the scouts of the valley-第16章

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〃I'm　a　pow'ful　lazy　man；　ez　you　know；　Saplin'；〃　he　said；　〃but　I'm　goin'　to　help　you　pick　them　turkeys　an'　get　'em　ready　for　the　coals。　　The　quicker　they　are　cooked　the　better　it'll　suit　me。〃

While　they　were　cooking　the　turkeys；　Henry；　a　little　anxious　lest　the　sound　of　the　shots　had　been　heard；　crossed　on　the　stepping　stones　and　scouted　a　bit　in　the　woods。　　But　there　was　no　sign　of　Indian　presence；　and；　relieved；　he　returned　to　the　islet　just　as　breakfast　was　ready。

Long　Jim　had　exerted　all　his　surpassing　skill；　and　it　was　a　contented　five　that　worked　on　one　of　the　turkeys　…　the　other　two　being　saved　for　further　needs。

〃What's　goin'　to　be　the　next　thing　in　the　line　of　our　duty；　Henry？〃　asked　Long　Jim　as　they　ate。

〃We'll　have　plenty　to　do；　from　all　that　Sol　tells　us；〃　replied　the　boy。　　〃It　seems　that　they　felt　so　sure　of　you；　while　you　were　prisoners；　that　they　often　talked　about　their　plans　where　you　could　hear　them。　　Sol　has　told　me　of　two　or　three　talks　between　Timmendiquas　and　Thayendanegea；　and　from　the　last　one　he　gathered　that　they're　intending　a　raid　with　a　big　army　against　a　place　called　Wyoming；　in　the　valley　of　a　river　named　the　Susquehanna。　　It's　a　big　settlement；　scattered　all　along　the　river；　and　they　expect　to　take　a　lot　of　scalps。　　They're　going　to　be　helped　by　British　from　Canada　and　Tories。　　Boys；　we're　a　long　way　from　home；　but　shall　we　go　and　tell　them　in　Wyoming　what's　coming？〃

〃Of　course；〃　said　the　four　together。

〃Our　bein'　a　long　way　from　home　don't　make　any　difference　〃　said　Shif'less　Sol。　　〃We're　generally　a　long　way　from　home；　an'　you　know　we　sent　word　back　from　Pittsburgh　to　Wareville　that　we　wuz　stayin'　a　while　here　in　the　east　on　mighty　important　business。〃

〃Then　we　go　to　the　Wyoming　Valley　as　straight　and　as　fast　as　we　can；〃　said　Henry。　　〃That's　settled。　　What　else　did　you　bear　about　their　plans；　Sol？〃

〃They're　to　break　up　the　village　here　soon　and　then　they'll　march　to　a　place　called　Tioga。　　The　white　men　an'　I　hear　that's　to　be　a　lot　uv　'em…will　join　'em　thar　or　sooner。　　They've　sent　chiefs　all　the　way　to　our　Congress　at　Philydelphy；　pretendin'　peace；　an'　then；　when　they　git　our　people　to　thinkin'　peace；　they'll　jump　on　our　settlements；　the　whole　ragin'　army　uv　'em；　with　tomahawk　an'　knife。　　A　white　man　named　John　Butler　is　to　command　'em。〃

Paul　shuddered。

〃I've　heard　of　him；〃　he　said。　　〃They　called　him　'Indian'　Butler　at　Pittsburgh。　　He　helped　lead　the　Indians　in　that　terrible　battle　of　the　Oriskany　last　year。　　And　they　say　he's　got　a　son；　Walter　Butler；　who　is　as　bad　as　he　is；　and　there　are　other　white　leaders　of　the　Indians；　the　Johnsons　and　Claus。〃

〃'Pears　ez　ef　we　would　be　needed；〃　said　Tom　Ross。　　

〃I　don't　think　we　ought　to　hurry；〃　said　Henry。　　The　more　we　know　about　the　Indian　plans　the　better　it　will　be　for　the　Wyoming　people。　　We've　a　safe　and　comfortable　hiding　place　here；　and　we　can　stay　and　watch　the　Indian　movements。〃

〃Suits　me；〃　drawled　Shif'less　Sol。　　〃My　legs　an'　arms　are　still　stiff　from　them　deerskin　thongs　an'　ez　Long　Jim　is　here　now　to　wait　on　me　I　guess　I'll　take　a　rest　from　travelin。〃

〃You'll　do　all　your　own　waitin'　on　yourself；〃　rejoined　Long　Jim；　　'an　I'm　afraid　you　won't　be　waited　on　so　Pow'ful　well；　either；　but　a　good　deal　better　than　you　deserve。〃

They　lay　on　the　islet　several　days；　meanwhile　keeping　a　close　watch　on　the　Indian　camp。　　They　really　had　little　to　fear　except　from　hunting　parties；　as　the　region　was　far　from　any　settled　portion　of　the　country；　and　the　Indians　were　not　likely　to　suspect　their　continued　presence。　　But　the　hunters　were　numerous；　and　all　the　squaws　in　the　camp　were　busy　jerking　meat。　　It　was　obvious　that　the　Indians　were　preparing　for　a　great　campaign；　but　that　they　would　take　their　own　time。　　Most　of　the　scouting　was　done　by　Henry　and　Sol；　and　several　times　they　lay　in　the　thick　brushwood　and　watched；　by　the　light　of　the　fires；　what　was　passing　in　the　Indian　camp。

On　the　fifth　night　after　the　rescue　of　Long　Jim；　Henry　and　Shif'less　Sol　lay　in　the　covert。　　It　was　nearly　midnight；　but　the　fires　still　burned　in　the　Indian　camp；　warriors　were　polishing　their　weapons；　and　the　women　were　cutting　up　or　jerking　meat。　　While　they　were　watching　they　heard　from　a　point　to　the　north　the　sound　of　a　voice　rising　and　failing　in　a　kind　of　chant。

〃Another　war　party　comin'；〃　whispered　Shif'less　Sol；　〃an'　singin'　about　the　victories　that　they're　goin'　to　win。〃

〃But　did　you　notice　that　voice？〃　Henry　whispered　back。　　〃　It's　not　a　man's；　it's　a　woman's。〃

〃Now　that　you　speak　of　it；　you're　right；〃　said　Shif'less　Sol。　　〃It's　funny　to　hear　an　Injun　woman　chantin'　about　battles　as　she　comes　into　camp。　　That's　the　business　o'　warriors。〃

〃Then　this　is　no　ordinary　woman；〃　said　Henry。

〃They'll　pass　along　that　trail　there　within　twenty　yards　of　us；　Sol；　and　we　want　to　see　her。〃

〃So　we　do；〃　said　Sol；　〃but　I　ain't　breathin'　while　they　pass。〃

They　flattened　themselves　against　the　earth　until　the　keenest　eye　could　not　see　them　in　the　darkness。　　All　the　time　the　singing　was　growing　louder；　and　both　remained；　quite　sure　that　it　was　the　voice　of　a　woman。　　The　trail　was　but　a　short　distance　away；　and　the　moon　was　bright。　　The　fierce　Indian　chant　swelled；　and　presently　the　most　。singular　figure　that　either　had　ever　seen　came　into　view。

The　figure　was　that　of　an　Indian　woman；　but　lighter　in　color　than　most　of　her　kind。　　She　was　middle…aged；　tall；　heavily　built；　and　arrayed　in　a　strange　mixture　of　civilized　and　barbaric　finery；　deerskin　leggins　and　moccasins　gorgeously　ornamented　with　heads；　a　red　dress　of　European　cloth　with　a　red　shawl　over　it；　and　her　head　bare　except　for　bright　feathers；　thrust　in　her　long　black　hair；　which　hung　loosely　down　her　back。　　She　held　in　one　hand　a　large　sharp　tomahawk；　which　she　swung　fiercely　in　time　to　her　song。　　Her　face　had　the　rapt；　terrible　expression　of　one　who　had　taken　some　fiery　and　powerful　drug；　and　she　looked　neither　to　right　nor　to　left　as　she　strode　on；　chanting　a　song　of　blood；　and　swinging　the　keen　blade。

Henry　and　Shif'less　Sol　shuddered。　　They　had　looked　upon　terrible　human　figures；　but　nothing　so　frightful　as　this；　a　woman　with　the　strength　of　a　man　and　twice　his　rage　and　cruelty。　　There　was　something　weird　and　awful　in　the　look　of　that　set；　savage　face；　and　the　tone　of　that　Indian　chant。　　Brave　as　they　were；　Henry　and　the　shiftless　one　felt　fear；　as　perhaps　they　had　never　felt　it　before　in　their　lives。　　Well　they　might！　　They　were　destined　to　behold　this　woman　again；　under　conditions　the　most　awful　of　which　the　human　mind　can　conceive；　and　to　witness　savagery　almost　unbelievable　in　either　man　or　woman。　　The　two　did　not　yet　know　it；　but　they　were　looking　upon　Catharine　Montour；　daughter　of　a　French　Governor　General　of　Canada　and　an　Indian　woman；　a　chieftainess　of　the　Iroquois；　and　of　a　memory　infamous　forever　on　the　border；　where　she　was　known　as　〃Queen　Esther。〃

Shif'less　Sol　shuddered　again；　and　whispered　to　Henry：

〃I　didn't　think　such　women　ever　lived；　even　among　the　Indians。〃

A　dozen　warriors　followed　Queen　Esther；　stepping　in　single　file；　and　their　manner　showed　that　they　acknowledged　her　their　leader　in　every　sense。　　She　was　truly　an　extraordinary　woman。　　Not　even　the　great　Thayendanegea　himself　wielded　a　stronger　influence　among　the　Iroquois。　　In　her　youth　she　had　been　treated　as　a　white　woman；　educated　and　dressed　as　a　white　woman；　and　she　had　played　a　part　in　colonial　society　at　Albany；　New　York；　and　Philadelphia。　　But　of　her　own　accord　she　had　turned　toward　the　savage　half　of　herself；　had　become　wholly　a　savage；　had　married　a　savage　chief；　bad　been　the　mother　of　savage　children；　and　here　she　was；　at　midnight；　striding　into　an　Iroquois　camp　in　the　wilderness；　her　head　aflame　with　visions　of　blood；　death；　and　scalps。

The　procession　passed　with　the　terrifying　female　figure　still　leading；　still　singing　her　chant；　and　the　curiosity　of　Henry　and　Shif'less　Sol　was　so　intense　that；　taking　all　risks；　they　slipped　along　in　the　rear　to　see　her　entry。

Queen　Esther　strode　into　the　lighted　area　of　the　camp；　ceased　her　chant；　and　looked　around；　as　if　a　queen　had　truly　come　and　was　waiting　to　be　welcomed　by　her　subjects。　　Thayendanegea；　who　evidently　expected　her；　stepped　forward　and　gave　her　the　Indian　salute。　　It　may　be　that　he　received　her　with　mild　enthusiasm。　　Timmendiquas；　a　Wyandot　and　a　guest；　though　an　ally；　would　not　dispute　with　him　his　place　as　real　head　of　the　Six　Nations；　but　this　terrible　woman　was　his　match　'　and　could　inflame　the　Iroquois　to　almost　anything　that　she　wished。

After　the　arrival　of　Queen　Esther　the　lights　in　the　Iroquois　village　died　down。　　It　was　evident　to　both　Henry　and　the　shiftless　one　that　they　had　been　kept　burning　solely　in　the　expectation　of　the　coming　of　this　formidable　woman　and　her　escort。　　It　was　obvious　that　nothing　more　was　to　be　seen　that　night；　and　they　withdrew　swiftly　through　the　forest　toward　their　islet。　　They　stopped　once　in　an　oak　opening；　and　Shif'less　Sol　shivered　slightly。

〃Henry；〃　he　said；　〃I　feel　all　through　me　that　somethin'　terrible　is　comin'。　　That　woman　back　thar　has　clean　give　me　the　shivers。　　I'm　more　afraid　of　her　than　I　am　of　Timmendiquas　or　Thayendanegea。　　Do　you　think　she　is　a　witch？〃

〃There　are　no　such　things　as　witches；　but　she　was　uncanny。　　I'm　afraid；　Sol；　that　your　feeling　about　something　terrible　going　to　happen　is　right。〃

It　was　about　two　o'clock　in　the　morning　when　they　reached　the　islet。　　Tom　Ross　was　awake；　but　the　other　two　slumbered　peacefully　on。　　They　told　Tom　what　they　had　seen；　and　he　told　them　the　identity　of　the　terrible　woman。

〃I　heard　about　her　at　Pittsburgh；　an'　I've　heard　tell；　too；　about　her　afore　I　went　to　Kentucky　to　live。　　She's　got　a　tre…men…jeous　power　over　the　Iroquois。　　They　think　she　ken　throw　spells；　an'　all　that　sort　of　thing…an'　mebbe　she　kin。〃

Two　nights　later　it　was　Henry　and　Tom　who　lay　in　the　thickets；　and　then　they　saw　other　formidable　arrivals　in　the　Indian　camp。　　Now　they　were　white　men；　an　entire　company　in　green　uniforms；　Sir　John　Johnson's　Royal　Greens；　as　Henry　afterward　learned；　and　with　them　was　the　infamous　John　Butler；　or　〃　Indian〃　Butler；　as　he　was　generally　known　on　the　New　York　and　Pennsylvania　frontier；　middle…aged；　short　and　fat；　and　insignificant　of　appearance；　but　energetic；　savage　and　cruel　in　nature。　　He　was　a　descendant　of　the　Duke　of　Ormond；　and　had　commanded　the　Indians　at　the　terrible　battle　of　the　Oriskany；　preceding　Burgoyne's　capture　the　year　before。

Henry　and　Tom　were　distant　spectators　at　an　extraordinary　council　around　one　of　the　fires。　　In　this　group　were　Timmendiquas；　Thayendanegea；　Queen　Esther；　high　chiefs　of　the　distant　nations；　and　the　white　men；　John　Butler；　Moses　Blackstaffe；　and　the　boy；　Braxton　Wyatt。　　It　seemed　to　Henry　that　Timmendiquas；　King　of　the　Wyandots；　was　superior　to　all　the　other　chiefs　present；　even　to　Thayendanegea。　　His　expression　was　nobler　than　that　of　the　great　Mohawk；　and　it　had　less　of　the　Indian　cruelty。

Henry　and　Tom　could　not　hear　'anything　that　was　said；　but　they　felt　sure　the　Iroquois　were　about　to　break　up　their　village　and　march　on　the　great　campaign　they　had　planned。　　The　two　and　their　comrades　could　render　no　greater　service　than　to　watch　their　march；　and　then　warn　those　upon　w