the scouts of the valley-第57节

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to　hear。

〃If　we　fight…and　we　must　fight…this　is　the　place　in　which　to　meet　the；　white　army；〃　he　said。　　〃The　Wyandots　are　here　to　help　the　Iroquois；　as　the　Iroquois　would　go　to　help　them。　　The　Manitou　of　the　Wyandots；　the　Aieroski　of　the　Iroquois；　alone　knows　the　end。〃

He　spoke　with　the　utmost　gravity；　and　after　his　brief　reply　he　said　no　more。　　All　regarded　him　with　respect　and　admiration。　　Even　Braxton　Wyatt　felt　that　it　was　a　noble　deed　to　remain　and　face　destruction　for　the　sake　of　tribes　not　his　own。

Sir　John　Johnson　turned　to　Braxton　Wyatt；　who　had　sat　all　the　while　in　silence。

〃You　have　examined　the　evening's　advance；　Wyatt；〃　he　said。　　〃What　further　information　can　you　give　us？〃

〃We　shall　certainly　be　attacked　to…morrow；〃　replied　Wyatt；　〃and　the　American　army　is　advancing　cautiously。　　It　has　out　strong　flanking　parties；　and　it　is　preceded　by　the　scouts；　those　Kentuckians　whom　I　know　and　have　met　often；　Murphy；　Elerson；　Heemskerk；　and　the　others。〃

〃If　we　could　only　lead　them　into　an　ambush；〃　said　Sir　John。　　〃Any　kind　of　troops；　even　the　best　of　regulars；　will　give　way　before　an　unseen　foe　pouring　a　deadly　fire　upon　them　from　the　deep　woods。　　Then　they　magnify　the　enemy　tenfold。〃

〃It　is　so；〃　said　the　fierce　old　Seneca　chief；　Hiokatoo。　　〃When　we　killed　Braddock　and　all　his　men；　they　thought　that　ten　warriors　stood　in　the　moccasins　of　only　one。〃

Sir　John　frowned。　　He　did　not　like　this　allusion　to　the　time　when　the　Iroquois　fought　against　the　English；　and　inflicted　on　them　a　great　defeat。　　But　he　feared　to　rebuke　the　old　chief。　　Hiokatoo　and　the　Senecas　were　too　important。

〃There　ought　to　be　a　chance　yet　for　an　ambuscade；〃　he　said。　　〃The　foliage　is　still　thick　and　heavy；　and　Sullivan；　their　general；　is　not　used　to　forest　warfare。　　What　say　you　to　this；　Wyatt？〃

Wyatt　shook　his　head。　　He　knew　the　caliber　of　the　five　from　Kentucky；　and　he　had　little　hope　of　such　good　fortune。

〃They　have　learned　from　many　lessons；〃　he　replied；　and　their　scouts　are　the　best。　　Moreover；　they　will　attempt　anything。〃

They　relapsed　into　silence　again；　and　the　sharp　eyes　of　the　renegade　roved　about　the　dark　circle　of　trees　and　warriors　that　inclosed　them。　　Presently　he　saw　something　that　caused　him　to　rise　and　walk　a　little　distance　from　the　fire。　　Although　his　eye　suspected　and　his　mind　confirmed；　Braxton　Wyatt　could　not　believe　that　it　was　true。　　It　was　incredible。　　No　one；　be　he　ever　so　daring；　would　dare　such　a　thing。　　But　the　figure　down　there　among　the　trees；　passing　about　among　the　warriors；　many　of　whom　did　not　know　one　another；　certainly　looked　familiar；　despite　the　Indian　paint　and　garb。　　Only　that　of　Timmendiquas　could　rival　it　in　height　and　nobility。　　These　were　facts　that　could　not　be　hidden　by　any　disguise。

〃What　is　it；　Wyatt？〃　asked　Sir　John。　　〃What　do　you　see？　　Why　do　you　look　so　startled？〃

Wyatt　sought　to　reply　calmly。

〃There　is　a　warrior　among　those　trees　over　there　whom　I　have　not　seen　here　before；〃　he　replied。　　〃he　is　as　tall　and　as　powerful　as　Timmendiquas；　and　there　is　only　one　such。　　There　is　a　spy　among　us；　and　it　is　Henry　Ware。〃

He　snatched　a　pistol　from　his　belt；　ran　forward；　and　fired　at　the　flitting　figure；　which　was　gone　in　an　instant　among　the　trees　and　the　warriors。

〃What　do　you　say？〃　exclaimed　Thayendanegea；　as　he　ran　forward；　〃a　spy；　and　you　know　him　to　be　such！〃

〃Yes；　he　is　the　worst　of　them　all；〃　replied　Wyatt。　　〃I　know　him。　　I　could　not　mistake　him。　But　he　has　dared　too　much。　　He　cannot　get　away。〃

The　great　camp　was　now　in　an　uproar。　　The　tall　figure　was　seen　here　and　there；　always　to　vanish　quickly。　　Twenty　shots　were　fired　at　it。　　None　hit。　　Many　more　would　have　been　fired；　but　the　camp　was　too　much　crowded　to　take　such　a　risk。　　Every　moment　the　tumult　and　confusion　increased；　but　Thayendanegea　quickly　posted　warriors　on　the　embankment　and　the　flanks；　to　prevent　the　escape　of　the　fugitive　in　any　of　those　directions。

But　the　tall　figure　did　not　appear　at　either　embankment　or　flank。　　It　was　next　seen　near　the　river；　when　a　young　warrior；　striving　to　strike　with　a　tomahawk；　was　dashed　to　the　earth　with　great　force。　　The　next　instant　the　figure　leaped　far　out　into　the　stream。　　The　moonlight　glimmered　an　instant　on　the　bare　head；　while　bullets　the　next　moment　pattered　on　the　water　where　it　had　been。　　Then；　with　a　few　powerful　strokes；　the　stranger　reclaimed　the　land；　sprang　upon　the　shore；　and　darted　into　the　woods　with　more　vain　bullets　flying　about　him。　　But　he　sent　back　a　shout　of　irony　and　triumph　that　made　the　chiefs　and　Tories　standing　on　the　bank　bite　their　lips　in　anger。




CHAPTER　XXI

BATTLE　OF　THE　CHEMUNG


Paul　had　been　sleeping　heavily；　and　the　sharp；　pealing　notes　of　a　trumpet　awoke　him　at　the　sunburst　of　a　brilliant　morning。　　Henry　was　standing　beside　him；　showing　no　fatigue　from　the　night's　excitement；　danger；　and　escape；　but　his　face　was　flushed　and　his　eyes　sparkled。

〃Up；　Paul！　Up！〃　he　cried。　　〃We　know　the　enemy's　position；　and　we　will　be　in　battle　before　another　sun　sets。〃

Paul　was　awake　in　an　instant；　and　the　second　instant　he　was　on　his　feet；　rifle　in　hand；　and　heart　thrilling　for　the　great　attack。　　He；　like　all　the　others；　had　slept　on　such　a　night　fully　dressed。　　Shif'less　Sol；　Long　Jim；　Silent　Tom；　Heemskerk；　and　the　rest　were　by　the　side　of　him；　and　all　about　them　rose　the　sounds　of　an　army　going　into　battle；　commands　sharp　and　short；　the　rolling　of　cannon　wheels；　the　metallic　rattle　of　bayonets；　the　clink　of　bullets　poured　into　the　pouches；　and　the　hum　of　men　talking　in　half…finished　sentences。

It　was　to　all　the　five　a　vast　and　stirring　scene。　　It　was　the　first　time　that　they　bad　ever　beheld　a　large　and　regular　army　going　into　action；　and　they　were　a　part　of　it；　a　part　by　no　means　unimportant。　　It　was　Henry；　with　his　consummate　skill　and　daring；　who　had　uncovered　the　position　of　the　enemy；　and　now；　without　snatching　a　moment's　sleep；　he　was　ready　to　lead　where　the　fray　might　be　thickest。

The　brief　breakfast　finished；　the　trumpet　pealed　forth　again；　and　the　army　began　to　move　through　the　thick　forest。　　A　light　wind；　crisp　with　the　air　of　early　autumn；　blew；　and　the　leaves　rustled。　　The　sun；　swinging　upward　in　the　east；　poured　down　a　flood　of　brilliant　rays　that　lighted　up　everything；　the　buff　and　blue　uniforms；　the　cannon；　the　rifles；　the　bayonets；　and　the　forest；　still　heavy　with　foliage。

〃Now！　now！〃　thought　every　one　of　the　five；　〃we　begin　the　vengeance　for　Wyoming！〃

The　scouts　were　well　in　front；　searching　everywhere　among　the　thickets　for　the　Indian　sharpshooters；　who　could　scorch　so　terribly。　　As　Braxton　Wyatt　had　truly　said；　these　scouts　were　the　best　in　the　world。　　Nothing　could　escape　the　trained　eyes　of　Henry　Ware　and　his　comrades；　and　those　of　Murphy；　Ellerson；　and　the　others；　while　off　on　either　flank　of　the　army　heavy　detachments　guarded　against　any　surprise　or　turning　movement。　　They　saw　no　Indian　sign　in　the　woods。　　There　was　yet　a　deep　silence　in　front　of　them；　and　the　sun；　rising　higher；　poured　its　golden　light　down　upon　the　army　in　such　an　intense；　vivid　flood　that　rifle　barrels　and　bayonets　gave　back　a　metallic　gleam。　　All　around　them　the　deep　woods　swayed　and　rustled　before　the　light　breeze；　and　now　and　then　they　caught　glimpses　of　the　river；　its　surface　now　gold；　then　silver；　under　the　shining　sun。

Henry's　heart　swelled　as　he　advanced。　　He　was　not　revengeful；　but　he　had　seen　so　much　of　savage　atrocity　in　the　last　year　that　he　could　not　keep　down　the　desire　to　see　punishment。　　It　is　only　those　in　sheltered　homes　who　can　forgive　the　tomahawk　and　the　stake。　　Now　he　was　the　very　first　of　the　scouts；　although　his　comrades　and　a　dozen　others　were　close　behind　him。

The　scouts　went　so　far　forward　that　the　army　was　hidden　from　them　by　the　forest；　although　they　could　yet　hear　the　clank　of　arms　and　the　sound　of　commands。

Henry　knew　the　ground　thoroughly。　　He　knew　where　the　embankment　ran；　and　he　knew；　too；　that　the　Iroquois　had　dug　pits；　marked　by　timber。　　They　were　not　far　ahead；　and　the　scouts　now　proceeded　very　slowly；　examining　every　tree　and　clump　of　bushes　to　see　whether　a　lurking　enemy　was　hidden　there。　　The　silence　endured　longer　than　he　had　thought。　　Nothing　could　be　seen　in　front　save　the　waving　forest。

Henry　stopped　suddenly。　　He　caught　a　glimpse　of　a　brown　shoulder's　edge　showing　from　behind　a　tree；　and　at　his　signal　all　the　scouts　sank　to　the　ground。

The　savage　fired；　but　the　bullet；　the　first　of　the　battle；　whistled　over　their　heads。　　The　sharp　crack；　sounding　triply　loud　at　such　a　time；　came　back　from　the　forest　in　many　echoes；　and　a　light　puff　of　smoke　arose。　　Quick　as　a　flash；　before　the　brown　shoulder　and　body　exposed　to　take　aim　could　be　withdrawn；　Tom　Ross　fired；　and　the　Mohawk　fell；　uttering　his　death　yell。　　The　Iroquois　in　the　woods　took　up　the　cry；　pouring　forth　a　war　whoop；　fierce；　long　drawn；　the　most　terrible　of　human　sounds；　and　before　it　died；　their　brethren　behind　the　embankment　repeated　it　in　tremendous　volume　from　hundreds　of　throats。　　It　was　a　shout　that　had　often　appalled　the　bravest；　but　the　little　band　of　scouts　were　not　afraid。　　When　its　last　echo　died　they　sent　forth　a　fierce；　defiant　note　of　their　own；　and；　crawling　forward；　began　to　send　in　their　bullets。