the scouts of the valley-第7节

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　everywhere。　　There　was　no　open　country。　　All　was　forest；　and　the　heavy　rolling　masses　of　foliage　dripped　with　icy　water；　too。

Toward　the　south　the　land　seemed　to　dip　down；　and　Henry　surmised　that　in　a　valley　he　would　be　more　likely　to　find　the　shelter　that　he　craved。　　He　needed　it　badly。　　As　he　stood　there　he　shivered　again　and　again　from　head　to　foot；　despite　the　folds　of　the　blanket。　　So　he　started　at　once；　walking　fast；　and　feeling　little　fear　of　a　foe。　　It　was　not　likely　that　any　would　be　seeking　him　at　such　a　time。　　The　rain　struck　him　squarely　in　the　face　now。　　Water　came　from　his　moccasins　every　time　his　foot　was　pressed　against　the　earth；　and；　no　matter　how　closely　he　drew　the　folds　of　the　blanket；　little　streams　of　it；　like　ice　to　the　touch；　flowed　down　his　neck　and　made　their　way　under　his　clothing。　　He　could　not　remember　a　time　when　he　had　felt　more　miserable。

He　came　in　about　an　hour　to　the　dip　which；　as　he　had　surmised；　was　the　edge　of　a　considerable　valley。　　He　ran　down　the　slope；　and　looked　all　about　for　some　place　of　shelter；　a　thick　windbreak　in　the　lee　of　a　hill；　or　an　outcropping　of　stone；　but　he　saw　neither；　and；　as　he　continued　the　search；　he　came　to　marshy　ground。　　He　saw　ahead　among　the　weeds　and　bushes　the　gleam　of　standing　pools；　and　he　was　about　to　turn　back；　when　he　noticed　three　or　four　stones；　in　a　row　and　about　a　yard　from　one　another；　projecting　slightly　above　the　black　muck。　　It　struck　him　that　the　stones　would　not　naturally　be　in　the　soft　mud；　and；　his　curiosity　aroused；　he　stepped　lightly　from　one　stone　to　another。　　When　he　came　to　the　last　stone　that　he　had　seen　from　the　hard　ground　he　beheld　several　more　that　had　been　hidden　from　him　by　the　bushes。　　Sure　now　that　he　had　happened　upon　something　not　created　by　nature　alone；　he　followed　these　stones；　leading　like　steps　into　the　very　depths　of　the　swamp；　which　was　now　deep　and　dark　with　ooze　all　about　him。　　He　no　longer　doubted　that　the　stones；　the　artificial　presence　of　which　might　have　escaped　the　keenest　eye　and　most　logical　mind；　were　placed　there　for　a　purpose；　and　he　was　resolved　to　know　its　nature。

The　stepping　stones　led　him　about　sixty　yards　into　the　swamp；　and　the　last　thirty　yards　were　at　an　angle　from　the　first　thirty。　　Then　he　came　to　a　bit　of　hard　ground；　a　tiny　islet　in　the　mire；　upon　which　he　could　stand　without　sinking　at　all。　　He　looked　back　from　there；　and　he　could　not　see　his　point　of　departure。　　Bushes；　weeds；　and　saplings　grew　out　of　the　swamp　to　a　height　of　a　dozen　or　fifteen　feet；　and　he　was　inclosed　completely。　　All　the　vegetation　dripped　with　cold　water；　and　the　place　was　one　of　the　most　dismal　that　he　had　ever　seen。　　But　he　had　no　thought　of　turning　back。

Henry　made　a　shrewd　guess　as　to　whither　the　path　led；　but　he　inferred　from　the　appearance　of　the　stepping　stones…chiefly　from　the　fact　that　an　odd　one　here　and　there　had　sunk　completely　out　of　sight…that　they　had　not　been　used　in　a　long　time；　perhaps　for　years。　　He　found　on　the　other　side　of　the　islet　a　second　line　of　　stones；　and　they　led　across　a　marsh；　that　was　almost　like　a　black　liquid；　to　another　and　larger　island。

Here　the　ground　was　quite　firm；　supporting　a　thick　growth　of　large　trees。　　　It　seemed　to　Henry　that　this　island　might　be　seventy　or　eighty　yards　across；　and　he　began　at　once　to　explore　it。　　In　the　center；　surrounded　so　closely　by　swamp　oaks　that　they　almost　formed　a　living　wall；　he　found　what　he　had　hoped　to　find；　and　his　relief　was　so　great　that；　despite　his　natural　and　trained　stoicism；　he　gave　a　little　cry　of　pleasure　when　he　saw　it。

A　small　lodge；　made　chiefly　of　poles　and　bark　after　the　Iroquois　fashion；　stood　within　the　circle　of　the　trees；　occupying　almost　the　whole　of　the　space。　　It　was　apparently　abandoned　long　ago；　and　time　and　weather　had　done　it　much　damage。　　But　the　bark　walls；　although　they　leaned　in　places　at　dangerous　angles；　still　stood。　　The　bark　roof　was　pierced　by　holes　on　one　side；　but　on　the　other　it　was　still　solid；　and　shed　all　the　rain　from　its　slope。

The　door　was　open；　but　a　shutter　made　of　heavy　pieces　of　bark　cunningly　joined　together　leaned　against　the　wall；　and　Henry　saw　that　he　could　make　use　of　it。　　He　　stepped　inside。　　The　hut　had　a　bark　floor　which　was　dry　on　one　side；　where　the　roof　was　solid；　but　dripping　on　the　other。　　Several　old　articles　of　Indian　use　lay　about。　　In　one　corner　was　a　basket　woven　of　split　willow　and　still　fit　for　service。　　There　were　pieces　of　thread　made　of　Indian　hemp　and　the　inner　bark　of　the　elm。　　There　were　also　a　piece　of　pottery　and　a　large；　beautifully　carved　wooden　spoon　such　as　every　Iroquois　carried。　　In　the　corner　farthest　from　the　door　was　a　rude　fireplace　made　of　large　flat　stones；　although　there　was　no　opening　for　the　smoke。

Henry　surveyed　it　all　thoughtfully；　and　he　came　to　the　conclusion　that　it　was　a　hut　for　hunting；　built　by　some　warrior　of　an　inquiring　mind　who　had　found　this　secret　place；　and　who　had　recognized　its　possibilities。　　Here　after　an　expedition　for　game　he　could　lie　hidden　from　enemies　and　take　his　comfort　without　fear。　　Doubtless　he　had　sat　in　this　hut　on　rainy　days　like　the　present　one　and　smoked　his　pipe　in　the　long；　patient　calm　of　which　the　Indian　is　capable。

Yes；　there　was　the　pipe；　unnoticed　before；　trumpet　shaped　and　carved　beautifully；　lying　on　a　small　bark　shelf。　　Henry　picked　it　tip　and　examined　the　bowl。　　It　was　as　dry　as　a　bone；　and　not　a　particle　of　tobacco　was　left　there。　　He　believed　that　it　had　not　been　used　for　at　least　a　year。　　Doubtless　the　Indian　who　had　built　this　hunting　lodge　had　fallen　in　some　foray；　and　the　secret　of　it　had　been　lost　until　Henry　Ware；　seeking　through　the　cold　and　rain；　had　stumbled　upon　it。

It　was　nothing　but　a　dilapidated　little　lodge　of　poles　and　bark；　all　a…leak；　but　the　materials　of　a　house　were　there；　and　Henry　was　strong　and　skillful。　　He　covered　the　holes　in　tile　roof　with　fallen　pieces　of　bark；　laying　heavy　pieces　of　wood　across　them　to　hold　them　in　place。　　Then　he　lifted　the　bark　shutter　into　position　and　closed　the　door。　　Some　drops　of　rain　still　came　in　through　the　roof；　but　they　were　not　many；　and　he　would　not　mind　them　for　the　present。　　Then　he　opened　the　door　and　began　his　hardest　task。

He　intended　to　build　a　fire　on　the　flat　stones；　and；　securing　fallen　wood；　he　stripped　off　the　bark　and　cut　splinters　from　the　inside。　　It　was　slow　work　and　he　was　very　cold；　his　wet　feet　sending　chills　through　him；　but　be　persevered；　and　the　little　heap　of　dry　splinters　grew　to　a　respectable　size。　　Then　he　cut　larger　pieces；　laying　them　on　one　side　while　he　worked　with　his　flint　and　steel　on　the　splinters。

Flint　and　steel　are　not　easily　handled　even　by　the　most　skillful；　and　Henry　saw　the　spark　leap　up　and　die　out　many　times　before　it　finally　took　hold　of　the　end　of　the　tiniest　splinter　and　grew。　　He　watched　it　as　it　ran　along　the　little　piece　of　wood　and　ignited　another　and　then　another；　the　beautiful　little　red　and　yellow　flames　leaping　up　half　a　foot　in　height。　　Already　he　felt　the　grateful　warmth　and　glow；　but　he　would　not　let　himself　indulge　in　premature　joy。　　　He　fed　it　with　larger　and　larger　pieces　until　the　flames；　a　deeper　and　more　beautiful　red　and　yellow；　rose　at　least　two　feet；　and　big　coals　began　to　form。　　He　left　the　door　open　a　while　in　order　that　the　smoke　might　go　out；　but　when　the　fire　had　become　mostly　coals　he　closed　it　again；　all　except　a　crack　of　about　six　inches；　which　would　serve　at　once　to　let　any　stray　smoke　out；　and　to　let　plenty　of　fresh　air　in。

Now　Henry；　all　his　preparations　made；　no　detail　neglected；　proceeded　to　luxuriate。　　He　spread　the　soaked　blanket　out　on　the　bark　floor；　took　off　the　sodden　moccasins　and　placed　them　at　one　angle　of　the　fire；　while　he　sat　with　his　bare　feet　in　front。　　What　a　glorious　warmth　it　was！　　It　seemed　to　enter　at　his　toes　and　proceed　upward　through　his　body；　seeking　out　every　little　nook　and　cranny；　to　dry　and　warm　it；　and　fill　it　full　of　new　glow　and　life。

He　sat　there　a　long　　time；　his　being　radiating　with　physical　comfort。　　The　moccasins　dried　on　one　side；　and　he　turned　the　other。　　Finally　they　dried　all　over　and　all　through；　and　he　put　them　on　again。　　Then　he　hung　the　blanket　on　the　bark　wall　near　the　fire；　and　it；　too；　would　be　dry　in　another　hour　or　so。　　He　foresaw　a　warm　and　dry　place　for　the　night；　and　sleep。　　Now　if　one　only　had　food！　　But　he　must　do　without　that　for　the　present。

He　rose　and　tested　all　his　bones　and　muscles。　　No　stiffness　or　soreness　had　come　from　the　rain　and　cold；　and　he　was　satisfied。　　He　was　fit　for　any　physical　emergency。　　He　looked　out　through　the　crevice。　　Night　was　coming；　and　on　the　little　island　in　the　swamp　it　looked　inexpressibly　black　and　gloomy。　　His　stomach　complained；　but　he　shrugged　his　shoulders；　acknowledging　primitive　necessity；　and　resumed　his　seat　by　the　fire。　　There　he　sat　until　the　blanket　had　dried；　and　deep　night　had　fully　come。

In　the　last　hour　or　two　Henry　did　not　move。　　He　remained　before　the　fire；　crouched　slightly　forward；　while　the　generous　heat　fed　the　flame　of　life　in　him。　　A　glowing　bar；　penetrating　the　crevice　at　the　door；　fell　on　the　earth　outside；　but　it　did　not　pass　beyond　the　close　group　of　circling　trees。　　The　rain　still　fell　with　uncommon　steadiness　and　persistence