the scouts of the valley-第47章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


pt　anything。〃

They　relapsed　into　silence　again；　and　the　sharp　eyes　of　the　renegade　roved　about　the　dark　circle　of　trees　and　warriors　that　inclosed　them。　　Presently　he　saw　something　that　caused　him　to　rise　and　walk　a　little　distance　from　the　fire。　　Although　his　eye　suspected　and　his　mind　confirmed；　Braxton　Wyatt　could　not　believe　that　it　was　true。　　It　was　incredible。　　No　one；　be　he　ever　so　daring；　would　dare　such　a　thing。　　But　the　figure　down　there　among　the　trees；　passing　about　among　the　warriors；　many　of　whom　did　not　know　one　another；　certainly　looked　familiar；　despite　the　Indian　paint　and　garb。　　Only　that　of　Timmendiquas　could　rival　it　in　height　and　nobility。　　These　were　facts　that　could　not　be　hidden　by　any　disguise。

〃What　is　it；　Wyatt？〃　asked　Sir　John。　　〃What　do　you　see？　　Why　do　you　look　so　startled？〃

Wyatt　sought　to　reply　calmly。

〃There　is　a　warrior　among　those　trees　over　there　whom　I　have　not　seen　here　before；〃　he　replied。　　〃he　is　as　tall　and　as　powerful　as　Timmendiquas；　and　there　is　only　one　such。　　There　is　a　spy　among　us；　and　it　is　Henry　Ware。〃

He　snatched　a　pistol　from　his　belt；　ran　forward；　and　fired　at　the　flitting　figure；　which　was　gone　in　an　instant　among　the　trees　and　the　warriors。

〃What　do　you　say？〃　exclaimed　Thayendanegea；　as　he　ran　forward；　〃a　spy；　and　you　know　him　to　be　such！〃

〃Yes；　he　is　the　worst　of　them　all；〃　replied　Wyatt。　　〃I　know　him。　　I　could　not　mistake　him。　But　he　has　dared　too　much。　　He　cannot　get　away。〃

The　great　camp　was　now　in　an　uproar。　　The　tall　figure　was　seen　here　and　there；　always　to　vanish　quickly。　　Twenty　shots　were　fired　at　it。　　None　hit。　　Many　more　would　have　been　fired；　but　the　camp　was　too　much　crowded　to　take　such　a　risk。　　Every　moment　the　tumult　and　confusion　increased；　but　Thayendanegea　quickly　posted　warriors　on　the　embankment　and　the　flanks；　to　prevent　the　escape　of　the　fugitive　in　any　of　those　directions。

But　the　tall　figure　did　not　appear　at　either　embankment　or　flank。　　It　was　next　seen　near　the　river；　when　a　young　warrior；　striving　to　strike　with　a　tomahawk；　was　dashed　to　the　earth　with　great　force。　　The　next　instant　the　figure　leaped　far　out　into　the　stream。　　The　moonlight　glimmered　an　instant　on　the　bare　head；　while　bullets　the　next　moment　pattered　on　the　water　where　it　had　been。　　Then；　with　a　few　powerful　strokes；　the　stranger　reclaimed　the　land；　sprang　upon　the　shore；　and　darted　into　the　woods　with　more　vain　bullets　flying　about　him。　　But　he　sent　back　a　shout　of　irony　and　triumph　that　made　the　chiefs　and　Tories　standing　on　the　bank　bite　their　lips　in　anger。




CHAPTER　XXI

BATTLE　OF　THE　CHEMUNG


Paul　had　been　sleeping　heavily；　and　the　sharp；　pealing　notes　of　a　trumpet　awoke　him　at　the　sunburst　of　a　brilliant　morning。　　Henry　was　standing　beside　him；　showing　no　fatigue　from　the　night's　excitement；　danger；　and　escape；　but　his　face　was　flushed　and　his　eyes　sparkled。

〃Up；　Paul！　Up！〃　he　cried。　　〃We　know　the　enemy's　position；　and　we　will　be　in　battle　before　another　sun　sets。〃

Paul　was　awake　in　an　instant；　and　the　second　instant　he　was　on　his　feet；　rifle　in　hand；　and　heart　thrilling　for　the　great　attack。　　He；　like　all　the　others；　had　slept　on　such　a　night　fully　dressed。　　Shif'less　Sol；　Long　Jim；　Silent　Tom；　Heemskerk；　and　the　rest　were　by　the　side　of　him；　and　all　about　them　rose　the　sounds　of　an　army　going　into　battle；　commands　sharp　and　short；　the　rolling　of　cannon　wheels；　the　metallic　rattle　of　bayonets；　the　clink　of　bullets　poured　into　the　pouches；　and　the　hum　of　men　talking　in　half…finished　sentences。

It　was　to　all　the　five　a　vast　and　stirring　scene。　　It　was　the　first　time　that　they　bad　ever　beheld　a　large　and　regular　army　going　into　action；　and　they　were　a　part　of　it；　a　part　by　no　means　unimportant。　　It　was　Henry；　with　his　consummate　skill　and　daring；　who　had　uncovered　the　position　of　the　enemy；　and　now；　without　snatching　a　moment's　sleep；　he　was　ready　to　lead　where　the　fray　might　be　thickest。

The　brief　breakfast　finished；　the　trumpet　pealed　forth　again；　and　the　army　began　to　move　through　the　thick　forest。　　A　light　wind；　crisp　with　the　air　of　early　autumn；　blew；　and　the　leaves　rustled。　　The　sun；　swinging　upward　in　the　east；　poured　down　a　flood　of　brilliant　rays　that　lighted　up　everything；　the　buff　and　blue　uniforms；　the　cannon；　the　rifles；　the　bayonets；　and　the　forest；　still　heavy　with　foliage。

〃Now！　now！〃　thought　every　one　of　the　five；　〃we　begin　the　vengeance　for　Wyoming！〃

The　scouts　were　well　in　front；　searching　everywhere　among　the　thickets　for　the　Indian　sharpshooters；　who　could　scorch　so　terribly。　　As　Braxton　Wyatt　had　truly　said；　these　scouts　were　the　best　in　the　world。　　Nothing　could　escape　the　trained　eyes　of　Henry　Ware　and　his　comrades；　and　those　of　Murphy；　Ellerson；　and　the　others；　while　off　on　either　flank　of　the　army　heavy　detachments　guarded　against　any　surprise　or　turning　movement。　　They　saw　no　Indian　sign　in　the　woods。　　There　was　yet　a　deep　silence　in　front　of　them；　and　the　sun；　rising　higher；　poured　its　golden　light　down　upon　the　army　in　such　an　intense；　vivid　flood　that　rifle　barrels　and　bayonets　gave　back　a　metallic　gleam。　　All　around　them　the　deep　woods　swayed　and　rustled　before　the　light　breeze；　and　now　and　then　they　caught　glimpses　of　the　river；　its　surface　now　gold；　then　silver；　under　the　shining　sun。

Henry's　heart　swelled　as　he　advanced。　　He　was　not　revengeful；　but　he　had　seen　so　much　of　savage　atrocity　in　the　last　year　that　he　could　not　keep　down　the　desire　to　see　punishment。　　It　is　only　those　in　sheltered　homes　who　can　forgive　the　tomahawk　and　the　stake。　　Now　he　was　the　very　first　of　the　scouts；　although　his　comrades　and　a　dozen　others　were　close　behind　him。

The　scouts　went　so　far　forward　that　the　army　was　hidden　from　them　by　the　forest；　although　they　could　yet　hear　the　clank　of　arms　and　the　sound　of　commands。

Henry　knew　the　ground　thoroughly。　　He　knew　where　the　embankment　ran；　and　he　knew；　too；　that　the　Iroquois　had　dug　pits；　marked　by　timber。　　They　were　not　far　ahead；　and　the　scouts　now　proceeded　very　slowly；　examining　every　tree　and　clump　of　bushes　to　see　whether　a　lurking　enemy　was　hidden　there。　　The　silence　endured　longer　than　he　had　thought。　　Nothing　could　be　seen　in　front　save　the　waving　forest。

Henry　stopped　suddenly。　　He　caught　a　glimpse　of　a　brown　shoulder's　edge　showing　from　behind　a　tree；　and　at　his　signal　all　the　scouts　sank　to　the　ground。

The　savage　fired；　but　the　bullet；　the　first　of　the　battle；　whistled　over　their　heads。　　The　sharp　crack；　sounding　triply　loud　at　such　a　time；　came　back　from　the　forest　in　many　echoes；　and　a　light　puff　of　smoke　arose。　　Quick　as　a　flash；　before　the　brown　shoulder　and　body　exposed　to　take　aim　could　be　withdrawn；　Tom　Ross　fired；　and　the　Mohawk　fell；　uttering　his　death　yell。　　The　Iroquois　in　the　woods　took　up　the　cry；　pouring　forth　a　war　whoop；　fierce；　long　drawn；　the　most　terrible　of　human　sounds；　and　before　it　died；　their　brethren　behind　the　embankment　repeated　it　in　tremendous　volume　from　hundreds　of　throats。　　It　was　a　shout　that　had　often　appalled　the　bravest；　but　the　little　band　of　scouts　were　not　afraid。　　When　its　last　echo　died　they　sent　forth　a　fierce；　defiant　note　of　their　own；　and；　crawling　forward；　began　to　send　in　their　bullets。

The　woods　in　front　of　them　swarmed　with　the　Indian　skirmishers；　who　replied　to　the　scouts；　and　the　fire　ran　along　a　long　line　through　the　undergrowth。　　Flashes　of　flames　appeared；　puffs　of　smoke　arose　and；　uniting；　hung　over　the　trees。　　Bullets　hissed。　　Twigs　and　bark　fell；　and　now　and　then　a　man；　as　they　fought　from　tree　to　tree。　　Henry　caught　one　glimpse　of　a　face　that　was　white；　that　of　Braxton　Wyatt；　and　he　sought　a　shot　at　the　renegade　leader；　but　he　could　not　get　it。　　But　the　scouts　pushed　on；　and　the　Indian　and　Tory　skirmishers　dropped　back。　　Then　on　the　flanks　they　began　to　hear　the　rattle　of　rifle　fire。　　The　wings　of　the　army　were　in　action；　but　the　main　body　still　advanced　without　firing　a　shot。

The　scouts　could　now　see　through　the　trees　the　embankments　and　rifle　pits；　and　they　could　also　see　the　last　of　the　Iroquois　and　Tory　skirmishers　leaping　over　the　earthworks　and　taking　refuge　with　their　army。　　Then　they　turned　back　and　saw　the　long　line　of　their　own　army　steadily　advancing；　while　the　sounds　of　heavy　firing　still　continued　on　both　flanks。　　Henry　looked　proudly　at　the　unbroken　array；　the　front　of　steel；　and　the　cannon。　　He　felt　prouder　still　when　the　general　turned　to　him　and　said：

〃You　have　done　well；　Mr。　Ware；　you　have　shown　us　exactly　where　the　enemy　lies；　and　that　will　save　us　many　men。　　Now　bigger　voices　than　those　of　the　rifles　shall　talk。〃

The　army　stopped。　　The　Indian　position　could　be　plainly　seen。　　The　crest　of　the　earthwork　was　lined　with　fierce；　dark　faces；　and　here　and　there　among　the　brown　Iroquois　were　the　green　uniforms　of　the　Royalists。

Henry　saw　both　Thayendanegea　and　Timmendiquas；　the　plumes　in　their　hair　waving　aloft；　and　he　felt　sure　that　wherever　they　stood　the　battle　would　be　thickest。

The　Americans　were　now　pushing　forward　their　cannon；　six　three…pounders　and　two　howitzers；　the　howitzers；　firing　five…and…a…half…inch　shells；　new　and　terrifying　missiles　to　the　Indians。　　The　guns　were　wheeled　into　position；　and　the　first　howitzer　was　fired。　　It　sent　its　great　shell　in　a　curving　line　at　and　over　the　embankment；　where　it　burst　with　a　crash；　followed　by　a　shout　of　mingled　pain　and　awe。　　Then　the　second　howitzer；　aimed　well　like　the　first；　sent　a　shell　almost　to　the　same　point；　and　a　like　cry　came　back。


Shif'less　Sol；　watching　the　shots；　jumped　up　and　down　in　delight。

〃That's　the　medicine！〃　he　cried。　　〃I　wonder　how　you　like　that；　you　Butlers　an'　Johnsons　an'　Wyatts　an'　Mohawks　an'　all　the　rest　o'　your　scalp…taking　crew！　　Ah；　thar　goes　another！　　This　ain't　any　Wyomin'！〃

The　three…pounders　also　opened　fire；　and　sent　their　balls　squarely　into　the　rifle　pits　and　the　Indian　camp。　　The　Iroquois　replied　with　a　shower　of　rifle　bullets　and　a　defiant　war　whoop；　but　the　bullets　fell　short；　and　the　whoop　hurt　no　one。

The　artillery；　eight　pieces；　was　served　with　rapidity　and　precision；　while　the　riflemen；　except　on　their　flanks；　where　they　were　more　closely　engaged；　were　ordered　to　hold　their　fire。　　The　spectacle　was　to　Henry　and　his　comrades　panoramic　in　its　effect。　　They　watched　the　flashes　of　fire　from　the　mouths　of　the　cannon；　the　flight　of　the　great　shells；　and　the　bank　of　smoke　which　soon　began　to　lower　like　a　cloud　over　the　field。　　They　could　picture　to　themselves　what　was　going　on　beyond　the　earthwork；　the　dead　falling；　the　wounded　limping　away；　earth　and　trees　torn　by　shell　and　shot。　　They　even　fancied　that　they　could　hear　the　voices　of　the　great　chiefs；　Thayendanegea　and　Timmendiquas；　encouraging　their　men；　and　striving　to　keep　them　in　line　against　a　fire　not　as　deadly　as　rifle　bullets　at　close　quarters；　but　more　terrifying。

Presently　a　cloud　of　skirmishers　issued　once　more　from　the　Indian　camp；　creeping　among　the　trees　and　bushes；　and　seeking　a　chance　to　shoot　down　the　men　at　the　guns。　　But　sharp　eyes　were　watching　them。

〃Come；　boys；〃　exclaimed　Henry。　　〃Here's　work　for　us　now。〃

He　led　the　scouts　and　the　best　of　the　riflemen　against　the　skirmishers；　who　were　soon　driven　in　again。　　The　artillery　fire　had　never　ceased　for　a　moment；　the　shells　and　balls　pas