the scouts of the valley-第3章

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in　brooks。　　He　did　not　see　the　warriors　again；　but　instinct　warned　him　that　they　were　yet　following。　　At　long　intervals　he　would　rest　for　a　quarter　of　an　hour　or　so　among　the　bushes；　and　at　noon　he　ate　a　little　of　the　venison　that　he　always　carried。　　Three　hours　later　he　came　to　the　river　again；　and　swimming　it　he　turned　on　his　course；　but　kept　to　the　southern　side。　　When　the　twilight　was　falling　once　more　he　sat　still　in　dense　covert　for　a　long　time。　　He　neither　saw　nor　heard　a　sign　of　human　presence；　and　he　was　sure　now　that　the　pursuit　had　failed。　　Without　an　effort　he　dismissed　it　from　his　mind；　ate　a　little　more　of　the　venison；　and　made　his　bed　for　the　night。

The　whole　day　had　been　bright；　with　a　light　wind　blowing；　and　the　forest　was　dry　once　more。　　As　far　as　Henry　could　see　it　circled　away　on　every　side；　a　solid　dark　green；　the　leaves　of　oak　and　beech；　maple　and　elm　making　a　soft；　sighing　sound　as　they　waved　gently　in　the　wind。　　It　told　Henry　of　nothing　but　peace。　　He　had　eluded　the　pursuit；　hence　it　was　no　more。　　This　was　a　great；　friendly　forest；　ready　to　shelter　him；　to　soothe　him；　and　to　receive　him　into　its　arms　for　peaceful　sleep。

He　found　a　place　among　thick　trees　where　the　leaves　of　last　year　lay　deep　upon　the　ground。　　He　drew　up　enough　of　them　for　a　soft　bed；　because　now　and　for　the　moment　he　was　a　forest　sybarite。　　He　was　wise　enough　to　take　his　ease　when　he　found　it；　knowing　that　it　would　pay　his　body　to　relax。

He　lay　down　upon　the　leaves；　placed　the　rifle　by　his　side；　and　spread　the　blanket　over　himself　and　the　weapon。　　The　twilight　was　gone；　and　the　night；　dark　and　without　stars；　as　he　wished　to　see　it；　rolled　up；　fold　after　fold；　covering　and　hiding　everything。　　He　looked　a　little　while　at　a　breadth　of　inky　sky　showing　through　the　leaves；　and　then；　free　from　trouble　or　fear；　he　fell　asleep。





CHAPTER　II

THE　MYSTERIOUS　HAND


Henry　slept　until　a　rosy　light；　filtering　through　the　leaves；　fell　upon　his　face。　　Then　he　sprang　up；　folded　the　blanket　once　more　upon　his　back；　and　looked　about　him。　　Nothing　had　come　in　the　night　to　disturb　him；　no　enemy　was　near；　and　the　morning　sun　was　bright　and　beautiful。　　The　venison　was　exhausted；　but　he　bathed　his　face　in　the　brook　and　resumed　his　journey；　traveling　with　a　long；　swift　stride　that　carried　him　at　great　speed。

The　boy　was　making　for　a　definite　point；　one　that　he　knew　well；　although　nearly　all　the　rest　of　this　wilderness　was　strange　to　him。　　The　country　here　was　rougher　than　it　usually　is　in　the　great　valley　to　the　west；　and　as　he　advanced　it　became　yet　more　broken；　range　after　range　of　steep；　stony　hills；　with　fertile　but　narrow　little　valleys　between。　　He　went　on　without　hesitation　for　at　least　two　hours；　and　then　stopping　under　a　great　oak　he　uttered　a　long；　whining　cry；　much　like　the　howl　of　a　wolf。

It　was　not　a　loud　note；　but　it　was　singularly　penetrating；　carrying　far　through　the　forest。　　A　sound　like　an　echo　came　back；　but　Henry　knew　that　instead　of　an　echo　it　was　a　reply　to　his　own　signal。　　Then　he　advanced　boldly　and　swiftly　and　came　to　the　edge　of　a　snug　little　valley　set　deep　among　rocks　and　trees　like　a　bowl。　　He　stopped　behind　the　great　trunk　of　a　beech；　and　looked　into　the　valley　with　a　smile　of　approval。

Four　human　figures　were　seated　around　a　fire　of　smoldering　coals　that　gave　forth　no　smoke。　　They　appeared　to　be　absorbed　in　some　very　pleasant　task；　and　a　faint　odor　that　came　to　Henry's　nostrils　filled　him　with　agreeable　anticipations。　　He　stepped　forward　boldly　and　called：

〃Jim；　save　that　piece　for　me！〃

Long　Jim　Hart　halted　in　mid…air　the　large　slice　of　venison　that　he　had　toasted　on　a　stick。　　Paul　Cotter　sprang　joyfully　to　his　feet；　Silent　Tom　Ross　merely　looked　up；　but　Shif'less　Sol　said：

〃Thought　Henry　would　be　here　in　time　for　breakfast。〃

Henry　walked　down　in　the　valley；　and　the　shiftless　one　regarded　him　keenly。

〃I　should　judge；　Henry　Ware；　that　you've　been　hevin'　a　foot　race；〃　he　drawled。

〃And　why　do　you　think　that？〃　asked　Henry。

〃I　kin　see　where　the　briars　hev　been　rakin'　across　your　leggins。　　Reckon　that　wouldn't　happen；　'less　you　was　in　a　pow'ful　hurry。〃

〃You're　right；〃　said　Henry。　　〃Now；　Jim；　you've　been　holding　that　venison　in　the　air　long　enough。　　Give　it　to　me；　and　after　I've　eaten　it　I'll　tell　you　all　that　I've　been　doing；　and　all　that's　been　done　to　me。〃

Long　Jim　handed　him　the　slice。　Henry　took　a　comfortable　seat　in　the　circle　before　the　coals；　and　ate　with　all　the　appetite　of　a　powerful　human　creature　whose　food　had　been　more　than　scanty　for　at　least　two　days。

〃Take　another　piece；〃　said　Long　Jim；　observing　him　with　approval。　　〃Take　two　pieces；　take　three；　take　the　whole　deer。　　I　always　like　to　see　a　hungry　man　eat。　　It　gives　him　sech　satisfaction　that　I　git　a　kind　uv　taste　uv　it　myself。〃

Henry　did　not　offer　a　word　'of　explanation　until　his　breakfast　was　over。　　Then　lie　leaned　back；　sighing　twice　with　deep　content；　and　said：

〃Boys；　I've　got　a　lot　to　tell。〃

Shif'less　Sol　moved　into　an　easier　position　on　the　leaves。

〃I　guess　it　has　somethin'　to　do　with　them　scratches　on　your　leggins。〃

〃It　has；〃　continued　Henry　with　emphasis；〃　and　I　want　to　say　to　you　boys　that　I've　seen　Timmendiquas；　the　great　White　Lightning　of　the　Wyandots。〃

〃Timmendiquas！〃　exclaimed　the　others　together。

〃No　less　a　man　than　he；〃　resumed　Henry。　　〃　I've　looked　upon　his　very　face；　I've　seen　him　in　camp　with　warriors；　and　I've　had　the　honor　of　being　pursued　by　him　and　his　men　more　hours　than　I　can　tell。　　That's　why　you　see　those　briar　scratches　on　my　leggins；　Sol。〃

〃Then　we　cannot　doubt　that　he　is　here　to　stir　the　Six　Nations　to　continued　war；〃　said　Paul　Cotter；　〃and　he　will　succeed。　　He　is　a　mighty　chief；　and　his　fire　and　eloquence　will　make　them　take　up　the　hatchet。　　I'm　glad　that　we've　come。　　We　delayed　a　league　once　between　the　Shawnees　and　the　Miamis；　I　don't　think　we　can　stop　this　one；　but　we　may　get　some　people　out　of　the　way　before　the　blow　falls。〃

〃Who　are　these　Six　Nations；　whose　name　sounds　so　pow'ful　big　up　here？〃　asked　Long　Jim。

〃Their　name　is　as　big　as　it　sounds；〃　replied　Henry。　　They　are　the　Onondagas；　the　Mohawks；　Oneidas；　Senecas；　Cayugas；　and　Tuscaroras。　　They　used　to　be　the　Five　Nations；　but　the　Tuscaroras　came　up　from　the　south　and　fought　against　them　so　bravely　that　they　were　adopted　into　the　league；　as　a　new　and　friendly　tribe。　　The　Onondagas；　so　I've　heard；　formed　the　league　a　long；　long　time　ago；　and　their　head　chief　is　the　grand　sachem　or　high　priest　of　them　all；　but　the　head　chief　of　the　Mohawks　is　the　leading　war　chief。〃

〃I've　heard；〃　said　Paul；　〃that　the　Wyandots　are　kinsmen　of　all　these　tribes；　and　on　that　account　they　will　listen　with　all　the　more　friendliness　to　Timmendiquas。〃

〃Seems　to　me；〃　said　Tom　Ross；　〃that　we've　got　a　most　tre…men…je…ous　big　job　ahead。〃

〃Then；〃　said　Henry；　〃we　must　make　a　most　tremendous　big　effort。〃

〃That's　so；〃　agreed　all。

After　that　they　spoke　little。　　The　last　coals　were　covered　up；　and　the　remainder　of　the　food　was　put　in　their　pouches。　　Then　they　sat　on　the　leaves；　and　every　one　meditated　until　such　time　as　he　might　have　something　worth　saying。　　　　Henry's　thoughts　traveled　on　a　wide　course；　but　they　always　came　back　to　one　point。　　They　had　heard　much　at　Pittsburgh　of　a　famous　Mohawk　chief　called　Thayendanegea；　but　most　often　known　to　the　Americans　as　Brant。　　He　was　young；　able；　and　filled　with　intense　animosity　against　the　white　people；　who　encroached；　every　year；　more　and　more　upon　the　Indian　hunting　grounds。　　His　was　a　soul　full　kin　to　that　of　Timmendiquas；　；and　if　the　two　met　it　meant　a　great　council　and　a　greater　endeavor　for　the　undoing　of　the　white　man。　　What　more　likely　than　that　they　intended　to　meet？

〃All　of　you　have　heard　of　Thayendanegea；　the　Mohawk？〃　said　Henry。

They　nodded。

〃It's　my　opinion　that　Timmendiquas　is　on　the　way　to　meet　him。　　I　remember　hearing　a　hunter　say　at　Pittsburgh　that　about　a　hundred　miles　to　the　east　of　this　point　was　a　Long　House　or　Council　House　of　the　Six　Nations。　　Timmendiquas　is　sure　to　go　there；　and　we　must　go；　too。　　We　must　find　out　where　they　intend　to　strike。　　What　do　you　say？〃

〃We　go　there！〃　exclaimed　four　voices　together。

Seldom　has　a　council　of　war　been　followed　by　action　so　promptly。

As　Henry　spoke　the　last　word　he　rose；　and　tile　others　rose　with　him。　　Saying　no　more；　he　led　toward　the　east；　and　the　others　followed　him；　also　saying　no　more。　Separately　every　one　of　them　was　strong；　brave；　and　resourceful；　but　when　the　five　were　together　they　felt　that　they　had　the　skill　and　strength　of　twenty。　　The　long　rest　at　Pittsburgh　had　restored　them　after　the　dangers　and　hardship　of　their　great　voyage　from　New　Orleans。

They　carried　in　horn　and　pouch　ample　supplies　of　powder　and　bullet；　and　they　did　not　fear　any　task。

Their　journey　continued　through　hilly　country；　clothed　in　heavy　forest；　but　often　without　undergrowth。　　They　avoided　the　open　spaces；　preferring　to　be　seen　of　men；　who　were　sure　to　be　red　men；　as　little　as　possible。　　Their　caution　was　well　taken。　　They　saw　Indian　signs；　once　a　feather　that　had　fallen　from　a　scalp　lock；　once　footprints；　and　once　the　bone　of　a　deer　recently　thrown　away　by　him　who　had　eaten　the　meat　from　it。　　The　country　seemed　to　be　as　wild　as　that　of　Kentucky。　　Small　settlements；　so　they　had　heard；　were　scattered　at　great　distances　through　the　forest；　but　they　saw　none。　　There　was　no　cabin　smoke；　no　trail　of　the　plow；　just　the　woods　and　the　hills　and　the　clear　streams。　　Buffalo　had　never　reached　this　region；　but　deer　were　abundant；　and　they　risked　a　shot　to　replenish　their　supplies。

They　camped　the　second　night　of　their　march　on　a　little　peninsula　at　the　confluence　of　two　creeks；　with　the　deep　woods　everywhere。　　Henry　judged　that　they　were　well　within　the　western　range　of　the　Six　Nations；　and　they　cooked　their　deer　meat　over　a　smothered　fire；　nothing　more　than　a　few　coals　among　the　leaves。　　When　supper　was　over　they　arranged　soft　places　for　themselves　and　their　blankets；　all　except　Long　Jim；　whose　turn　it　was　to　scout　among　the　woods　for　a　possible　foe。

〃Don't　be　gone　long；　Jim；〃　said　Henry　as　he　composed　himself　in　a　comfortable　position。　　〃A　circle　of　a　half　mile　about　us　will　do。〃

〃I'll　not　be　gone　more'n　an　hour；〃　said　Long　Jim；　picking　up　his　rifle　confidently；　and　flitting　away　among　the　woods。

〃　Not　likely　he'll　see　anything；〃　said　Shif'less　Sol；　but　I'd　shorely　like　to　know　what　White　Lightning　is　about。　　He　must　be　terrible　stirred　up　by　them　beatin's　he　got　down　on　the　Ohio；　an'　they　say　that　Mohawk；　Thayendanegea　is　a　whoppin'　big　chief；　too。　　They'll　shorely　make　a　heap　of　trouble。〃

〃But　both　of　them　are　far　from　here　just　now；〃　said　Henry；　〃and　we　won't　bother　about　either。〃

He　was　lying　on　some　leaves　at　the　foot　of　a　tree　with　his　arm　under　his　head　and　his　blanket　over　his　body。　　He　had　a　remarkable　capacity　for　dismissing　trouble　or　apprehension；　and　just　then　he　was　enjoying　great　physical　and　mental　peace。　　He　looked　through　half　closed　eyes　at　his　comrades；　who　also　were　enjoying　repose；　and　his　fancy　could　reproduce　Long　Jim　in　the　forest；　slipping　from　tree　to　tree　and　bush　to　bush；　and　finding　no　menace。

〃Feels　good；　doesn't　it；　Henry？〃　said　the　shiftless　one。　〃　I　like　a　clean；　bold　country　lik