the scouts of the valley-第51节

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　a　few　minutes　his　speed　became　greater。　　A　disappointed　shout　arose　behind　him；　and　several　shots　were　fired。　　But　the　bullets　fell　a　hundred　yards　short；　and　then；　as　he　passed　over　a　little　hill　and　into　a　wood　beyond；　he　was　hidden　from　the　sight　of　his　pursuers。

Henry　knew　that　the　Iroquois　could　trail　him　over　the　snow；　but　they　could　not　do　it　at　full　speed；　and　he　turned　sharply　off　at　an　angle。　　Pausing　a　second　or　two　for　fresh　breath；　he　continued　on　his　new　course；　although　not　so　fast　as　before。　　He　knew　that　the　Iroquois　would　rush　straight　ahead；　and　would　not　discover　for　two　or　three　minutes　that　they　were　off　the　trail。　　It　would　take　them　another　two　or　three　minutes　to　recover；　and　he　would　make　a　gain　of　at　least　five　minutes。　　Five　minutes　had　saved　the　life　of　many　a　man　on　the　border。

How　precious　those　five　minutes　were！　　He　would　take　them　all。　　He　ran　forward　some　distance；　stopped　where　the　trees　grew　thick；　and　then　enjoyed　the　golden　five；　minute　by　minute。　　He　had　felt　that　he　was　pumping　the　very　lifeblood　from　his　heart。　　His　breath　had　come　painfully；　and　the　thongs　of　the　snowshoes　were　chafing　his　ankles　terribly。　　But　those　minutes　were　worth　a　year。　　Fresh　air　poured　into　his　lungs；　and　the　muscles　became　elastic　once　more。　　In　so　brief　a　space　be　had　recreated　himself。

Resuming　his　flight；　he　went　at　a　steady　pace；　resolved　not　to　do　his　utmost　unless　the　enemy　came　in　sight。　　About　ten　minutes　later　he　heard　a　cry　far　behind　him；　and　he　believed　it　to　be　a　signal　from　some　Indian　to　the　others　that　the　trail　was　found　again。　　But　with　so　much　advantage　he　felt　sure　that　he　was　now　quite　safe。　　He　ran；　although　at　decreased　speed；　for　about　two　hours　more；　and　then　he　sat　down　on　the　upthrust　root　of　a　great　oak。　　Here　he　depended　most　upon　his　ears。　　The　forest　was　so　silent　that　he　could　hear　any　noise　at　a　great　distance；　but　there　was　none。　　Trusting　to　his　ears　to　warn　him；　he　would　remain　there　a　long　time　for　a　thorough　rest。　　He　even　dared　to　take　off　his　snowshoes　that　he　might　rub　his　sore　ankles；　but　he　wrapped　his　heavy　blanket　about　his　body；　lest　he　take　deep　cold　in　cooling　off　in　such　a　temperature　after　so　long　a　flight。

He　sat　enjoying　a　half　hour；　golden　like　the　five　minutes；　and　then　he　saw；　outlined　against　the　bright；　moonlit　sky；　something　that　told　him　he　must　be　on　the　alert　again。　　It　was　a　single　ring　of　smoke；　like　that　from　a　cigar；　only　far　greater。　　It　rose　steadily；　untroubled　by　wind　until　it　was　dissipated。　　It　meant　〃attention！〃　and　presently　it　was　followed　by　a　column　of　such　rings；　one　following　another　beautifully。　　The　column　said：　〃　The　foe　is　near。〃　　Henry　read　the　Indian　signs　perfectly。　　The　rings　were　made　by　covering　a　little　fire　with　a　blanket　for　a　moment　and　then　allowing　the　smoke　to　ascend。　　On　clear　days　such　signals　could　be　seen　a　distance　of　thirty　miles　or　more；　and　he　knew　that　they　were　full　of　significance。

Evidently　the　Iroquois　party　had　divided　into　two　or　more　bands。　　One　had　found　his　trail；　and　was　signaling　to　the　other。　　The　party　sending　up　the　smoke　might　be　a　half　mile　away；　but　the　others；　although　his　trail　was　yet　hidden　from　them；　might　be　nearer。　　It　was　again　time　for　flight。

He　swiftly　put　on　the　snowshoes；　neglecting　no　thong　or　lace；　folded　the　blanket　on　his　back　again；　and；　leaving　the　friendly　root；　started　once　more。　　He　ran　forward　at　moderate　speed　for　perhaps　a　mile；　when　he　suddenly　heard　triumphant　yells　on　both　right　and　left。　　A　strong　party　of　Iroquois　were　coming　up　on　either　side；　and　luck　had　enabled　them　to　catch　him　in　a　trap。

They　were　so　near　that　they　fired　upon　him；　and　one　bullet　nicked　his　glove；　but　he　was　hopeful　that　after　his　long　rest　he　might　again　stave　them　off。　　He　sent　back　no　defiant　cry；　but；　settling　into　determined　silence；　ran　at　his　utmost　speed。　　The　forest　here　was　of　large　trees；　with　no　undergrowth；　and　he　noticed　that　the　two　parties　did　not　join；　but　kept　on　as　they　had　come；　one　on　the　right　and　the　other　on　the　left。　　This　fact　must　have　some　significance；　but　he　could　not　fathom　it。　　Neither　could　he　guess　whether　the　Indians　were　fresh　or　tired；　but　apparently　they　made　no　effort　to　come　within　range　of　his　rifle。

Presently　he　made　a　fresh　spurt　of　speed；　the　forest　opened　out；　and　then　both　bands　uttered　a　yell　full　of　ferocity　and　joy；　the　kind　that　savages　utter　only　when　they　see　their　triumph　complete。

Before；　and　far　below　Henry；　stretched　a　vast；　white　expanse。　　He　had　come　to　the　lake；　but　at　a　point　where　the　cliff　rose　high　like　a　mountain；　and　steep　like　a　wall。　　The　surface　of　the　lake　was　so　far　down　that　it　was　misty　white　like　a　cloud。　　Now　he　understood　the　policy　of　the　Indian　bands　in　not　uniting。　　They　knew　that　they　would　soon　reach　the　lofty　cliffs　of　the　lake；　and　if　he　turned　to　either　right　or　left　there　was　a　band　ready　to　seize　him。

Henry's　heart　leaped　up　and　then　sank　lower　than　ever　before　in　his　life。　　It　seemed　that　he　could　not　escape　from　so　complete　a　trap；　and　Braxton　Wyatt　was　not　one　who　would　spare　a　prisoner。　　That　was　perhaps　the　bitterest　thing　of　all；　to　be　taken　and　tortured　by　Braxton　Wyatt。　　He　was　there。　　He　could　hear　his　voice　in　one　of　the　bands；　and　then　the　courage　that　never　failed　him　burst　into　fire　again。

The　Iroquois　were　coming　toward　him；　shutting　him　out　from　retreat　to　either　right　or　left；　but　not　yet　closing　in　because　of　his　deadly　rifle。　　He　gave　them　a　single　look；　put　forth　his　voice　in　one　great　cry　of　defiance；　and；　rushing　toward　the　edge　of　the　mighty　cliff；　sprang　boldly　over。

As　Henry　plunged　downward　he　heard　behind　him　a　shout　of　amazement　and　chagrin　poured　forth　from　many　Iroquois　throats；　and；　taking　a　single　glance　backward；　he　caught　a　glimpse　of　dusky　faces　stamped　with　awe。　　But　the　bold　youth　had　not　made　a　leap　to　destruction。　　In　the　passage　of　a　second　he　had　calculated　rapidly　and　well。　　While　the　cliff　at　first　glance　seemed　perpendicular；　it　could　not　be　so。　　There　was　a　slope　coated　with　two　feet　of　snow；　and　swinging　far　back　on　the　heels　of　his　snowshoes；　he　shot　downward　like　one　taking　a　tremendous　slide　on　a　toboggan。　　Faster　and　faster　he　went；　but　deeper　and　deeper　he　dug　his　shoes　into　the　snow；　until　he　lay　back　almost　flat　against　its　surface。　　This　checked　his　speed　somewhat；　but　it　was　still　very　great；　and；　preserving　his　self…control　perfectly；　he　prayed　aloud　to　kindly　Providence　to　save　him　from　some　great　boulder　or　abrupt　drop。

The　snow　from　his　runners　flew　in　a　continuous　shower　behind　him　as　he　descended。　　Yet　he　drew　himself　compactly　together；　and　held　his　rifle　parallel　with　his　body。　　Once　or　twice；　as　he　went　over　a　little　ridge；　he　shot　clear　of　the　snow；　but　he　held　his　body　rigid；　and　the　snow　beyond　saved　him　from　a　severe　bruise。　　Then　his　speed　was　increased　again；　and　all　the　time　the　white　surface　of　the　lake　below；　seen　dimly　through　the　night　and　his　flight；　seemed　miles　away。

He　might　never　reach　that　surface　alive；　but　of　one　thing　lie　was　sure。　　None　of　the　Iroquois　or　Tories　had　dared　to　follow。　　Braxton　Wyatt　could　have　no　triumph　over　him。　　He　was　alone　in　his　great　flight。　　Once　a　projection　caused　him　to　turn　a　little　to　one　side。　　He　was　in　momentary　danger　of　turning　entirely；　and　then　of　rolling　head　over　heels　like　a　huge　snowball；　but　with　a　mighty　effort　he　righted　himself；　and　continued　the　descent　on　the　runners；　with　the　heels　plowing　into　the　ice　and　the　snow。

Now　that　white　expanse　which　had　seemed　so　far　away　came　miles　nearer。　　Presently　he　would　be　there。　　The　impossible　had　become　possible；　the　unattainable　was　about　to　be　attained。　　He　gave　another　mighty　dig　with　his　shoes；　the　last　reach　of　the　slope　passed　behind　him；　and　he　shot　out　on　the　frozen　surface　of　the　lake；　bruised　and　breathless；　but　without　a　single　broken　bone。

The　lake　was　covered　with　ice　a　foot　thick；　and　over　this　lay　frozen　snow；　which　stopped　Henry　forty　or　fifty　yards　from　the　cliff。　　There　he　lost　his　balance　at　last；　and　fell　on　his　side；　where　he　lay　for　a　few　moments；　weak；　panting；　but　triumphant。

When　he　stood　upright　again　he　felt　his　body；　but　he　had　suffered　nothing　save　some　bruises；　that　would　heal　in　their　own　good　time。　　His　deerskin　clothing　was　much　torn；　particularly　on　the　back；　where　he　had　leaned　upon　the　ice　and　snow；　but　the　folded　blanket　had　saved　him　to　a　considerable　extent。　　One　of　his　shoes　was　pulled　loose；　and　presently　he　discovered　that　his　left　ankle　was　smarting　and　burning　at　a　great　rate。　　But　he　did　not　mind　these　things　at　all；　so　complete　was　his　sense　of　victory。　　He　looked　up　at　the　mighty　white　wall　that　stretched　above　him　fifteen　hundred　feet；　and　he　wondered　at　his　own　tremendous　exploit。　　The　wall　ran　away　for　miles；　and　the　Iroquois　could　not　reach　him　by　any　easier　path。　　He　tried　to　make　out　figures　on　the　brink　looking　down　at　him；　but　it　was　too　far　away；　and　he　saw　only　a　black　line。

He　tightened　the　loose　shoe　and　struck　out　across　the　lake。　　He　was　far　away　from　〃The　Alcove；〃　and　he　did　not　intend　to　go　there；　lest　the　Iroquois；　by　chance；　come　upon　his　trail　and　follow　it　to　the　refuge。　　But　as　it　was　no　more　than　two　miles　across　the　lake　at　that