the scouts of the valley-第58节

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forth　a　fierce；　defiant　note　of　their　own；　and；　crawling　forward；　began　to　send　in　their　bullets。

The　woods　in　front　of　them　swarmed　with　the　Indian　skirmishers；　who　replied　to　the　scouts；　and　the　fire　ran　along　a　long　line　through　the　undergrowth。　　Flashes　of　flames　appeared；　puffs　of　smoke　arose　and；　uniting；　hung　over　the　trees。　　Bullets　hissed。　　Twigs　and　bark　fell；　and　now　and　then　a　man；　as　they　fought　from　tree　to　tree。　　Henry　caught　one　glimpse　of　a　face　that　was　white；　that　of　Braxton　Wyatt；　and　he　sought　a　shot　at　the　renegade　leader；　but　he　could　not　get　it。　　But　the　scouts　pushed　on；　and　the　Indian　and　Tory　skirmishers　dropped　back。　　Then　on　the　flanks　they　began　to　hear　the　rattle　of　rifle　fire。　　The　wings　of　the　army　were　in　action；　but　the　main　body　still　advanced　without　firing　a　shot。

The　scouts　could　now　see　through　the　trees　the　embankments　and　rifle　pits；　and　they　could　also　see　the　last　of　the　Iroquois　and　Tory　skirmishers　leaping　over　the　earthworks　and　taking　refuge　with　their　army。　　Then　they　turned　back　and　saw　the　long　line　of　their　own　army　steadily　advancing；　while　the　sounds　of　heavy　firing　still　continued　on　both　flanks。　　Henry　looked　proudly　at　the　unbroken　array；　the　front　of　steel；　and　the　cannon。　　He　felt　prouder　still　when　the　general　turned　to　him　and　said：

〃You　have　done　well；　Mr。　Ware；　you　have　shown　us　exactly　where　the　enemy　lies；　and　that　will　save　us　many　men。　　Now　bigger　voices　than　those　of　the　rifles　shall　talk。〃

The　army　stopped。　　The　Indian　position　could　be　plainly　seen。　　The　crest　of　the　earthwork　was　lined　with　fierce；　dark　faces；　and　here　and　there　among　the　brown　Iroquois　were　the　green　uniforms　of　the　Royalists。

Henry　saw　both　Thayendanegea　and　Timmendiquas；　the　plumes　in　their　hair　waving　aloft；　and　he　felt　sure　that　wherever　they　stood　the　battle　would　be　thickest。

The　Americans　were　now　pushing　forward　their　cannon；　six　three…pounders　and　two　howitzers；　the　howitzers；　firing　five…and…a…half…inch　shells；　new　and　terrifying　missiles　to　the　Indians。　　The　guns　were　wheeled　into　position；　and　the　first　howitzer　was　fired。　　It　sent　its　great　shell　in　a　curving　line　at　and　over　the　embankment；　where　it　burst　with　a　crash；　followed　by　a　shout　of　mingled　pain　and　awe。　　Then　the　second　howitzer；　aimed　well　like　the　first；　sent　a　shell　almost　to　the　same　point；　and　a　like　cry　came　back。


Shif'less　Sol；　watching　the　shots；　jumped　up　and　down　in　delight。

〃That's　the　medicine！〃　he　cried。　　〃I　wonder　how　you　like　that；　you　Butlers　an'　Johnsons　an'　Wyatts　an'　Mohawks　an'　all　the　rest　o'　your　scalp…taking　crew！　　Ah；　thar　goes　another！　　This　ain't　any　Wyomin'！〃

The　three…pounders　also　opened　fire；　and　sent　their　balls　squarely　into　the　rifle　pits　and　the　Indian　camp。　　The　Iroquois　replied　with　a　shower　of　rifle　bullets　and　a　defiant　war　whoop；　but　the　bullets　fell　short；　and　the　whoop　hurt　no　one。

The　artillery；　eight　pieces；　was　served　with　rapidity　and　precision；　while　the　riflemen；　except　on　their　flanks；　where　they　were　more　closely　engaged；　were　ordered　to　hold　their　fire。　　The　spectacle　was　to　Henry　and　his　comrades　panoramic　in　its　effect。　　They　watched　the　flashes　of　fire　from　the　mouths　of　the　cannon；　the　flight　of　the　great　shells；　and　the　bank　of　smoke　which　soon　began　to　lower　like　a　cloud　over　the　field。　　They　could　picture　to　themselves　what　was　going　on　beyond　the　earthwork；　the　dead　falling；　the　wounded　limping　away；　earth　and　trees　torn　by　shell　and　shot。　　They　even　fancied　that　they　could　hear　the　voices　of　the　great　chiefs；　Thayendanegea　and　Timmendiquas；　encouraging　their　men；　and　striving　to　keep　them　in　line　against　a　fire　not　as　deadly　as　rifle　bullets　at　close　quarters；　but　more　terrifying。

Presently　a　cloud　of　skirmishers　issued　once　more　from　the　Indian　camp；　creeping　among　the　trees　and　bushes；　and　seeking　a　chance　to　shoot　down　the　men　at　the　guns。　　But　sharp　eyes　were　watching　them。

〃Come；　boys；〃　exclaimed　Henry。　　〃Here's　work　for　us　now。〃

He　led　the　scouts　and　the　best　of　the　riflemen　against　the　skirmishers；　who　were　soon　driven　in　again。　　The　artillery　fire　had　never　ceased　for　a　moment；　the　shells　and　balls　passing　over　their　heads。　　Their　work　done；　the　sharpshooters　fell　back　again；　the　gunners　worked　faster　for　a　while；　and　then　at　a　command　they　ceased　suddenly。　　Henry；　Paul；　and　all　the　others　knew　instinctively　what　was　going　to　happen。　　They　felt　it　in　every　bone　of　them。　　The　silence　so　sudden　was　full　of　meaning。

〃Now！〃　Henry　found　himself　exclaiming。　　Even　at　that　moment　the　order　was　given；　and　the　whole　army　rushed　forward；　the　smoke　floating　away　for　the　moment　and　the　sun　flashing　off　the　bayonets。　　The　five　sprang　up　and　rushed　on　ahead。　　A　sheet　of　flame　burst　from　the　embankment；　and　the　rifle　pits　sprang　into　fire。　　The　five　beard　the　bullets　whizzing　past　them；　and　the　sudden　cries　of　the　wounded　behind　them；　but　they　never　ceased　to　rush　straight　for　the　embankment。

It　seemed　to　Henry　that　he　ran　forward　through　living　fire。　　There　was　one　continuous　flash　from　the　earthwork；　and　a　continuous　flash　replied。　　The　rifles　were　at　work　now；　thousands　of　them；　and　they　kept　up　an　incessant　crash；　while　above　them　rose　the　unbroken　thunder　of　the　cannon。　　The　volume　of　smoke　deepened；　and　it　was　shot　through　with　the　sharp；　pungent　odor　of　burned　gunpowder。

Henry　fired　his　rifle　and　pistol；　almost　unconsciously　reloaded；　and　fired　again；　as　he　ran；　and　then　noticed　that　the　advance　had　never　ceased。　　It　had　not　been　checked　even　for　a　moment；　and　the　bayonets　of　one　of　the　regiments　glittered　in　the　sun　a　straight　line　of　steel。

Henry　kept　his　gaze　fixed　upon　a　point　where　the　earthwork　was　lowest。　　He　saw　there　the　plumed　head　of　Thayendanegea；　and　he　intended　to　strike　if　he　could。　　He　saw　the　Mohawk　gesticulating　and　shouting　to　his　men　to　stand　fast　and　drive　back　the　charge。　　He　believed　even　then；　and　he　knew　later；　that　Thayendanegea　and　Timmendiquas　were　showing　courage　superior　to　that　of　the　Johnsons　and　Butters　or　any　of　their　British　and　Canadian　allies。　　The　two　great　chiefs　still　held　their　men　in　line；　and　the　Iroquois　did　not　cease　to　send　a　stream　of　bullets　from　the　earthwork。

Henry　saw　the　brown　faces　and　the　embankment　coming　closer　and　closer。　　He　saw　the　face　of　Braxton　Wyatt　appear　a　moment；　and　he　snapped　his　empty　pistol　at　it。　　But　it　was　hidden　the　next　instant　behind　others；　and　then　they　were　at　the　embankment。　　He　saw　the　glowing　faces　of　his　comrades　at　his　side；　the　singular　figure　of　Heemskerk　revolving　swiftly；　and　behind　them　the　line　of　bayonets　closing　in　with　the　grimness　of　fate。

Henry　leaped　upon　the　earthwork。　　An　Indian　fired　at　him　point　blank；　and　he　swung　heavily　with　his　clubbed　rifle。　　Then　his　comrades　were　by　his　side；　and　they　leaped　down　into　the　Indian　camp。　　After　them　came　the　riflemen；　and　then　the　line　of　bayonets。　　Even　then　the　great　Mohawk　and　the　great　Wyandot　shouted　to　their　men　to　stand　fast；　although　the　Royal　Greens　and　the　Rangers　had　begun　to　run；　and　the　Johnsons；　the　Butlers；　McDonald；　Wyatt；　and　the　other　white　men　were　running　with　them。

Henry；　with　the　memory　of　Wyoming　and　all　the　other　dreadful　things　that　had　come　before　his　eyes；　　saw　red。　　He　was　conscious　of　a　terrible　melee；　of　striking　again　and　again　with　his　clubbed　rifle；　of　fierce　brown　faces　before　him；　and　of　Timmendiquas　and　Thayedanegea　rushing　here　and　there；　shouting　to　their　warriors；　encouraging　them；　and　exclaiming　that　the　battle　was　not　lost。　　Beyond　he　saw　the　vanishing　forms　of　the　Royal　Greens　and　the　Rangers　in　full　flight。　　But　the　Wyandots　and　the　best　of　the　Iroquois　still　stood　fast　until　the　pressure　upon　them　became　overwhelming。　　When　the　line　of　bayonets　approached　their　breasts　they　fell　back。　　Skilled　in　every　detail　of　ambush；　and　a　wonderful　forest　fighter；　the　Indian　could　never　stand　the　bayonet。　　Reluctantly　Timmendiquas；　Thayendanegea　and　the　Mohawks；　Senecas；　and　Wyandots；　who　were　most　strenuous　in　the　conflict；　gave　ground。　　Yet　the　battlefield；　with　its　numerous　trees；　stumps；　and　inequalities；　still　favored　them。　　They　retreated　slowly；　firing　from　every　covert；　sending　a　shower　of　bullets；　and　now　and　then　tittering　the　war　whoop。

Henry　heard　a　panting　breath　by　his　side。　　He　looked　around　and　saw　the　face　of　Heemskerk；　glowing　red　with　zeal　and　exertion。

〃The　victory　is　won　already！〃　said　he。　　〃Now　to　drive　it　home！〃

〃Come　on；〃　cried　Henry　in　return；　〃and　we'll　lead！〃

A　single　glance　showed　him　that　none　of　his　comrades　had　fallen。　　Long　Jim　and　Tom　Ross　had　suffered　slight　wounds　that　they　scarcely　noticed；　and　they　and　the　whole　group　of　scouts　were　just　behind　Henry。　　But　they　now　took　breath；　reloaded　their　rifles；　and；　throwing　themselves　down　in　Indian　fashion；　opened　a　deadly　fire　upon　their　antagonists。　　Their　bullets　searched　all　the　thickets；　drove　out　the　Iroquois；　and　compelled　them　to　retreat　anew。

The　attack　was　now　pressed　with　fresh　vigor。　　In　truth；　with　so　much　that　the　bravest　of　the　Indians　at　last　yielded　to　panic。　　Thayendanegea　and　Timmendiquas　were　carried　away　in　the　rush；　and　the　white　leaders　of　their　allies　were　already　out　of　sight。　　On　all　sides　the　allied　red　and　white　force　was　di