel　Butler；　because　of　the　latter's　youth　and　willingness　to　take　advice。

〃I'll　have　the　forest　beat　up　continually　all　about　the　town；〃　he　said。　　〃We　must　not　have　our　triumph　spoiled　by　any　afterclap。〃

Henry　and　his　comrades；　wrapped　in　their　blankets；　lay　in　a　row　almost　at　the　edge　of　the　forest。　　The　heat　from　the　fire　was　still　great；　but　it　would　die　down　after　a　while；　and　the　October　air　was　nipping。　　Henry　usually　fell　asleep　in　a　very　few　minutes；　but　this　time；　despite　his　long　exertions　and　lack　of　rest；　he　remained　awake　when　his　comrades　were　sound　asleep。　　Then　he　fell　into　a　drowsy　state；　in　which　be　saw　the　fire　rising　in　great　black　coils　that　united　far　above。　　It　seemed　to　Henry；　half　dreaming　and　forecasting　the　future；　that　the　Indian　spirit　was　passing　in　the　smoke。

When　he　fell　asleep　it　was　nearly　daylight；　and　in　three　or　four　hours　be　was　up　again；　as　the　little　army　intended　to　march　at　once　upon　another　Indian　town。　　The　hours　while　he　slept　had　passed　in　silence；　and　no　Indians　had　come　near。　　William　Gray　had　seen　to　that；　and　his　best　scout　had　been　one　Cornelius　Heemskerk；　a　short；　stout　man　of　Dutch　birth。

〃It　was　one　long；　long　tramp　for　me；　Mynheer　Henry；〃　said　Heemskerk；　as　he　revolved　slowly　up　to　the　camp　fire　where　Henry　was　eating　his　breakfast；〃　and　I　am　now　very　tired。　　It　was　like　walking　four　or　five　times　around　Holland；　which　is　such　a　fine　little　country；　with　the　canals　and　the　flowers　along　them；　and　no　great；　dark　woods　filled　with　the　fierce　Iroquois。〃

〃Still；　I've　a　notion；　Mynheer　Heemskerk；　that　you'd　rather　be　here；　and　perhaps　before　the　day　is　over　you　will　get　some　fighting　hot　enough　to　please　even　you。〃

Mynheer　Heemskerk　threw　up　his　hands　in　dismay；　but　a　half　hour　later　he　was　eagerly　discussing　with　Henry　the　possibility　of　overtaking　some　large　band　of　retreating　Iroquois。

Urged　on　by　all　the　scouts　and　by　those　who　had　suffered　at　Wyoming；　Colonel　Butler　gathered　his　forces　and　marched　swiftly　that　very　morning　up　the　river　against　another　Indian　town；　Cunahunta。　　Fortunately　for　him；　a　band　of　riflemen　and　scouts　unsurpassed　in　skill　led　the　way；　and　saw　to　it　that　the　road　was　safe。　　In　this　band　were　the　five；　of　course；　and　after　them　Heemskerk；　young　Taylor；　and　several　others。

〃If　the　Iroquois　do　not　get　in　our　way；　we'll　strike　Cunahunta　before　night；〃　said　Heemskerk；　who　knew　the　way。

〃It　seems　to　me　that　they　will　certainly　try　to　save　their　towns；〃　said　Henry。　　〃Surely　Brant　and　the　Tories　will　not　let　us　strike　so　great　a　blow　without　a　fight。〃

〃Most　of　their　warriors　are　elsewhere；　Mynheer　Henry；〃　said　Heemskerk；　〃　or　they　would　certainly　give　us　a　big　battle。　　We've　been　lucky　in　the　time　of　our　advance。　　As　it　is；　I　think　we'll　have　something　to　do。〃

It　was　now　about　noon；　the　noon　of　a　beautiful　October　day　of　the　North；　the　air　like　life　itself；　the　foliage　burning　red　on　the　hills；　the　leaves　falling　softly　from　the　trees　as　the　wind　blew；　but　bringing　with　them　no　hint　of　decay。　　None　of　the　vanguard　felt　fatigue；　but　when　they　crossed　a　low　range　of　hills　and　saw　before　them　a　creek　flowing　down　to　the　Susquehanna；　Henry；　who　was　in　the　lead；　stopped　suddenly　and　dropped　down　in　the　grass。　　The　others；　knowing　without　question　the　significance　of　the　action；　also　sank　down。

〃What　is　it；　Henry　？〃　asked　Shif'less　Sol。

〃You　see　how　thick　the　trees　are　on　the　other　side　of　that　bank。　　Look　a　little　to　the　left　of　a　big　oak；　and　you　will　see　the　feathers　in　the　headdress　of　an　Iroquois。　　Farther　on　I　think　I　can　catch　a　glimpse　of　a　green　coat；　and　if　I　am　right　that　coat　is　worn　by　one　of　Johnson's　Royal　Greens。　　It's　an　ambush；　Sol；　an　ambush　meant　for　us。〃

〃But　it's　not　an　ambush　intended　for　our　main　force；　Mynheer　Henry；〃　said　Heemskerk；　whose　red　face　began　to　grow　redder　with　the　desire　for　action。　　〃I；　too；　see　the　feather　of　the　Iroquois。〃

〃As　good　scouts　and　skirmishers　it's　our　duty；　then；　to　clear　this　force　out　of　the　way；　and　not　wait　for　the　main　body　to　come　up；　is　it　not？〃　asked　Henry；　with　a　suggestive　look　at　the　Dutchman。

〃What　a　goot　head　you　have；　Mynheer　Henry！〃　exclaimed　Heemskerk。　　〃Of　course　we　will　fight；　and　fight　now！〃

〃How　about　them　blue　plates？〃　said　Shif'less　Sol　softly。　　But　Heemskerk　did　not　hear　him。

They　swiftly　developed　their　plan　of　action。　　There　could　be　no　earthly　doubt　of　the　fact　that　the　Iroquois　and　some　Tories　were　ambushed　on　the　far　side　of　the　creek。　　Possibly　Thayendanegea　himself；　stung　by　the　burning　of　Oghwaga　and　the　advance　on　Cunahunta；　was　there。　　But　they　were　sure　that　it　was　not　a　large　band。

The　party　of　Henry　and　Heemskerk　numbered　fourteen；　but　every　one　was　a　veteran；　full　of　courage；　tenacity；　and　all　the　skill　of　the　woods。　　They　had　supreme　confidence　in　their　ability　t