the scouts of the valley-第17章

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es　could　render　no　greater　service　than　to　watch　their　march；　and　then　warn　those　upon　whom　the　blow　was　to　fall。

The　five　left　their　hut　on　the　islet　early　the　next　morning；　well　equipped　with　provisions；　and　that　day　they　saw　the　Iroquois　dismantle　their　village；　all　except　the　Long　House　and　two　or　three　other　of　the　more　solid　structures；　and　begin　the　march。　　Henry　and　his　comrades　went　parallel　with　them；　watching　their　movements　as　closely　as　possible。




CHAPTER　VIII

A　CHANGE　OF　TENANTS


The　five　were　engaged　upon　one　of　their　most　dangerous　tasks；　to　keep　with　the　Indian　army；　and　yet　to　keep　out　of　its　hands；　to　observe　what　was　going　on；　and　to　divine　what　was　intended　from　what　they　observed。　　Fortunately　it；　was　early　summer；　and　the　weather　being　very　beautiful　they　could　sleep　without　shelter。　　Hence　they　found　it　convenient　to　sleep　sometimes　by　daylight；　posting　a　watch　always；　and　to　spy　upon　the　Indian　camp　at　night。　　They　saw　other　reinforcements　come　for　the　Indian　army；　particularly　a　strong　division　of　Senecas；　under　two　great　war　chiefs　of　theirs；　Sangerachte　and　Hiokatoo；　and　also　a　body　of　Tories。

Then　they　saw　them　go　into　their　last　great　camp　at　Tioga；　preparatory　to　their　swift　descent　upon　the　Wyoming　Valley。　　About　four　hundred　white　men；　English　Canadians　and　Tories；　were　present；　and　eight　hundred　picked　warriors　of　the　Six　Nations　under　Thayendanegea；　besides　the　little　band　of　Wyandots　led　by　the　resolute　Timmendiquas。　　〃Indian〃　Butler　was　in　general　command　of　the　whole；　and　Queen　Esther　was　the　high　priestess　of　the　Indians；　continually　making　fiery　speeches　and　chanting　songs　that　made　the　warriors　see　red。　　Upon　the　rear　of　this　extraordinary　army　hung　a　band　of　fierce　old　squaws；　from　whom　every　remnant　of　mercy　and　Gentleness　had　departed。

From　a　high　rock　overlooking　a　valley　the　five　saw　〃Indian〃　Butler's　force　start　for　its　final　march　upon　Wyoming。　　It　was　composed　of　many　diverse　elements；　and　perhaps　none　more　bloodthirsty　ever　trod　the　soil　of　America。　　In　some　preliminary　skirmish　a　son　of　Queen　Esther　had　been　slain；　and　now　her　fury　knew　no　limits。　　She　took　her　place　at　the　very　head　of　the　army；　whirling　her　great　tomahawk　about　her　head；　and　neither　〃Indian〃　Butler　nor　Thayendanegea　dared　to　interfere　with　her　in　anything　great　or　small。

Henry　and　his　comrades；　as　they　left　their　rock　and　hastened　toward　the　valley　of　Wyoming；　felt　that　now　they　were　coming　into　contact　with　the　great　war　itself。　　They　had　looked　upon　a　uniformed　enemy　for　the　first　time；　and　they　might　soon　see　the　colonial　buff　and　blue　of　the　eastern　army。　　Their　hearts　thrilled　high　at　new　scenes　and　new　dangers。

They　had　gathered　at　Pittsburgh；　and；　through　the　captivity　of　the　four　in　the　Iroquois　camp；　they　had　some　general　idea　of　the　Wyoming　Valley　and　the　direction　in　which　it　lay；　and；　taking　one　last　look　at　the　savage　army；　they　sped　toward　it。　　The　time　was　the　close；　of　June；　and　the　foliage　was　still　dark　green。　　It　was　a　land　of　low　mountain；　hill；　rich　valley；　and　clear　stream；　and　it　was　beautiful　to　every　one　of　the　five。　　Much　of　their　course　lay　along　the　Susquehanna；　and　soon　they　saw　signs　of　a　more　extended　cultivation　than　any　that　was　yet　to　be　witnessed　in　Kentucky。　　From　the　brow　of　a　little　hill　they　beheld　a　field　of　green；　and　in　another　field　a　man　plowing。

〃That's　wheat；〃　said　Tom　Ross。

〃But　we　can't　leave　the　man　to　plow；〃　said　Henry；　〃or　he'll　never　harvest　that　wheat。　　We'll　warn　him。〃

The　man　uttered　a　cry　of　alarm　as　five　wild　figures　burst　into　his　field。　　He　stopped　abruptly；　and　snatched　up　a　rifle　that　lay　across　the　plow　handles。　　Neither　Henry　nor　his　companions　realized　that　their　forest　garb　and　long　life　in　the　wilderness　made　them　look　more　like　Indians　than　white　men。　　But　Henry　threw　up　a　hand　as　a　sign　of　peace。

〃We're　white　like　yourselves；〃　he　cried；　〃and　we've　come　to　warn　you！　　The　Iroquois　and　the　Tories　are　marching　into　the　valley！〃

The　man's　face　blanched；　and　he　cast　a　hasty　look　toward　a　little　wood；　where　stood　a　cabin　from　which　smoke　was　rising。　　He　could　not　doubt　on　a　near　view　that　these　were　white　like　himself；　and　the　words　rang　true。

〃My　house　is　strong；〃　he　said；　〃and　I　can　beat　them　off。　　Maybe　you　will　help　me。〃

〃We'd　help　you　willingly　enough；〃　said　Henry；　〃if　this　were　any　ordinary　raiding　band；　but　'Indian'　Butler；　Brant；　and　Queen　Esther　are　coming　at　the　head　of　twelve　or　fifteen　hundred　men。　　How　could　we　hold　a　house；　no　matter　how　thick　its　walls；　against　such　an　army　as　that？　　Don't　hesitate　a　moment！　　Get　up　what　you　can　and　gallop。〃

The　man；　a　Connecticut　settler…Jennings　was　his　name…left　his　plow　in　the　furrow；　galloped　on　his　horse　to　his　house；　mounted　his　wife　and　children　on　other　horses；　and；　taking　only　food　and　clothing；　fled　to　Stroudsburg；　where　there　was　a　strong　fort。　　At　a　later　day　he　gave　Henry　heartfelt　thanks　for　his　warning；　as　six　hours　afterward　the　vanguard　of　the　horde　burned　　his　home　and　raged　because　its　owner　and　his　family　were　gone　with　their　scalps　on　their　own　heads。

The　five　were　now　well　into　the　Wyoming　Valley；　where　the　Lenni…Lenape；　until　they　were　pushed　westward　by　other　tribes；　had　had　their　village　Wy…wa…mieh；　which　means　in　their　language　Wyoming。　　It　was　a　beautiful　valley　running　twenty　miles　or　more　along　the　Susquehanna；　and　about　three　miles　broad。　　On　either　side　rose　mountain　walls　a　thousand　feet　in　height；　and　further　away　were　peaks　with　mists　and　vapors　around　their　crests。　　The　valley　itself　blazed　in　the　summer　sunshine；　and　the　river　sparkled；　now　in　gold；　now　in　silver；　as　the　light　changed　and　fell。

More　cultivated　fields；　more　houses；　generally　of　stout　logs；　appeared；　and　to　all　that　they　saw　the　five　bore　the　fiery　beacon。　　Simon　Jennings　was　not　the　only　man　who　lived　to　thank　them　for　the　warning。　　Others　were　incredulous；　and　soon　paid　the　terrible　price　of　unbelief。

The　five　hastened　on；　and　as　they　went　they　looked　about　them　with　wondering　eyes…there　were　so　many　houses；　so　many　cultivated　fields；　and　so　many　signs　of　a　numerous　population。　　They　had　emerged　almost　for　the　first　time　from　the　wilderness；　excepting　their　memorable　visit　to　New　Orleans；　although　this　was　a　very　different　region。　　Long　Jim　spoke　of　it。

〃I　think　I　like　it　better　here　than　at　New　Or…leeyuns；〃　he　said。　　〃We　found　some　nice　Frenchmen　an'　Spaniards　down　thar；　but　the　ground　feels　firmer　under　my　feet　here。〃

〃The　ground　feels　firmer；〃　said　Paul；　who　had　some　of　the　prescience　of　the　seer；　〃but　the　skies　are　no　brighter。　　They　look　red　to　me　sometimes；　Jim。〃

Tom　Ross　glanced　at　Paul　and　shook　his　head　ominously。　　A　woodsman；　he　had　his　superstitions；　and　Paul's　words　weighed　upon　his　mind。　　He　began　to　fear　a　great　disaster；　and　his　experienced　eye　perceived　at　once　the　defenseless　state　of　the　valley。　　He　remembered　the　council　of　the　great　Indian　force　in　the　deep　woods；　and　the　terrible　face　of　Queen　Esther　was　again　before　him。

〃These　people　ought　to　be　in　blockhouses；　every　one　uv　'em；〃　he　said。　　〃It　ain't　no　time　to　be　plowin'　land。〃

Yet　peace　seemed　to　brood　still　over　the　valley。　　It　was　a　fine　river；　beautiful　with　changing　colors。　　The　soil　on　either　side　was　as　deep　and　fertile　as　that　of　Kentucky；　and　the　line　of　the　mountains　cut　the　sky　sharp　and　clear。　　Hills　and　slopes　were　dark　green　with　foliage。

It　must　have　been　a　gran'　huntin'　ground　once；〃　said　Shif'less　Sol。

The　alarm　that　the　five　gave　spread　fast；　and　other　hunters　and　scouts　came　in；　confirming　it。　　Panic　seized　the　settlers；　and　they　began　to　crowd　toward　Forty　Fort　on　the　west　side　of　the　river。　　Henry　and　his　comrades　themselves　arrived　there　toward　the　close　of　evening；　just　as　the　sun　had　set；　blood　red；　behind　the　mountains。　　Some　report　of　them　had　preceded　their　coming；　and　as　soon　as　they　had　eaten　they　were　summoned　to　the　presence　of　Colonel　Zebulon　Butler；　who　commanded　the　military　force　in　the　valley。　　Singularly　enough；　he　was　a　cousin　of　〃Indian〃　Butler；　who　led　the　invading　army。

The　five；　dressed　in　deerskin　hunting　shirts；　leggins；　and　moccasins；　and　everyone　carrying　a　rifle；　hatchet；　and　knife；　entered　a　large　low　room；　dimly　lighted　by　some　wicks　burning　in　tallow。　　A　man　of　middle　years；　with　a　keen　New　England　face；　sat　at　a　little　table；　and　several　others　of　varying　ages　stood　near。

The　five　knew　instinctively　that　the　man　at　the　table　　was　Colonel　Butler；　and　they　bowed；　but　they　did　not　show　the　faintest　trace　of　subservience。　　They　had　caught　suspicious　glances　from　some　of　the　officers　who　stood　about　the　commander；　and　they　stiffened　at　once。　　Colonel　Butler　looked　involuntarily　at　Henry…everybody　always　took　him；　without　the　telling；　for　leader　of　the　group。

〃We　have　had　report　of　you；〃　he　said　in　cool　noncommittal　tones；〃　and　you　have　been　telling　of　great　Indian　councils　that　you　have　seen　in　the　woods。　　May　I　ask　your　name　and　where　you　belong？〃

〃My　name；〃　replied　Henry　with　dignity；　〃is　Henry　Ware；　and　I　come　from　Kentucky。　　My　friends　here　are　Paul　Cotter；　Solomon　Hyde；　Tom　Ross；　and　Jim　Hart。　　They；　too；　come　from　Kentucky。〃

Several　of　the　men　gave　the　five　suspicious　glances。　　Certainly　they　were　wild　enough　in　appearance；　and　Kentucky　was　far　away。　　It　would　seem　strange　that　new　settlers　in　that　far　land　should　be　here　in　Pennsylvania。　　Henry　saw　clearly　that　his　story　was　doubted。

〃Kentucky；　you　tell　me？〃　said　Colonel　Butler。　　〃Do　you　mean　to　say　you　have　come　all　that　tremendous　distance　to　warn　us　of　an　attack　by　Indians　and　Tories？〃

Several　of　the　others　murmured　approval；　and　Henry　flushed　a　little；　but　he　saw　that　the　commander　was　not　unreasonable。　　It　was　a　time　when　men　might　well　question　the　words　of　strangers。　　Remembering　this；　he　replied：

〃No；　we　did　not　come　from　Kentucky　just　to　warn　you。　　In　fact；　we　came　from　a　point　much　farther　than　that。　　We　came　from　New　Orleans　to　Pittsburgh　with　a　fleet　loaded　with　supplies　for　the　Continental　armies；　and　commanded　by　Adam　Colfax　of　New　Hampshire。〃

The　face　of　Colonel　Butler　brightened。

〃What！〃　he　exclaimed；　〃you　were　on　that　expedition？　　It　seems　to　me　that　I　recall　hearing　of　great　services　rendered　to　it　by　some　independent　scouts。〃

〃When　we　reached　Pittsburgh；〃　continued　Henry；　〃〃it　was　our　first　intention　to　go　back　to　Kentucky；　but　we　heard　that　a　great　war　movement　was　in　progress　to　the　eastward；　and　we　thought　that　we　would　see　what　was　going　on。　　Four　of　us　have　been　captives　among　the　Iroquois。　　We　know　much　of　their　plans；　and　we　know；　too；　that　Timmendiquas；　the　great　chief　of　the　Wyandots；　whom　we　fought　along　the　Ohio；　has　joined　them　with　a　hand　of　his　best　warriors。　　We　have　also　seen　Thayendanegea；　every　one　of　us。〃

〃You　have　seen　Brant？〃　exclaimed　Colonel　Butler；　calling　the　great　Mohawk　by　his　white　name。

〃Yes；〃　replied　Henry。　　〃We　have　seen　him；　and　we　have　also　seen　the　woman　they　call　Queen　Esther。　　She　is　continually　urging　the　Indians　on。〃

Colonel　Butler　seemed　convinced；　and　invited　them　to　sit　down。　　He　also　introduced　the　officers　who　were　with　him；　Colonel　John　Durkee；　Colonel　Nathan　Dennison；　Lieutenant　Colonel　George　Dorrance；　Major　John　Garrett；　Captain　Samuel　Ransom；　Captain　De