the scouts of the valley-第39章

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is　own；　and　that　he　is　likely　to　be　as　dangerous　as　either　of　the　Butlers。〃

〃Some　day　we'll　end　him　for　good　an'　all；〃　said　Shif'less　Sol。

It　was　four　or　five　days　before　they　reached　their　alcove；　and　now　all　the　forest　was　bare　and　apparently　lifeless。　　They　came　down　the　creek；　and　found　their　boat　unharmed　and　untouched　still　among　the　foliage　at　the　base　of　the　cliff。

〃That's　one　thing　safe；〃　said　Long　Jim；　〃an'　I　guess　we'll　find　'The　Alcove'　all　right；　too。〃

〃Unless　a　wild　animal　has　taken　up　its　abode　there；〃　said　Paul。

〃'Tain't　likely；〃　replied　Long　Jim。　　〃We've　left　the　human　smell　thar；　an'　even　after　all　this　time　it's　likely　to　drive　away　any　prowlin'　bear　or　panther　that　pokes　his　nose　in。〃

Long　Jim　was　quite　right。　　Their　snug　nest；　like　that　of　a　squirrel　in　the　side　of　a　tree；　had　not　been　disturbed。　　The　skins　which　they　had　rolled　up　tightly　and　placed　on　the　higher　shelves　of　stone　were　untouched；　and　several　days'　hunting　increased　the　supply。　　The　hunting　was　singularly　easy；　and；　although　the　five　did　not　know　it；　the　quantity　of　game　was　much　greater　in　that　region　than　it　had　been　for　years。　　It　had　been　swept　of　human　beings　by　the　Iroquois　and　Tory　hordes；　and　deer；　bear；　and　panther　seemed　to　know　instinctively　that　the　woods　were　once　more　safe　for　them。

In　their　hunting　they　came　upon　the　ruins　of　charred　houses；　and　more　than　once　they　saw　something　among　the　coals　that　caused　them　to　turn　away　with　a　shudder。　　At　every　place　where　man　had　made　a　little　opening　the　wilderness　was　quickly　reclaiming　its　own　again。　　Next　year　the　grass　and　the　foliage　would　cover　up　the　coals　and　the　hideous　relics　that　lay　among　them。

They　jerked　great　quantities　of　venison　on　the　trees　on　the　cliff　side；　and　stored　it　in　〃The　Alcove。〃　They　also　cured　some　bear　meat；　and；　having　added　a　further　lining　of　skins；　they　felt　prepared　for　winter。　　They　had　also　added　to　the　comfort　of　the　place。　　They　had　taken　the　precaution　of　bringing　with　them　two　axes；　and　with　the　heads　of　these　they　smoothed　out　more　of　the　rough　places　on　the　floor　and　sides　of　〃The　Alcove。〃　They　thought　it　likely；　too；　that　they　would　need　the　axes　in　other　ways　later　on。

Only　once　during　these　arrangements　did　they　pass　the　trail　of　Indians；　and　that　was　made　by　a　party　of　about　twenty；　at　least　ten　miles　from　〃The　Alcove。〃　They　seemed　to　be　traveling　north；　and　the　five　made　no　investigations。　　Somewhat　later　they　met　a　white　runner　in　the　forest；　and　he　told　them　of　the　terrible　massacre　of　Cherry　Valley。　　Walter　Butler；　emulating　his　father's　exploit　at　Wyoming；　had　come　down　with　a　mixed　horde　of　Iroquois；　Tories；　British；　and　Canadians。　　He　had　not　been　wholly　successful；　but　he　had　slaughtered　half　a　hundred　women　and　children；　and　was　now　returning　northward　with　prisoners。　　Some　said；　according　to　the　runner；　that　Thayendanegea　had　led　the　Indians　on　this　occasion；　but；　as　the　five　learned　later；　he　had　not　come　up　until　the　massacre　was　over。　　The　runner　added　another　piece　of　information　that　interested　them　deeply。　　Butler　had　been　accompanied　to　Cherry　Valley　by　a　young　Tory　or　renegade　named　Wyatt；　who　had　distinguished　himself　by　cunning　and　cruelty。　　It　was　said　that　Wyatt　had　built　up　for　himself　a　semi…independent　command；　and　was　becoming　a　great　scourge。

〃That's　our　Braxton；〃　said　Henry。　　〃He　is　rising　to　his　opportunities。　　He　is　likely　to　become　fully　the　equal　of　Walter　Butler。〃

But　they　could　do　nothing　at　present　to　find　Wyatt；　and　they　went　somewhat　sadly　back　to　〃The　Alcove。〃　They　had　learned　also　from　the　runner　that　Wyatt　had　a　lieutenant；　a　Tory　named　Coleman；　and　this　fact　increased　their　belief　that　Wyatt　was　undertaking　to　operate　on　a　large　scale。

〃We　may　get　a　chance　at　him　anyhow；〃　said　Henry。　　〃He　and　his　band　may　go　too　far　away　from　the　main　body　of　the　Indians　and　Tories；　and　in　that　case　we　can　strike　a　blow　if　we　are　watchful。〃

Every　one　of　the　five；　although　none　of　them　knew　it；　received　an　additional　impulse　from　this　news　about　Braxton　Wyatt。　　He　had　grown　up　with　them。　　Loyalty　to　the　king　had　nothing　to　do　with　his　becoming　a　renegade　or　a　Tory；　he　could　not　plead　lost　lands　or　exile　for　taking　part　in　such　massacres　as　Wyoming　or　Cherry　Valley；　but；　long　since　an　ally　of　the　Indians；　he　was　now　at　the　head　of　a　Tory　band　that　murdered　and　burned　from　sheer　pleasure。

〃Some　day　we'll　get　him；　as　shore　as　the　sun　rises　an'　sets；〃　said　Shif'less　Sol；　repeating　Henry's　prediction。

But　for　the　present　they　〃holed　up；〃　and　now　their　foresight　was　justified。　　To　such　as　they；　used　to　the　hardships　of　forest　life；　〃The　Alcove〃　was　a　cheery　nest。　　From　its　door　they　watched　the　wild　fowl　streaming　south；　pigeons；　ducks；　and　others　outlined　against　the　dark；　wintry　skies。　　So　numerous　were　these　flocks　that　there　was　scarcely　a　time　when　they　did　not　see　one　passing　toward　the　warm　South。

Shif'less　Sol　and　Paul　sat　together　watching　a　great　flock　of　wild　geese；　arrow　shaped；　and　flying　at　almost　incredible　speed。　　A　few　faint　honks　came　to　them；　and　then　the　geese　grew　misty　on　the　horizon。　　Shif'less　Sol　followed　them　with　serious　eyes。

〃Do　you　ever　think；　Paul；〃　he　said；　〃that　we　human　bein's　ain't　so　mighty　pow'ful　ez　we　think　we　are。　　We　kin　walk　on　the　groun'；　an'　by　hard　learnin'　an'　hard　work　we　kin　paddle　through　the　water　a　little。　　But　jest　look　at　them　geese　flyin'　a　mile　high；　right　over　everything；　rivers；　forests　any　mountains；　makin'　a　hundred　miles　an　hour；　almost　without　flappin'　a　wing。　　Then　they　kin　come　down　on　the　water　an'　float　fur　hours　without　bein'　tired；　an'　they　kin　waddle　along　on　the　groun'；　too。　　Did　you　ever　hear　of　any　men　who　had　so　many　'complishments？　　Why；　Paul；　s'pose　you　an'　me　could　grow　wings　all　at　once；　an'　go　through　the　air　a　mile　a　minute　fur　a　month　an'　never　git　tired。〃

〃We'd　certainly　see　some　great　sights；〃　said　Paul；　〃but　do　you　know；　Sol；　what　would　be　the　first　thing　I'd　do　if　I　had　the　gift　of　tireless　wings？〃

〃Fly　off　to　them　other　continents　I've　heard　you　tell　about。〃

〃No；　I'd　swoop　along　over　the　forests　up　here　until　I　picked　out　all　the　camps　of　the　Indians　and　Tories。　　I'd　pick　out　the　Butlers　and　Braxton　Wyatt　and　Coleman；　and　see　what　mischief　they　were　planning。　　Then　I'd　fly　away　to　the　East　and　look　down　at　all　the　armies；　ours　in　buff　and　blue；　and　the　British　redcoats。　　I'd　look　into　the　face　of　our　great　commander…in…chief。　　Then　I'd　fly　away　back　into　the　West　and　South；　and　I'd　hover　over　Wareville。　　I'd　see　our　own　people；　every　last　little　one　of　them。　　They　might　take　a　shot　at　me；　not　knowing　who　I　was；　but　I'd　be　so　high　up　in　the　air　no　bullet　could　reach　me。　　Then　I'd　come　soaring　back　here　to　you　fellows。〃

〃That　would　shorely　be　a　grand　trip；　Paul；〃　said　Shif'less　Sol；　〃　an'　I　wouldn't　mind　takin'　it　in　myself。　　But　fur　the　present　we'd　better　busy　our　minds　with　the　warnin's　the　wild　fowl　are　givin'　us；　though　we're　well　fixed　fur　a　house　already。　　It's　cu'rus　what　good　homes　a　handy　man　kin　find　in　the　wilderness。〃

The　predictions　of　the　wild　fowl　were　true。　　A　few　days　later　heavy　clouds　rolled　up　in　the　southwest；　and　the　five　watched　them；　knowing　what　they　would　bring　them。　　They　spread　to　the　zenith　and　then　to　the　other　horizon；　clothing　the　whole　circle　of　the　earth。　　The　great　flakes　began　to　drop　down；　slowly　at　first；　then　faster。　　Soon　all　the　trees　were　covered　with　white；　and　everything　else；　too；　except　the　dark　surface　of　the　lake；　which　received　the　flakes　into　its　bosom　as　they　fell。

It　snowed　all　that　day　and　most　of　the　next；　until　it　lay　about　two　feet　on　the　ground。　　After　that　it　turned　intensely　cold；　the　surface　of　the　snow　froze；　and　ice；　nearly　a　foot　thick；　covered　the　lake。　　It　was　not　possible　to　travel　under　such　circumstances　without　artificial　help；　and　now　Tom　Ross；　who　had　once　hunted　in　the　far　North；　came　to　their　help。　　He　showed　them　how　to　make　snowshoes；　and；　although　all　learned　to　use　them；　Henry；　with　his　great　strength　and　peculiar　skill；　became　by　far　the　most　expert。

As　the　snow　with　its　frozen　surface　lay　on　the　ground　for　weeks；　Henry　took　many　long　journeys　on　the　snowshoes。　　Sometimes　be　hunted；　but　oftener　his　role　was　that　of　scout。　　He　cautioned　his　friends　that　he　might　be　out…three　or　four　days　at　a　time；　and　that　they　need　take　no　alarm　about　him　unless　his　absence　became　extremely　long。　　The　winter　deepened；　the　snow　melted；　and　another　and　greater　storm　came；　freezing　the　surface；　again　making　the　snowshoes　necessary。　　Henry　decided　now　to　take　a　scout　alone　to　the　northward；　and；　as　the　others　bad　long　since　grown　into　the　habit　of　accepting　his　decisions　almost　without　question；　be　started　at　once。　　He　was　well　equipped　with　his　rifle；　double　barreled　pistol；　hatchet；　and　knife；　and　he　carried　in　addition　a　heavy　blanket　and　some　jerked　venison。　　He　put　on　his　snowshoes　at　the　foot　of　the　cliff；　waved　a　farewell　to　the　four　heads　thrust　from　〃The　Alcove〃　above；　and　struck　out　on　the　smooth；　icy　surface　of　the　creek。　　From　this　he　presently　passed　into　the　woods；　and　for　a　long　time　pursued　a　course　almost　due　north。

It　was　no　vague　theory　that　had　drawn　Henry　forth。　　In　one　of　his　journeyings　be　had　met　a　hunter　who　told　him　of　a　band　of　Tories　and　Indians　encamped　toward　the　north；　and　he　had　an　idea　that　it　was　the　party　led　by　Braxton　Wyatt。　　Now　he　meant　to　see。

His　information　was　very　indefinite；　and　he　began　to　discover　signs　much　earlier　than　he　had　expected。　　Before　the　end　of　the　first　day　he　saw　the　traces　of　other　snowshoe　runners　on　the　icy　snow；　and　once　he　came　to　a　place　where　a　deer　had　been　slain　and　dressed。　　Then　he　came　to　another　where　the　snow　had　been　hollowed　out　under　some　pines　to　make　a　sleeping　place　for　several　men。　　Clearly　he　was　in　the　land　of　the　enemy　again；　and　a　large　and　hostile　camp　might　be　somewhere　near。

Henry　felt　a　thrill　of　joy　when　he　saw　these　indications。　　All　the　primitive　instincts　leaped　up　within　him。　　A　child　of　the　forest　and　of　elemental　conditions；　the　warlike　instinct　was　strong　within　him。　　He　was　tired　of　hunting　wild　animals；　and　now　there　was　promise　of　a'　more　dangerous　foe。　　For　the　purposes　that　he　had　in　view　he　was　glad　that　be　was　alone。　　The　wintry　forest；　with　its　two　feet　of　snow　covered　with　ice；　contained　no　terrors　for　him。　　He　moved　on　his　snowshoes　almost　like　a　skater；　and　with　all　the　dexterity　of　an　Indian　of　the　far　North；　who　is　practically　born　on　such　shoes。

As　he　stood　upon　the　brow　of　a　little　hill；　elevated　upon　his　snowshoes；　he　was；　indeed；　a　wonderful　figure。　　The　added　height　and　the　white　glare　from　the　ice　made　him　tower　like　a　great　giant。　　He　was　clad　completely　in　soft；　warm　deerskin；　his　hands　were　gloved　in　the　same　material；　and　the　fur　cap　was　drawn　tightly　about　his　head　and　ears。　　The　slender…barreled　rifle　lay　across　his　shoulder；　and　the　blanket　and　deer　meat　made　a　light　package　on　his　back。　　Only　his　face　was　uncovered；　and　that　was　rosy　with　the　sharp　but　bracing　cold。　　But　the　resolute　blue　eyes　seemed　to　have　grown　more　resolute　in　the　last　six　months；　and　the　firm　jaw　was　firmer　than　ever。

It　was　a　steely　blue　sky；　clear；　hard；　and　cold；　fitted　to　the　earth　of　snow　and　ice　that　it　inclosed。　　His