the scouts of the valley-第44章

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He　did　not　give　way　to　any　unseemly　elation。　　He　even　felt　a　momentary　sorrow　that　a　life　must　perish　to　save　his　own；　because　all　these　wild　things　were　his　kindred　now。　　He　returned　by　the　path　that　he　had　broken；　kindled　his　fire　anew；　dexterously　skinned　and　cleaned　his　rabbit；　then　cooked　it　and　ate　half；　although　he　ate　slowly　and　with　intervals　between　each　piece。　　How　delicious　it　tasted；　and　how　his　physical　being　longed　to　leap　upon　it　and　devour　it；　but　the　power　of　the　mind　was　still　supreme。　　He　knew　what　was　good　for　himself；　and　he　did　it。　　Everything　was　done　in　order　and　with　sobriety。　　Then　he　put　the　rest　of　the　rabbit　carefully　in　his　food　pouch；　wrapped　the　blanket　about　his　body；　leaned　back；　and　stretched　his　feet　to　the　coals。

What　an　extraordinary　change　had　come　over　the　world　in　an　hour！　　He　had　not　noticed　before　the　great　beauty　of　the　lake；　the　lofty　cliffs　on　the　farther　shore；　and　the　forest　clothed　in　white　and　hanging　with　icicles。　

The　winter　sunshine　was　molten　silver；　pouring　down　in　a　flood。

It　was　not　will　now；　but　actuality；　that　made　him　feel　the　strength　returning　to　his　frame。　　He　knew　that　the　blood　in　his　veins　had　begun　to　sparkle；　and　that　his　vitality　was　rising　fast。　　He　could　have　gone　to　sleep　peacefully；　but　instead　he　went　forth　and　hunted　again。　　He　knew　that　where　the　rabbit　had　been；　others　were　likely　to　be　near；　and　before　he　returned　he　had　secured　two　more。　　Both　of　these　he　cleaned　and　cooked　at　once。　　When　this　was　done　night　had　come；　but　he　ate　again；　and　then；　securing　all　his　treasures　about　him；　fell　into　the　best　sleep　that　he　had　enjoyed　since　his　flight。

He　felt　very　strong　the　next　morning；　and　he　might　have　started　then；　but　he　was　prudent。　　There　was　still　a　chance　of　meeting　the　Iroquois；　and　the　ankle　might　not　stand　so　severe　a　test。　　He　would　rest　in　his　nest　for　another　day；　and　then　he　would　be　equal　to　anything。　　Few　could　lie　a　whole　day　in　one　place　with　but　little　to　do　and　with　nothing　passing　before　the　eyes；　but　it　was　a　part　of　Henry's　wilderness　training；　and　he　showed　all　the　patience　of　the　forester。　　He　knew；　too；　as　the　hours　went　by；　that　his　strength　was　rising　all　the　while。　　To…morrow　almost　the　last　soreness　would　be　gone　from　his　ankle　and　then　he　could　glide　swiftly　over　the　snow；　back　to　his　comrades。　　He　was　content。　　He　had；　in　fact；　a　sense　of　great　triumph　because　he　had　overcome　so　much；　and　here　was　new　food　in　this　example　for　future　efforts　of　the　mind；　for　future　victories　of　the　will　over　the　body。　　The　wintry　sun　came　to　the　zenith；　then　passed　slowly　down　the　curve；　but　all　the　time　the　boy　scarcely　stirred。　　Once　there　was　a　flight　of　small　birds　across　the　heavens；　and　he　watched　them　vaguely；　but　apparently　he　took　no　interest。　　Toward　night　he　stood　up　in　his　recess　and　flexed　and　tuned　his　muscles　for　a　long　time；　driving　out　any　stiffness　that　might　come　through　long　lack　of　motion。　　Then　he　ate　and　lay　down；　but　he　did　not　yet　sleep。

The　night　was　clear；　and　he　looked　away　toward　the　point　where　he　knew　〃The　Alcove〃　lay。　　A　good　moon　was　now　shining；　and　stars　by　the　score　were　springing　out。　　Suddenly　at　a　point　on　that　far　shore　a　spark　of　red　light　appeared　and　twinkled。　　Most　persons　would　have　taken　it　for　some　low　star；　but　Henry　knew　better。　　It　was　fire　put　there　by　human　hand　for　a　purpose；　doubtless　a　signal；　and　as　he　looked　a　second　spark　appeared　by　the　first；　then　a　third；　then　a　fourth。　　He　uttered　a　great　sigh　of　pleasure。　　It　was　his　four　friends　signaling　to　him　somewhere　in　the　vast　unknown　that　they　were　alive　and　well；　and　beckoning　him　to　come。　　The　lights　burned　for　fifteen　or　twenty　minutes；　and　then　all　went　out　together。　　Henry　turned　over　on　his　side　and　fell　sound　asleep。　　In　the　morning　he　put　on　his　snowshoes　and　started。




CHAPTER　XIX

THE　SAFE　RETURN


The　surface　of　the　snow　had　frozen　again　in　the　night；　and　Henry　found　good　footing　for　his　shoes。　　For　a　while　he　leaned　most　on　the　right　ankle；　but；　as　his　left　developed　no　signs　of　soreness；　he　used　them　equally；　and　sped　forward；　his　spirits　rising　at　every　step。　　The　air　was　cold；　and　there　was　but　little　breeze；　but　his　own　motion　made　a　wind　that　whipped　his　face。　　The　hollows　were　mostly　gone　from　his　cheeks；　and　his　eyes　no　longer　had　the　fierce；　questing　look　of　the　famishing　wild　animal　in　search　of　prey。　　A　fine　red　color　was　suffused　through　the　brown　of　his　face。　　He　had　chosen　his　course　with　due　precaution。　　The　broad　surface；　smooth；　white；　and　glittering；　tempted；　but　he　put　the　temptation　away。　　He　did　not　wish　to　run　any　chance　whatever　of　another　Iroquois　pursuit；　and　he　kept　in　the　forest　that　ran　down　close　to　the　water's　edge。　　It　was　tougher　traveling　there；　but　he　persisted。

But　all　thought　of　weariness　and　trouble　was　lost　in　his　glorious　freedom。　　With　his　crippled　ankle　he　had　been　really　like　a　prisoner　in　his　cell；　with　a　ball　and　chain　to　his　foot。　　Now　he　flew　along；　while　the　cold　wind　whipped　his　blood；　and　felt　what　a　delight　it　was　merely　to　live。　　He　went　on　thus　for　hours；　skirting　down　toward　the　cliffs　that　contained　〃The　Alcove。〃　　He　rested　a　while　in　the　afternoon　and　ate　the　last　of　his　rabbit；　but　before　twilight　he　reached　the　creek；　and　stood　at　the　hidden　path　that　led　up　to　their　home。

Henry　sat　down　behind　thick　bushes　and　took　off　his　snowshoes。　　To　one　who　had　never　come　before；　the　whole　place　would　have　seemed　absolutely　desolate；　and　even　to　one　not　a　stranger　no　sign　of　life　would　have　been　visible　had　he　not　possessed　uncommonly　keen　eyes。　　But　Henry　had　such　eyes。　　He　saw　the　faintest　wisp　of　smoke　stealing　away　against　the　surface　of　the　cliff；　and　he　felt　confident　that　all　four　were　there。　　He　resolved　to　surprise　them。

Laying　the　shoes　aside；　he　crept　so　carefully　up　the　path　that　he　dislodged　no　snow　and　made　no　noise　of　any　kind。　　As　be　gradually　approached　〃The　Alcove〃　he　beard　the　murmur　of　voices；　and　presently；　as　he　turned　an　angle　in　the　path；　he　saw　a　beam　of　glorious　mellow　light　falling　on　the　snow。

But　the　murmur　of　the　voices　sent　a　great　thrill　of　delight　through　him。　　Low　and　indistinct　as　they　were；　they　had　a　familiar　sound。　　He　knew　all　those　tones。　　They　were　the　voices　of　his　faithful　comrades；　the　four　who　had　gone　with　him　through　so　many　perils　and　hardships；　the　little　band　who　with　himself　were　ready　to　die　at　any　time；　one　for　another。

He　crept　a　little　closer；　and　then　a　little　closer　still。　　Lying　almost　flat　on　the　steep　path；　and　drawing　himself　forward；　he　looked　into　〃The　Alcove。〃　A　fire　of　deep；　red　coals　glowed　in　one　corner；　and　disposed　about　it　were　the　four。　　Paul　lay　on　his　elbow　on　a　deerskin；　and　was　gazing　into　the　coals。　　Tom　Ross　was　working　on　a　pair　of　moccasins；　Long　Jim　was　making　some　kind　of　kitchen　implement；　and　Shif'less　Sol　was　talking。　　Henry　could　hear　the　words　distinctly；　and　they　were　about　himself。

〃Henry　will　turn　up　all　right；〃　he　was　saying。　　〃Hasn't　he　always　done　it　afore？　　Then　ef　he's　always　done　it　afore　he's　shorely　not　goin'　to　break　his　rule　now。　　I　tell　you；　boys；　thar　ain't　enough　Injuns　an'　Tories　between　Canady　an'　New　Orleans；　an'　the　Mississippi　an'　the　Atlantic；　to　ketch　Henry。　　I　bet　I　could　guess　what　he's　doin'　right　at　this　moment。〃

〃What　is　he　doing；　Sol？〃　asked　Paul。

〃When　I　shet　my　eyes　ez　I'm　doin'　now　I　kin　see　him；〃　said　the　shiftless　one。　　〃He's　away　off　thar　toward　the　north；　skirtin'　around　an　Injun　village；　Mohawk　most　likely；　lookin'　an'　listenin'　an'　gatherin'　talk　about　their　plans。〃

〃He　ain't　doin'　any　sech　thing；〃　broke　in　Long　Jim。

〃I've　sleet　my　eyes；　too；　Sol　Hyde；　jest　ez　tight　ez　you've　shet　yours；　an'　I　see　him；　too；　but　he　ain't　doin'　any　uv　the　things　that　you're　talkin'　about。〃

〃What　is　he　doing；　Jim？〃　asked　Paul。

〃Henry's　away　off　to　the　south；　not　to　the　north；〃　replied　the　long　one；　〃an'　he's　in　the　Iroquois　village　that　we　burned。　　One　house　has　been　left　standin'；　an'　he's　been　occupyin'　it　while　the　big　snow's　on　the　groun'。　　A　whole　deer　is　hangin'　from　the　wall；　an'　he's　been　settin'　thar　fur　days；　eatin'　so　much　an'　hevin'　such　a　good　time　that　the　fat's　hangin'　down　over　his　cheeks；　an'　his　whole　body　is　threatenin'　to　bust　right　out　uv　his　huntin'　shirt。〃

Paul　moved　a　little　on　his　elbow　and　turned　the　other　side　of　his　face　to　the　fire。　　Then　he　glanced　at　the　silent　worker　with　the　moccasins。

〃Sol　and　Jim　don't　seem　to　agree　much　in　their　second　sight；〃　he　said。　　〃Can　you　have　any　vision；　too；　Tom？〃

〃Yes；〃　replied　Tom　Ross；　〃I　kin。　　I　shet　my　eyes；　but　I　don't　see　like　either　Sol　or　Jim；　'cause　both　uv　'em　see　wrong。　　I　see　Henry；　an'　I　see　him　plain。　　He's　had　a　pow'ful　tough　time。　　He　ain't　threatenin'　to　bust　with　fat　out　uv　no　huntin'　shirt；　his　cheeks　ain't　so　full　that　they　are　fallin'　down　over　his　jaws。　　It's　t'other　way　roun'；　them　cheeks　are　sunk　a　mite；　he　don't　fill　out　his　clothes；　an'　when　he　crawls　along　he　drags　his　left　leg　a　leetle；　though　he　hides　it　from　hisself。　　He　ain't　spyin'　on　no　Injun　village；　an'　he　ain't　in　no　snug　camp　with　a　dressed　deer　hangin'　by　the　side　uv　him。　　It's　t'other　way　'roan'。　　He's　layin'　almost　flat　on　his　face　not　twenty　feet　from　us；　lookin'　right　in　at　us；　an'　I　wuz　the　first　to　see　him。〃

All　the　others　sprang　to　their　feet　in　astonishment；　and　Henry　likewise　sprang　to　his　feet。　　Three　leaps；　and　he　was　in　the　mellow　glow。


〃And　so　you　saw　me；　Tom；〃　he　exclaimed；　as　he　joyously　grasped　one　hand　after　another。　　〃I　might　have　known　that；　while　I　could　stalk　some　of　you；　I　could　not　stalk　all　of　you。〃

〃I　caught　the　glimpse　uv　you；〃　said　Silent　Tom；　while　Sol　an'　Jim　wuz　talkin'　the　foolish　talk　that　they　most　always　talk；　an'　when　Paul　called　on　me；　I　thought　I　would　give　'em　a　dream　that　'wuz　true；　an'　worth　tellin'。〃

〃You're　right；〃　said　Henry。　　〃I've　not　been　having　any　easy　time；　and　for　a　while；　boys；　it　looked　as　if　I　never　would　come　back。　　Sit　down；　and　I　will　tell　you　all　about　it。〃

They　gave　him　the　warmest　place　by　the　fire；　brought　him　the　tenderest　food；　and　he　told　the　long　and　thrilling　tale。

〃I　don't　believe　anybody　else　but　you　would　have　tried　it；　Henry；〃　said　Paul；　when　they　heard　of　the　fearful　slide。

〃Any　one　of　you　would　have　done　it；〃　said　Henry；　modestly。

〃I'm　pow'ful　glad　that　you　done　it　for　two　reasons；〃　said　Shif'less　Sol。　　〃One；　'cause　it　helped　you　to　git　away；　an'　the　other；　'cause　that　scoundrel；　Braxton　Wyatt；　didn't　take　you。　　'Twould　hurt　my　pride　tre…men…jeous　for　any　uv　us　to　be　took　by　Braxton　Wyatt。〃

〃You　speak　for　us　all　there；　Sol；〃　said　Paul。

〃What　have　all　of　you　been　doing？〃　asked　Henry。

〃Not　much　of　anything；〃　replied　Shif'less　Sol。　　We've　been　scoutin'　several　times；　lookin'　fur　you；　though　we　knowed　you'd　come　in　some　time　or　other；　but　mostly　we've　been　workin'　'roun'　the　place　here；　fixin'　it　up　warmer　an'　storin'　away　food。〃

〃We'll　have　to　continue　at　that　for　some　time；　I'm　afraid；〃　said　Henry；　〃unless　this　snow　breaks　up。　　Have　any　of　you　heard　if　any　movement　is　yet　on　foot　against　the　Iroquois？〃

〃Tom　ran　across　some　scouts　from　the　militia；〃　replied　Paul；　〃and　they　said　nothing　could　be　done　until　warm　weather　came。　　Then　a　real　army　would　march。〃

〃I　hope　s