the scouts of the valley-第54节

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d　sped　forward；　his　spirits　rising　at　every　step。　　The　air　was　cold；　and　there　was　but　little　breeze；　but　his　own　motion　made　a　wind　that　whipped　his　face。　　The　hollows　were　mostly　gone　from　his　cheeks；　and　his　eyes　no　longer　had　the　fierce；　questing　look　of　the　famishing　wild　animal　in　search　of　prey。　　A　fine　red　color　was　suffused　through　the　brown　of　his　face。　　He　had　chosen　his　course　with　due　precaution。　　The　broad　surface；　smooth；　white；　and　glittering；　tempted；　but　he　put　the　temptation　away。　　He　did　not　wish　to　run　any　chance　whatever　of　another　Iroquois　pursuit；　and　he　kept　in　the　forest　that　ran　down　close　to　the　water's　edge。　　It　was　tougher　traveling　there；　but　he　persisted。

But　all　thought　of　weariness　and　trouble　was　lost　in　his　glorious　freedom。　　With　his　crippled　ankle　he　had　been　really　like　a　prisoner　in　his　cell；　with　a　ball　and　chain　to　his　foot。　　Now　he　flew　along；　while　the　cold　wind　whipped　his　blood；　and　felt　what　a　delight　it　was　merely　to　live。　　He　went　on　thus　for　hours；　skirting　down　toward　the　cliffs　that　contained　〃The　Alcove。〃　　He　rested　a　while　in　the　afternoon　and　ate　the　last　of　his　rabbit；　but　before　twilight　he　reached　the　creek；　and　stood　at　the　hidden　path　that　led　up　to　their　home。

Henry　sat　down　behind　thick　bushes　and　took　off　his　snowshoes。　　To　one　who　had　never　come　before；　the　whole　place　would　have　seemed　absolutely　desolate；　and　even　to　one　not　a　stranger　no　sign　of　life　would　have　been　visible　had　he　not　possessed　uncommonly　keen　eyes。　　But　Henry　had　such　eyes。　　He　saw　the　faintest　wisp　of　smoke　stealing　away　against　the　surface　of　the　cliff；　and　he　felt　confident　that　all　four　were　there。　　He　resolved　to　surprise　them。

Laying　the　shoes　aside；　he　crept　so　carefully　up　the　path　that　he　dislodged　no　snow　and　made　no　noise　of　any　kind。　　As　be　gradually　approached　〃The　Alcove〃　he　beard　the　murmur　of　voices；　and　presently；　as　he　turned　an　angle　in　the　path；　he　saw　a　beam　of　glorious　mellow　light　falling　on　the　snow。

But　the　murmur　of　the　voices　sent　a　great　thrill　of　delight　through　him。　　Low　and　indistinct　as　they　were；　they　had　a　familiar　sound。　　He　knew　all　those　tones。　　They　were　the　voices　of　his　faithful　comrades；　the　four　who　had　gone　with　him　through　so　many　perils　and　hardships；　the　little　band　who　with　himself　were　ready　to　die　at　any　time；　one　for　another。

He　crept　a　little　closer；　and　then　a　little　closer　still。　　Lying　almost　flat　on　the　steep　path；　and　drawing　himself　forward；　he　looked　into　〃The　Alcove。〃　A　fire　of　deep；　red　coals　glowed　in　one　corner；　and　disposed　about　it　were　the　four。　　Paul　lay　on　his　elbow　on　a　deerskin；　and　was　gazing　into　the　coals。　　Tom　Ross　was　working　on　a　pair　of　moccasins；　Long　Jim　was　making　some　kind　of　kitchen　implement；　and　Shif'less　Sol　was　talking。　　Henry　could　hear　the　words　distinctly；　and　they　were　about　himself。

〃Henry　will　turn　up　all　right；〃　he　was　saying。　　〃Hasn't　he　always　done　it　afore？　　Then　ef　he's　always　done　it　afore　he's　shorely　not　goin'　to　break　his　rule　now。　　I　tell　you；　boys；　thar　ain't　enough　Injuns　an'　Tories　between　Canady　an'　New　Orleans；　an'　the　Mississippi　an'　the　Atlantic；　to　ketch　Henry。　　I　bet　I　could　guess　what　he's　doin'　right　at　this　moment。〃

〃What　is　he　doing；　Sol？〃　asked　Paul。

〃When　I　shet　my　eyes　ez　I'm　doin'　now　I　kin　see　him；〃　said　the　shiftless　one。　　〃He's　away　off　thar　toward　the　north；　skirtin'　around　an　Injun　village；　Mohawk　most　likely；　lookin'　an'　listenin'　an'　gatherin'　talk　about　their　plans。〃

〃He　ain't　doin'　any　sech　thing；〃　broke　in　Long　Jim。

〃I've　sleet　my　eyes；　too；　Sol　Hyde；　jest　ez　tight　ez　you've　shet　yours；　an'　I　see　him；　too；　but　he　ain't　doin'　any　uv　the　things　that　you're　talkin'　about。〃

〃What　is　he　doing；　Jim？〃　asked　Paul。

〃Henry's　away　off　to　the　south；　not　to　the　north；〃　replied　the　long　one；　〃an'　he's　in　the　Iroquois　village　that　we　burned。　　One　house　has　been　left　standin'；　an'　he's　been　occupyin'　it　while　the　big　snow's　on　the　groun'。　　A　whole　deer　is　hangin'　from　the　wall；　an'　he's　been　settin'　thar　fur　days；　eatin'　so　much　an'　hevin'　such　a　good　time　that　the　fat's　hangin'　down　over　his　cheeks；　an'　his　whole　body　is　threatenin'　to　bust　right　out　uv　his　huntin'　shirt。〃

Paul　moved　a　little　on　his　elbow　and　turned　the　other　side　of　his　face　to　the　fire。　　Then　he　glanced　at　the　silent　worker　with　the　moccasins。

〃Sol　and　Jim　don't　seem　to　agree　much　in　their　second　sight；〃　he　said。　　〃Can　you　have　any　vision；　too；　Tom？〃

〃Yes；〃　replied　Tom　Ross；　〃I　kin。　　I　shet　my　eyes；　but　I　don't　see　like　either　Sol　or　Jim；　'cause　both　uv　'em　see　wrong。　　I　see　Henry；　an'　I　see　him　plain。　　He's　had　a　pow'ful　tough　time。　　He　ain't　threatenin'　to　bust　with　fat　out　uv　no　huntin'　shirt；　his　cheeks　ain't　so　full　that　they　are　fallin'　down　over　his　jaws。　　It's　t'other　way　roun'；　them　cheeks　are　sunk　a　mite；　he　don't　fill　out　his　clothes；　an'　when　he　crawls　along　he　drags　his　left　leg　a　leetle；　though　he　hides　it　from　hisself。　　He　ain't　spyin'　on　no　Injun　village；　an'　he　ain't　in　no　snug　camp　with　a　dressed　deer　hangin'　by　the　side　uv　him。　　It's　t'other　way　'roan'。　　He's　layin'　almost　flat　on　his　face　not　twenty　feet　from　us；　lookin'　right　in　at　us；　an'　I　wuz　the　first　to　see　him。〃

All　the　others　sprang　to　their　feet　in　astonishment；　and　Henry　likewise　sprang　to　his　feet。　　Three　leaps；　and　he　was　in　the　mellow　glow。


〃And　so　you　saw　me；　Tom；〃　he　exclaimed；　as　he　joyously　grasped　one　hand　after　another。　　〃I　might　have　known　that；　while　I　could　stalk　some　of　you；　I　could　not　stalk　all　of　you。〃

〃I　caught　the　glimpse　uv　you；〃　said　Silent　Tom；　while　Sol　an'　Jim　wuz　talkin'　the　foolish　talk　that　they　most　always　talk；　an'　when　Paul　called　on　me；　I　thought　I　would　give　'em　a　dream　that　'wuz　true；　an'　worth　tellin'。〃

〃You're　right；〃　said　Henry。　　〃I've　not　been　having　any　easy　time；　and　for　a　while；　boys；　it　looked　as　if　I　never　would　come　back。　　Sit　down；　and　I　will　tell　you　all　about　it。〃

They　gave　him　the　warmest　place　by　the　fire；　brought　him　the　tenderest　food；　and　he　told　the　long　and　thrilling　tale。

〃I　don't　believe　anybody　else　but　you　would　have　tried　it；　Henry；〃　said　Paul；　when　they　heard　of　the　fearful　slide。

〃Any　one　of　you　would　have　done　it；〃　said　Henry；　modestly。

〃I'm　pow'ful　glad　that　you　done　it　for　two　reasons；〃　said　Shif'less　Sol。　　〃One；　'cause　it　helped　you　to　git　away；　an'　the　other；　'cause　that　scoundrel；　Braxton　Wyatt；　didn't　take　you。　　'Twould　hurt　my　pride　tre…men…jeous　for　any　uv　us　to　be　took　by　Braxton　Wyatt。〃

〃You　speak　for　us　all　there；　Sol；〃　said　Paul。

〃What　have　all　of　you　been　doing？〃　asked　Henry。

〃Not　much　of　anything；〃　replied　Shif'less　Sol。　　We've　been　scoutin'　several　times；　lookin'　fur　you；　though　we　knowed　you'd　come　in　some　time　or　other；　but　mostly　we've　been　workin'　'roun'　the　place　here；　fixin'　it　up　warmer　an'　storin'　away　food。〃

〃We'll　have　to　continue　at　that　for　some　time；　I'm　afraid；〃　said　Henry；　〃unless　this　snow　breaks　up。　　Have　any　of　you　heard　if　any　movement　is　yet　on　foot　against　the　Iroquois？〃

〃Tom　ran　across　some　scouts　from　the　militia；〃　replied　Paul；　〃and　they　said　nothing　could　be　done　until　warm　weather　came。　　Then　a　real　army　would　march。〃

〃I　hope　so；〃　said　Henry　earnestly。

But　for　the　present　the　five　could　achieve　little。　　The　snow　lasted　a　long　time；　but　it　was　finally　swept　away　by　big　rains。　　It　poured　for　two　days　and　nights；　and　even　when　the　rain　ceased　the　snow　continued　to　melt　under　the　warmer　air。　　The　water　rushed　in　great　torrents　down　the　cliffs；　and　would　have　entered　〃The　Alcove〃　had　not　the　five　made　provision　to　turn　it　away。　　As　it　was；　they　sat　snug　and　dry；　listening　to　the　gush　of　the　water；　the　sign　of　falling　snow；　and　the　talk　of　one　another。　　Yet　the　time　dragged。

〃Man　wuz　never　made　to　be　a　caged　animile；〃　said　Shif'less　Sol。　　〃The　longer　I　stay　shet　up　in　one　place；　the　weaker　I　become。　　My　temper　don't　improve；　neither；　an'　I　ain't　happy。〃

〃Guess　it's　the　same　with　all　uv　us；〃　said　Tom　Ross。

But　when　the　earth　came　from　beneath　the　snow；　although　it　was　still　cold　weather；　they　began　again　to　range　the　forest　far　in　every　direction；　and　they　found　that　the　Indians；　and　the　Tories　also；　were　becoming　active。　　There　were　more　burnings；　more　slaughters；　and　more　scalpings。　　The　whole　border　was　still　appalled　at　the　massacres　of　Wyoming　and　Cherry　Valley；　and　the　savages　were　continually　spreading　over　a　wider　area。　　Braxton　Wyatt　at　the　head　of　his　band；　and　with　the　aid　of　his　Tory　lieutenant；　Levi　Coleman；　had　made　for　himself　a　name　equal　to　that　of　Walter　Butler。　　As　for　〃Indian〃　Butler　and　his　men；　no　men　were　hated　more　thoroughly　than　they。

The　five　continued　to　do　the　best　they　could；　which　was　much；　carrying　many　a　warning；　and　saving　some　who　would　otherwise　have　been　victims。　　While　they　devoted　themselves　to　their　strenuous　task；　great　events　in　which　they　were　to　take　a　part　were　preparing。　　The　rear　guard　of　the　Revolution　was　about　to　become　for　the　time　the　main　guard。　　A　great　eye　had　been　turned　upon　the　ravaged　and　bleeding　border；　and　a　great　mind；　which　could　bear　misfortune…even　disaster…without　complaint；　was　preparing　to　send　help　to　those　farther　away。　　So　mighty　a　cry　of　distress　had　risen；　that　the　power　of　the　I