the scouts of the valley-第66节

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ain　the　valley；　the　river；　and　the　village　in　which　their　people　had　made　their　home；　and　they　；wished　yet　more　to　look　upon　the　faces　of　these　people。

They　left　the　army；　went　southward　with　Heemskerk　and　some　others　of　the　riflemen；　but　at　the　Susquehanna　parted　with　the　gallant　Dutchman　and　his　comrades。

〃It　is　good　to　me　to　have　known　you；　my　brave　friends；〃　said　Heemskerk；　〃and　I　say　good…by　with　sorrow　to　you；　Mynheer　Henry；　to　you；　Mynheer　Paul；　to　you；　Mynheer　Sol；　to　you；　Mynheer　Tom；　and　to　you；　Mynheer　Jim。〃

He　wrung　their　hands　one　by　one；　and　then　revolved　swiftly　away　to　hide　his　emotion。

The　five；　rifles　on　their　shoulders；　started　through　the　forest。　　When　they　looked　back　they　saw　Cornelius　Heemskerk　waving　his　hand　to　them。　　They　waved　in　return；　and　then　disappeared　in　the　forest。　　It　was　a　long　journey　to　Pittsburgh；　but　they　found　it　a　pleasant　one。　　It　was　yet　deep　autumn　on　the　Pennsylvania　hills；　and　the　forest　was　glowing　with　scarlet　and　gold。　　The　air　was　the　very　wine　of　life；　and　when　they　needed　game　it　was　there　to　be　shot。　　As　the　cold　weather　hung　off；　they　did　not　hurry；　and　they　enjoyed　the　peace　of　the　forest。　　They　realized　now　that　after　their　vast　labors；　hardships；　and　dangers；　they　needed　a　great　rest；　and　they　took　it。　　It　was　singular；　and　perhaps　not　so　singular；　how　their　minds　turned　from　battle；　pursuit；　and　escape；　to　gentle　things。　　A　little　brook　or　fountain　pleased　them。　　They　admired　the　magnificent　colors　of　the　foliage；　and　lingered　over　the　views　from　the　low　mountains。　　Doe　and　fawn　fled　from　them；　but　without　cause。　　At　night　they　built　splendid　fires；　and　sat　before　them；　while　everyone　in　his　turn　told　tales　according　to　his　nature　or　experience。

They　bought　at　Pittsburgh　a　strong　boat　partly　covered；　and　at　the　point　where　the　Allegheny　and　the　Monongahela　unite　they　set　sail　down　the　Ohio。　　It　was　winter　now；　but　in　their　stout　caravel　they　did　not　care。　　They　had　ample　supplies　of　all　kinds；　including　ammunition；　and　their　hearts　were　light　when　they　swung　into　the　middle　of　the　Ohio　and　moved　with　its　current。

〃Now　for　a　great　voyage；〃　said　Paul；　looking　at　the　clear　stream　with　sparkling　eyes。

〃I　wonder　what　it　will　bring　to　us；〃　said　Shif'less　Sol。

〃We　shall　see；〃　said　Henry。




End