the scouts of the valley-第63节
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to come。 Aieroski has turned his face from us。〃
But Timmendiquas spoke words of courage and hope。
〃The Six Nations will regain their country；〃 he said。 〃The great League of the Ho…de…no…sau…nee； which has been victorious for so many generations； cannot be destroyed。 All the tribes from here to the Mississippi will help； and will press down upon the settlements。 I will return to stir them anew； and the British posts will give us arms and ammunition。〃
The light of defiance shone once more in the eyes of Thayendanegea。
〃You raise my spirits again；〃 he said。 〃We flee now； but we shall come back again。 The Ho…de…no…saunee can never submit。 We will ravage all their settlements； and burn and destroy。 We will make a wilderness where they have been。 The king and his men will yet give us more help。〃
Part of his words came true； and the name of the raiding Thayendanegea was long a terror； but the Iroquois； who had refused the requested neutrality； had lost their Country forever； save such portions as the victor in the end chose to offer to them。
〃And now； as you and your Wyandots depart within the half hour； I give you a last farewell；〃 said Thayendanegea。
The hands of the two great chiefs met in a clasp like that of the white man； and then Timmendiquas abruptly left the Council House； shutting the door behind him。 Thayendanegea lingered a while at the window； and the look of sadness returned to his face。 Henry could read many of the thoughts that were passing through the Mohawk's proud mind。
Thayendanegea was thinking of his great journey to London； of the power and magnificence that he had seen； of the pride and glory of the Iroquois； of the strong and numerous Tory faction led by Sir John Johnson； the half brother of the children of Molly Brant； Thayendanegea's own sister； of the Butlers and all the others who had said that the rebels would be easy to conquer。 He knew better now； he had long known better； ever since that dreadful battle in the dark defile of the Oriskany； when the Palatine Germans； with old Herkimer at their head； beat the Tories； the English； and the Iroquois； and made the taking of Burgoyne possible。 The Indian chieftain was a statesman； and it may be that from this moment he saw that the cause of both the Iroquois and their white allies was doomed。 Presently Thayendanegea left the window； walking slowly toward the door。 He paused there a moment or two； and then went out； closing it behind him； as Timmendiquas had done。 The three did not speak until several minutes after he had gone。
〃I don't believe；〃 said Henry； 〃that either of them thinks； despite their brave words； that the Iroquois can ever win back again。〃
〃Serves 'em right；〃 said Tom Ross。 〃I remember what I saw at Wyoming。〃
〃Whether they kin do it or not；〃 said the practical Sol； 〃it's time for us to git out o' here； an' go back to our men。〃
〃True words； Sol；〃 said Henry； 〃and we'll go。〃
Examining first at the window and then through the door； opened slightly； they saw that the Iroquois village bad become quiet。 The preparations for departure had probably ceased until morning。 Forth stole the three； passing swiftly among the houses； going； with silent foot toward the orchard。 An old squaw； carrying a bundle from a house； saw them； looked sharply into their faces； and knew them to be white。 She threw down her bundle with a fierce； shrill scream； and ran； repeating the scream as she ran。
Indians rushed out； and with them Braxton Wyatt and his band。 Wyatt caught a glimpse of a tall figure； with two others； one on each side； running toward the orchard； and he knew it。 Hate and the hope to capture or kill swelled afresh。 He put a whistle to his lip and blew shrilly。 It was a signal to his band； and they came from every point； leading the pursuit。
Henry heard the whistle； and he was quite sure that it was Wyatt who had made the sound。 A single glance backward confirmed him。 He knew Wyatt's figure as well as Wyatt knew his； and the dark mass with him was certainly composed of his own men。 The other Indians and Tories； in all likelihood； would turn back soon； and that fact would give him the chance he wished。
They were clear of the town now； running lightly through the orchard； and Shif'less Sol suggested that they enter the woods at once。
〃We can soon dodge 'em thar in the dark；〃 he said。
〃We don't want to dodge 'em；〃 said Henry。
The shiftless one was surprised； but when he glanced at Henry's face he understood。
〃You want to lead 'em on an' to a fight？〃 he said。
Henry nodded。
〃Glad you thought uv it；〃 said Shif'less Sol。
They crossed the very corn field through which they had come； Braxton Wyatt and his band in full cry after them。 Several shots were fired； but the three kept too far ahead for any sort of marksmanship； and they were not touched。 When they finally entered the woods they curved a little； and then； keeping just far enough ahead to be within sight； but not close enough for the bullets； Henry led them straight toward the camp of the riflemen。 As he approached； he fired his own rifle； and uttered the long shout of the forest runner。 He shouted a second time； and now Shif'less Sol and Tom Ross joined in the chorus； their great cry penetrating far through the woods。
Whether Braxton Wyatt or any of his mixed band of Indians and Tories suspected the meaning of those great shouts Henry never knew； but the pursuit came on with undiminished speed。 There was a good silver moon now； shedding much light； and he saw Wyatt still in the van； with his Tory lieutenant close behind； and after them red men and white； spreading out like a fan to inclose the fugitives in a trap。 The blood leaped in his veins。 It was a tide of fierce joy。 He had achieved both of the purposes for which he had come。 He had thoroughly scouted the Seneca Castle； and he was about to come to close quarters with Braxton Wyatt and the band which he had made such a terror through the valleys。
Shif'less Sol saw the face of his young comrade； and he was startled。 He had never before beheld it so stern； so resolute； and so pitiless。 He seemed to remember as one single； fearful picture all the ruthless and terrible scenes of the last year。 Henry uttered again that cry which was at once a defiance and a signal； and from the forest ahead of him it was answered； signal for signal。 The riflemen were coming； Paul； Long Jim； and Heemskerk at their head。 They uttered a mighty cheer as they saw the flying three； and their ranks opened to receive them。 From the Indians and Tories came the long whoop of challenge； and every one in either band knew that the issue was now about to be settled by battle； and by battle alone。 They used all the tactics of the forest。 Both sides instantly dropped down among the trees and undergrowth； three or four hundred yards apart； and for a few moments there was no sound save heavy breathing； heard only by those who lay close by。 Not a single human being would have been visible to an ordinary eye there in the moonlight； which tipped boughs and bushes with ghostly silver。 Yet no area so small ever held a greater store of resolution and deadly animosity。 On one side were the riflemen； nearly every one of whom had slaughtered kin to mourn； often wives and little children； and on the other the Tories and Iroquois； about to lose their country； and swayed by the utmost passions of hate and revenge。
〃Spread out；〃 whispered Henry。 〃Don't give them a chance to flank us。 You； Sol； take ten men and go to the right； and you； Heemskerk； take ten and go to the left。〃
〃It is well；〃 whispered Heemskerk。 〃You have a great head； Mynheer Henry。〃
Each promptly obeyed； but the larger number of the riflemen remained in the center； where Henry knelt； with Paul and Long Jim on one side of him； and Silent Tom on the other。 When he thought that the two flanking parties had reached the right position； he uttered a low whistle； and back came two low whistles； signals that all was ready。 Then the line began its slow advance； creeping forward from tree to tree and from bush to bush。 Henry raised himself up a little； but he could not yet see anything where the hostile force lay hidden。 They went a little farther； and then all lay down again to look。
Tom Ross had not spoken a word； but none was more eager than he。 He was almost flat upon the ground； and he had been pulling himself along by a sort of muscular action of his whole body。 Now he was so still that he did not seem to breathe。 Yet his eyes； uncommonly eager now； were searching the thickets ahead。 They rested at last on a spot of brown showing through some bushes； and； raising his rifle； he fired with sure aim。 The Iroquois uttered his death cry； sprang up convulsively； and then fell back prone。 Shots were fired in return； and a dozen riflemen replied to them。 The battle was joined。
They heard Braxton Wyatt's whistle； the challenging war cry of the Iroquois； and then they fought in silence； save for the crack of the rifles。 The riflemen continued to advance in slow； creeping fashion； always pressing the enemy。 Every time they caught sight of a hostile face or body they sent a bullet at it； and Wyatt's men did the
