the scouts of the valley-第65节

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han　a　human　being；　blazed　out　of　a　face；　a　mottled　red　and　black。　　By　the　side　of　him　the　dark　Tory；　Coleman；　was　driven　by　impulses　fully　as　fierce。

〃To　think　of　it！〃　exclaimed　Wyatt。　　〃He　led　us　directly　into　a　trap；　that　Ware！　　And　here　our　band　is　destroyed！　　All　the　good　men　that　we　gathered　together；　except　these　few；　are　killed！〃

〃But　we　may　pay　them　back；〃　said　Coleman。　　〃We　were　in　their　trap；　but　now　they　are　in　ours！　　Listen　to　that　firing　and　the　war　whoop！　　There　are　enough　Iroquois　yet　in　the　town　to　kill　every　one　of　those　rebels！〃

〃I　hope　so！　　I　believe　so！〃　exclaimed　Wyatt。　　〃Look　out；　Coleman！　　Ah；　he's　pinked　you！　　That's　the　one　they　call　Shif'less　Sol；　and　he's　the　best　sharpshooter　of　them　all　except　Ware！〃

Coleman　had　leaned　forward　a　little　in　his　anxiety　to　secure　a　good　aim　at　something。　　He　had　disclosed　only　a　little　of　his　face；　but　in　an　instant　a　bullet　had　seared　his　forehead　like　the　flaming　stroke　of　a　sword；　passing　on　and　burying　itself　in　the　wall。　　Fresh　blood　dripped　down　over　his　face。　　He　tore　a　strip　from　the　inside　of　his　coat；　bound　it　about　his　head；　and　went　on　with　the　defense。

A　Mohawk；　frightfully　painted；　fired　from　the　other　window。　　Like　a　flash　came　the　return　shot；　and　the　Indian　fell　back　in　the　room；　stone　dead；　with　a　bullet　through　his　bead。

〃That　was　Ware　himself；〃　said　Wyatt。　　〃I　told　you　he　was　the　best　shot　of　them　all。　　I　give　him　that　credit。　　But　they're　all　good。　　Look　out！　　There　goes　another　of　our　men！　　It　was　Ross　who　did　that！　　I　tell　you；　be　careful！　　Be　careful！〃

It　was　an　Onondaga　who　fell　this　time；　and　he　lay　with　his　head　on　the　window　sill　until　another　Indian　pulled　him　inside。　　A　minute　later　a　Tory；　who　peeped　guardedly　for　a　shot；　received　a　bullet　through　his　head；　and　sank　down　on　the　floor。　　A　sort　of　terror　spread　among　the　others。　　What　could　they　do　in　the　face　of　such　terrible　sharpshooting？　　It　was　uncanny；　almost　superhuman；　and　they　looked　stupidly　at　one　another。　　Smoke　from　their　own　firing　had　gathered　in　the　room；　and　it　formed　a　ghastly　veil　about　their　faces。　　They　heard　the　crash　of　the　rifles　outside　from　every　point；　but　no　help　came　to　them。

〃We're　bound　to　do　something！〃　exclaimed　Wyatt。　　〃Here　you；　Jones；　stick　up　the　edge　of　your　cap；　and　when　they　fire　at　it　I'll　put　a　bullet　in　the　man　who　pulls　the　trigger。〃

Jones　thrust　up　his　cap；　but　they　knew　too　much　out　there　to　be　taken　in　by　an　old　trick。　　The　cap　remained　unhurt；　but　when　Jones　in　his　eagerness　thrust　it　higher　until　he　exposed　his　arm；　his　wrist　was　smashed　in　an　instant　by　a　bullet；　and　he　fell　back　with　a　howl　of　pain。　　Wyatt　swore　and　bit　his　lips　savagely。　　He　and　all　of　them　began　to　fear　that　they　were　in　another　and　tighter　trap；　one　from　which　there　was　no　escape　unless　the　Iroquois　outside　drove　off　the　riflemen；　and　of　that　they　could　as　yet　see　no　sign。　　The　sharpshooters　held　their　place　behind　the　embankment　and　the　little　outhouse；　and　so　little　as　a　finger；　even；　at　the　windows　became　a　sure　mark　for　their　terrible　bullets。　　A　Seneca；　seeking　a　new　trial　for　a　shot；　received　a　bullet　through　the　shoulder；　and　a　Tory　who　followed　him　in　the　effort　was　slain　outright。

The　light　hitherto　had　been　from　the　fires；　but　now　the　dawn　was　coming。　　Pale　gray　beams　fell　over　the　town；　and　then　deepened　into　red　and　yellow。　　The　beams　reached　the　room　where　the　beleaguered　remains　of　Wyatt's　band　fought；　but；　mingling　with　the　smoke；　they　gave　a　new　and　more　ghastly　tint　to　the　desperate　faces。

〃We've　got　to　fight！〃　exclaimed　Wyatt。　　〃We　can't　sit　here　and　be　taken　like　beasts　in　a　trap！　　Suppose　we　unbar　the　doors　below　and　make　a　rush　for　it？〃

Coleman　shook　his　head。　　〃Every　one　of　us　would　be　killed　within　twenty　yards；〃　he　said。

〃Then　the　Iroquois　must　come　back；〃　cried　Wyatt。　　〃Where　is　Joe　Brant？　　Where　is　Timmendiquas；　and　where　is　that　coward；　Sir　John　Johnson？　　Will　they　come？〃

〃They　won't　come；〃　said　Coleman。

They　lay　still　awhile；　listening　to　the　firing　in　the　town；　which　swayed　hither　and　thither。　　The　smoke　in　the　room　thinned　somewhat；　and　the　daylight　broadened　and　deepened。　　As　a　desperate　resort　they　resumed　fire　from　the　windows；　but　three　more　of　their　number　were　slain；　and；　bitter　with　chagrin；　they　crouched　once　more　on　the　floor　out　of　range。　　Wyatt　looked　at　the　figures　of　the　living　and　the　dead。　　Savage　despair　tore　at　his　heart　again；　and　his　hatred　of　those　who　bad　done　this　increased。　　It　was　being　served　out　to　him　and　his　band　as　they　had　served　it　out　to　many　a　defenseless　family　in　the　beautiful　valleys　of　the　border。　　Despite　the　sharpshooters；　he　took　another　look　at　the　window；　but　kept　so　far　back　that　there　was　no　chance　for　a　shot。

〃Two　of　them　are　slipping　away；〃　he　exclaimed。　　〃They　are　Ross　and　the　one　they　call　Long　Jim！　　I　wish　I　dared　a　shot！　　Now　they're　gone！〃

They　lay　again　in　silence　for　a　time。　　There　was　still　firing　in　the　town；　and　now　and　then　they　heard　shouts。　　Wyatt　looked　at　his　lieutenant；　and　his　lieutenant　looked　at　him。

〃Yours　is　the　ugliest　face　I　ever　saw；〃　said　Wyatt。

〃I　can　say　the　same　of　yours…as　I　can't　see　mine；〃　said　Coleman。

The　two　gazed　once　more　at　the　hideous；　streaked；　and　grimed　faces　of　each　other；　and　then　laughed　wildly。　　A　wounded　Seneca　sitting　with　his　back　against　the　wall　began　to　chant　a　low；　wailing　death　song。

〃Shut　up！　　Stop　that　infernal　noise！〃　exclaimed　Wyatt　savagely。

The　Seneca　stared　at　him　with　fixed；　glassy　eyes　and　continued　his　chant。　　Wyatt　turned　away；　but　that　song　was　upon　his　nerves。　　He　knew　that　everything　was　lost。　　The　main　force　of　the　Iroquois　would　not　come　back　to　his　help；　and　Henry　Ware　would　triumph。　　He　sat　down　on　the　floor；　and　muttered　fierce　words　under　his　breath。

〃Hark！〃　suddenly　exclaimed　Coleman。　　〃What　is　that？〃

A　low　crackling　sound　came　to　their　ears；　and　both　recognized　it　instantly。　　It　was　the　sound　of　flames　eating　rapidly　into　wood；　and　of　that　wood　was　built　the　house　they　now　held。　　Even　as　they　listened　they　could　hear　the　flames　leap　and　roar　into　new　and　larger　life。

〃This　is；　what　those　two；　Ross　and　Hart；　were　up　to！〃　exclaimed　Wyatt。　　〃We're　not　only　trapped；　but　we're　to　be　burned　alive　in　our　trap！〃

〃Not　I；〃　said　Coleman；　〃I'm　goin'　to　make　a　rush　for　it。〃

〃It's　the　only　thing　to　be　done；〃　said　Wyatt。　　〃Come；　all　of　you　that　are　left！〃

The　scanty　survivors　gathered　around　him；　all　but　the　wounded　Seneca；　who　sat　unmoved　against　the　wall　and　continued　to　chant　his　death　chant。　　Wyatt　glanced　at　him；　but　said　nothing。　　Then　he　and　the　others　rushed　down　the　stairs。

The　lower　room　was　filled　with　smoke；　and　outside　the　flames　were　roaring。　　They　unbarred　the　door　and　sprang　into　the　open　air。　　A　shower　of　bullets　met　them。　　The　Tory；　Coleman；　uttered　a　choking　cry；　threw　up　his　arms；　and　fell　back　in　the　doorway。　　Braxton　Wyatt　seized　one　of　the　smaller　men；　and；　holding　him　a　moment　or　two　before　him　to　receive　the　fire　of　his　foe；　dashed　for　the　corner　of　the　blazing　building。　　The　man　whom　he　held　was　slain；　and　his　own　shoulder　was　grazed　twice；　but　he　made　the　corner。　　In　an　instant　he　put　the　burning　building　between　him　and　his　pursuers；　and　ran　as　he　had　never　run　before　in　all　his　life；　deadly　fear　putting　wings　on　his　heels。　　As　he　ran　he　heard　the　dull　boom　of　a　cannon；　and　he　knew　that　tile　American　army　was　entering　the　Seneca　Castle。　　Ahead　of　him　he　saw　the　last　of　the　Indians　fleeing　for　the　woods；　and　behind　him　the　burning　house　crashed　and　fell　in　amid　leaping　flames　and　sparks　in　myriads。　　He　alone　had　escaped　from　the　house。




CHAPTER　XXIV

DOWN　THE　OHIO


〃We　didn't　get　Wyatt；〃　said　Henry；　〃but　we　did　pretty　well；　nevertheless。〃

〃That's　so；〃　said　Shif'less　Sol。　　〃Thar's　nothin'　left　o'　his　band　but　hisself；　an'　I　ain't　feelin'　any　sorrow　'cause　I　helped　to　do　it。　　I　guess　we've　saved　the　lives　of　a　good　many　innocent　people　with　this　morning's　work。〃

〃Never　a　doubt　of　it；〃　said　Henry；　〃and　here's　the　army　now　finishing　up　the　task。〃

The　soldiers　were　setting　fire　to　the　town　in　many　places；　and　in　two　hours　the　great　Seneca　Castle　was　wholly　destroyed。　　The　five　took　no　part　in　this；　but　rested　after　their　battles　and　labors。　　One　or　two　had　been　grazed　by　bullets；　but　the　wounds　were　too　trifling　to　be　noticed。　　As　they　rested；　they　watched　the　fire；　which　was　an　immense　one；　fed　by　so　much　material。　　The　blaze　could　be　seen　for　many　miles；　and　the　ashes　drifted　over　all　the　forest　beyond　the　fields。

All　the　while　the　Iroquois　were　fleeing　through　the　wilderness　to　the　British　posts　and　the　country　beyond　the　lakes；　whence　their　allies　had　already　preceded　them。　　The　coals　of　Little　Beard's　Town　smoldered　for　two　or　three　days；　and　then　the　army　turned　back；　retracing　its　steps　down　the　Genesee。

Henry　and　his　comrades　felt　that　their　work　in　the　East　was　finished。　　Kentucky　was　calling　to　them。　　They　had　no　doubt　that　Braxton　Wyatt；　now　that　his　band　was　destroyed；　would　return　there；　and　he　would　surely　be　plotting　more　danger。　　It　was　their　part　to　meet　and　defeat　him。　　They　wished；　too；　to　see　again　the　valley；　the　river；　and　the　village　in　which　their　people　had　made　their　home；　and　they　；wish