the scouts of the valley-第12章

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　the　depiction　of　thought　according　to　color。　　He　strung　them　on　threads　of　elm　bark；　and　afterward；　when　the　great　league　was　formed；　the　shells　were　made　to　represent　five　clasped　hands。　　For　four　hundred　years　the　wampum　belts　have　been　sacred　among　the　Iroquois。

Now　Thayendanegea　gave　the　wampum　belts　back　to　the　attendant；　who　returned　them　to　Satekariwate；　the　Mohawk。　　There　was　a　silence　once　more；　and　then　the　chosen　singer　began　the　Consoling　Song　again；　but　now　he　did　not　sing　it　alone。　　Two　hundred　male　voices　joined　him；　and　the　time　became　faster。　　Its　tone　changed　from　mourning　and　sorrow　to　exultation　and　menace。　　Everyone　thought　of　war；　the　tomahawk；　and　victory。　　The　song　sung　as　it　was　now　became　a　genuine　battle　song；　rousing　and　thrilling。　　The　Long　House　trembled　with　the　mighty　chorus；　and　its　volume　poured　forth　into　the　encircling　dark　woods。

All　the　time　the　song　was　going　on；　Satekariwate；　the　Mohawk；　stood　holding　the　belts　in　his　hand；　but　when　it　was　over　he　gave　them　to　an　attendant；　who　carried　them　to　another　head　chief。　　Thayendanegea　now　went　to　the　center　of　the　room　and；　standing　between　the　two　fires；　asked　who　were　the　candidates　for　the　places　of　the　dead　chiefs。

The　dead　chiefs　were　three；　and　three　tall　men；　already　chosen　among　their　own　tribes；　came　forward　to　succeed　them。　　Then　a　fourth　came；　and　Henry　was　startled。　　It　was　Timmendiquas；　who；　as　the　bravest　chief　of　the　brave　Wyandots；　was　about　to　become；　as　a　signal　tribute；　and　as　a　great　sign　of　friendship；　an　adopted　son　and　honorary　chief　of　the　Mohawks；　Keepers　of　the　Western　Gate；　and　most　warlike　of　all　the　Iroquois　tribes。

As　Timmendiquas　stood　before　Thayendanegea；　a　murmur　of　approval　deeper　than　any　that　had　gone　before　ran　through　all　the　crowd　in　the　Long　House；　and　it　was　deepest　on　the　women's　benches；　where　sat　many　matrons　of　the　Iroquois；　some　of　whom　were　chiefs…a　woman　could　be　a　chief　among　the　Iroquois。

The　candidates　were　adjudged　acceptable　by　the　other　chiefs；　and　Thayendanegea　addressed　them　on　their　duties；　while　they　listened　in　grave　silence。　　With　his　address　the　sacred　part　of　the　rite　was　concluded。　　Nothing　remained　now　but　the　great　banquet　outside　…　although　that　was　much　…　and　they　poured　forth　to　it　joyously；　Thayendanegea；　the　Mohawk；　and　Timmendiquas；　the　Wyandot；　walking　side　by　side；　the　finest　two　red　chiefs　on　all　the　American　continent。




CHAPTER　VI

THE　EVIL　SPIRIT'S　WORK


Henry　slipped　forth　with　the　crowd　from　the　Long　House；　stooping　somewhat　and　shrinking　into　the　smallest　possible　dimensions。　　But　there　was　little　danger　now　that　any　one　would　notice　him；　as　long　as　he　behaved　with　prudence；　because　all　grief　and　solemnity　were　thrown　aside；　and　a　thousand　red　souls　intended　to　rejoice。　　A　vast　banquet　was　arranged。　　Great　fires　leaped　up　all　through　the　village。　　At　every　fire　the　Indian　women；　both　young　and　old；　were　already　far　forward　with　the　cooking。　　Deer；　bear；　squirrel；　rabbit；　fish；　and　every　other　variety　of　game　with　which　the　woods　and　rivers　of　western　New　York　and　Pennsylvania　swarmed　were　frying　or　roasting　over　the　coals；　and　the　air　was　permeated　with　savory　odors。　　There　was　a　great　hum　of　voices　and　an　incessant　chattering。　　Here　in　the　forest；　among　themselves；　and　in　complete　security；　the　Indian　stoicism　was　relaxed。　　According　to　their　customs　everybody　fell　to　eating　at　a　prodigious　rate；　as　if　they　had　not　tasted　anything　for　a　month；　and　as　if　they　intended　to　eat　enough　now　to　last　another　month。

It　was　far　into　the　night；　because　the　ceremonies　had　lasted　a　long　time；　but　a　brilliant　moon　shone　down　upon　the　feasting　crowd；　and　the　flames　of　the　great　fires；　yellow　and　blue；　leaped　and　danced。　　This　was　an　oasis　of　light　and　life。　　Timmendiquas　and　Thayendanegea　sat　together　before　the　largest　fire；　and　they　ate　with　more　restraint　than　the　others。　　Even　at　the　banquet　they　would　not　relax　their　dignity　as　great　chiefs。　　Old　Skanawati；　the　Onondaga；　old　Atotarho；　Onondaga；　too；　Satekariwate；　the　Mohawk；　Kanokarih；　the　Seneca；　and　others；　head　chiefs　though　they　were　of　the　three　senior　tribes；　did　not　hesitate　to　eat　as　the　rich　Romans　of　the　Empire　ate；　swallowing　immense　quantities　of　all　kinds　of　meat；　and　drinking　a　sort　of　cider　that　the　women　made。　　Several　warriors　ate　and　drank　until　they　fell　down　in　a　stupor　by　the　fires。　　The　same　warriors　on　the　hunt　or　the　war　path　would　go　for　days　without　food；　enduring　every　manner　of　hardship。　　Now　and　then　a　warrior　would　leap　up　and　begin　a　chant　telling　of　some　glorious　deed　of　his。　　Those　at　his　own　fire　would　listen；　but　elsewhere　they　took　no　notice。

In　the　largest　open　space　a　middle…aged　Onondaga　with　a　fine　face　suddenly　uttered　a　sharp　cry：　〃　Hehmio！〃　which　he　rapidly　repeated　twice。　　Two　score　voices　instantly　replied；　〃Heh！〃　and　a　rush　was　made　for　him。　　At　least　a　hundred　gathered　around　him；　but　they　stood　in　a　respectful　circle；　no　one　nearer　than　ten　feet。　　He　waved　his　hand；　and　all　sat　down　on　the　ground。　　Then；　he；　too；　sat　down；　all　gazing　at　him　intently　and　with　expectancy。

He　was　a　professional　story…teller；　an　institution　great　and　honored　among　the　tribes　of　the　Iroquois　farther　back　even　than　Hiawatha。　　He　began　at　once　the　story　of　the　warrior　who　learned　to　talk　with　the　deer　and　the　bear；　carrying　it　on　through　many　chapters。　　Now　and　then　a　delighted　listener　would　cry　〃　Hah！〃　but　if　anyone　became　bored　and　fell　asleep　it　was　considered　an　omen　of　misfortune　to　the　sleeper；　and　he　was　chased　ignominiously　to　his　tepee。　　The　Iroquois　romancer　was　better　protected　than　the　white　one　is。　　He　could　finish　some　of　his　stories　in　one　evening；　but　others　were　serials。　　When　he　arrived　at　the　end　of　the　night's　installment　he　would　cry；　〃Si…ga！〃　which　was　equivalent　to　our　〃To　be　continued　in　our　next。〃　　Then　all　would　rise；　and　if　tired　would　seek　sleep；　but　if　not　they　would　catch　the　closing　part　of　some　other　story…teller's　romance。

At　three　fires　Senecas　were　playing　a　peculiar　little　wooden　flute　of　their　own　invention；　that　emitted　wailing　sounds　not　without　a　certain　sweetness。　　In　a　corner　a　half　dozen　warriors　hurt　in　battle　were　bathing　their　wounds　with　a　soothing　lotion　made　from　the　sap　of　the　bass　wood。

Henry　lingered　a　while　in　the　darkest　corners；　witnessing　the　feasting；　hearing　the　flutes　and　the　chants；　listening　for　a　space　to　the　story…tellers　and　the　enthusiastic　〃Hahs！〃　　They　were　so　full　of　feasting　and　merrymaking　now　that　one　could　almost　do　as　he　pleased；　and　he　stole　toward　the　southern　end　of　the　village；　where　he　had　noticed　several　huts；　much　more　strongly　built　than　the　others。　　Despite　all　his　natural　skill　and　experience　his　heart　beat　very　fast　when　he　came　to　the　first。　　He　was　about　to　achieve　the　great　exploration　upon　which　he　had　ventured　so　much。　　Whether　he　would　find　anything　at　the　end　of　the　risk　he　ran；　he　was　soon　to　see。

The　hut；　about　seven　feet　square　and　as　many　feet　in　height；　was　built　strongly　of　poles；　with　a　small　entrance　closed　by　a　clapboard　door　fastened　stoutly　on　the　outside　with　withes。　　The　hut　was　well　in　the　shadow　of　tepees；　and　all　were　still　at　the　feasting　and　merrymaking。　　He　cut　the　withes　with　two　sweeps　of　his　sharp　hunting　knife；　opened　the　door；　bent　his　head；　stepped　in　and　then　closed　the　door　behind　him；　in　order　that　no　Iroquois　might　see　what　had　happened。

It　was　not　wholly　dark　in　the　hut；　as　there　were　cracks　between　the　poles；　and　bars　of　moonlight　entered；　falling　upon　a　floor　of　bark。　　They　revealed　also　a　figure　lying　full　length　on　one　side　of　the　but。　　A　great　pulse　of　joy　leaped　up　in　Henry's　throat；　and　with　it　was　a　deep　pity；　also。　　The　figure　was　that　of　Shif'less　Sol；　but　be　was　pale　and　thin；　and　his　arms　and　legs　were　securely　bound　with　thongs　of　deerskin。

Leaning　over；　Henry　cut　the　thongs　of　the　shiftless　one；　but　he　did　not　stir。　　Great　forester　that　Shif'less　Sol　was；　and　usually　so　sensitive　to　the　lightest　movement；　be　perceived　nothing　now；　and；　had　he　not　found　him　bound；　Henry　would　have　been　afraid　that　he　was　looking　upon　his　dead　comrade。　　The　hands　of　the　shiftless　one；　when　the　hands　were　cut；　had　fallen　limply　by　his　side；　and　his　face　looked　all　the　more　pallid　by　contrast　with　the　yellow　hair　which　fell　in　length　about　it。　　But　it　was　his　old…time　friend；　the　dauntless　Shif'less　Sol；　the　last　of　the　five　to　vanish　so　mysteriously。

Henry　bent　down　and　pulled　him　by　the　shoulder。　　The　captive　yawned；　stretched　himself　a　little；　and　lay　still　again　with　closed　eyes。　　Henry　shook　him　a　second　time　and　more　violently。　　Shif'less　Sol　sat　up　quickly；　and　Henry　knew　that　indignation　prompted　the　movement。　　Sol　held　his　arms　and　legs　stiffly　and　seemed　to　be　totally　unconscious　that　they　were　unbound。　　He　cast　one　glance　upward；　and　in　the　dim　light　saw　the　tall　warrior　bending　over　him。

〃I'll　never　do　it；　Timmendiquas　or　White　Lightning；　whichever　name　you　like　better！〃　he　exclaimed。　　〃I　won't　show　you　how　to　surprise　the　white　settlements。　　You　can　burn　me　at　the　stake　or　tear　me　in　pieces　first。　　Now　go　away　and　let　me　sleep。〃

He　sank　back　on　the　bark；　and　started　to　close　his　eyes　again。　　It　was　then　that　he　noticed　for　the　first　time　that　his　hands　were　unbound。　　He　held　them　up　before　his　face；　as　if　they　were　strange　objects　wholly　unattached　to　himself；　and　gazed　at　them　in　amazement。　　He　moved　his　legs　and　saw　that　they；　too；　were　unbound。　　Then　he　turned　his　startled　gaze　upward　at　the　face　of　the　tall　warrior　who　was　looking　down　at　him。　　Shif'less　Sol　was　wholly　awake　now。　　Every　faculty　in　him　was　alive；　and　he　pierced　through　the　Shawnee　disguise。　　He　knew　who　it　was。　　He　knew　who　had　come　to　save　him；　and　he　sprang　to　his　feet；　exclaiming　the　one　word：

〃Henry！〃

The　hands　of　the　comrades　met　in　the　clasp　of　friendship　which　only　many　dangers　endured　together　can　give。

〃How　did　you　get　here？〃　asked　the　shiftless　one　in　a　whisper。

〃I　met　an　Indian　in　the　forest；〃　replied　Henry；　〃and　well　I　am　now　he。〃

Shif'less　Sol　laughed　under　his　breath。

〃I　see；〃　said　he；　〃but　how　did　you　get　through　the　camp？　　It's　a　big　one；　and　the　Iroquois　are　watchful。　　Timmendiquas　is　here；　too；　with　his　Wyandots。〃

〃They　are　having　a　great　feast；〃　replied　Henry；　〃and　I　could　go　about　almost　unnoticed。　　Where　are　the　others；　Sol？〃

〃In　the　cabins　close　by。〃

〃Then　we'll　get　out　of　this　place。　　Quick！　　Tie　up　your　hair！　　In　the　darkness　you　can　easily　pass　for　an　Indian。〃

The　shiftless　one　drew　his　hair　into　a　scalp　lock；　and　the　two　slipped　from　the　cabin；　closing　the　door　behind　them　and　deftly　retying　the　thongs；　in　order　that　the　discovery　of　the　escape　might　occur　as　late　as　possible。　　Then　they　stood　a　few　moments　in　the　shadow　of　the　hut　and　listened　to　the　sounds　of　revelry；　the　monotone　of　the　story…tellers；　and　the　chant　of　the　singers。

〃You　don't　know　which　huts　they　are　in；　do　you？〃　asked　Henry；　anxiously。

〃No；　I　don't；〃　replied　tile　shiftless　one。

〃Get　back！〃　exclaimed　Henry　softly。　　〃Don't　you　see　who's　passing　out　there？〃

〃Braxton　Wyatt；〃　said　Sol。　〃I'd　like　to　get　my　hands　on　that　scoundrel。　　I've　had　to　stand　a　lot　from　him。〃

〃The　score　must　wait。　　But　first　we'll　provide　you　with　weapons。