the scouts of the valley-第7章

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k　to　the　hut　in　the　swamp。　　But　he　had　no　idea　of　returning　now。　　A　power　that　neither　he　nor　anyone　else　could　resist　was　pushing　him　on　his　search。

Searching　the　gloomy　horizon　again；　he　saw　against　the　dark　sky　a　thin　and　darker　line　that　he　knew　to　be　smoke。　　He　inferred；　also；　with　certainty；　that　it　came　from　an　Indian　camp；　and；　without　hesitation；　turned　his　course　toward　it。　　Indian　camp　though　it　might　be；　and　containing　the　deadliest　of　foes；　he　was　glad　to　know　something　lived　beside　himself　in　this　wilderness。

He　approached　with　great　caution；　and　found　his　surmise　to　be　correct。　　Lying　full　length　in　a　wet　thicket　he　saw　a　party　of　about　twenty　warriors…Mohawks　he　took　them　to　be…in　an　oak　opening。　　They　had　erected　bark　shelters；　they　had　good　fires；　and　they　were　cooking。　　He　saw　them　roasting　the　strips　over　the　coals…bear　meat；　venison；　squirrel；　rabbit；　bird…and　the　odor；　so　pleasant　at　other　times；　assailed　his　nostrils。　　But　it　was　now　only　a　taunt　and　a　torment。　　It　aroused　every　possible　pang　of　hunger；　and　every　one　of　them　stabbed　like　a　knife。

The　warriors；　so　secure　in　their　forest　isolation；　kept　no　sentinels；　and　they　were　enjoying　themselves　like　men　who　had　everything　they　wanted。　　Henry　could　hear　them　laughing　and　talking；　and　he　watched　them　as　they　ate　strip　after　strip　of　the　delicate；　tender　meat　with　the　wonderful　appetite　that　the　Indian　has　after　long　fasting。　　A　fierce；　unreasoning　anger　and　jealousy　laid　hold　of　him。　　He　was　starving；　and　they　rejoiced　in　plenty　only　fifty　yards　away。　　He　began　to　form　plans　for　a　piratical　incursion　upon　them。　　Half　the　body　of　a　deer　lay　near　the　edge　of　the　opening；　he　would　rush　upon　it；　seize　it；　and　dart　away。　　It　might　be　possible　to　escape　with　such　spoil。

Then　he　recalled　his　prudence。　　Such　a　thing　was　impossible。　　The　whole　band　of　warriors　would　be　upon　him　in　an　instant。　　The　best　thing　that　he　could　do　was　to　shut　out　the　sight　of　so　much　luxury　in　which　he　could　not　share；　and　he　crept　away　among　the　bushes　wondering　what　he　could　do　to　drive　away　those　terrible　pains。　　His　vigorous　system　was　crying　louder　than　ever　for　the　food　that　would　sustain　it。　　His　eyes　were　burning　a　little　too　brightly；　and　his　face　was　touched　with　fever。

Henry　stopped　once　to　catch　a　last　glimpse　of　the　fires　and　the　feasting　Indians　under　the　bark　shelters。　　He　saw　a　warrior　raise　a　bone；　grasping　it　in　both　hands；　and　bite　deep　into　the　tender　flesh　that　clothed　it。　　The　sight　inflamed　him　into　an　anger　almost　uncontrollable。　　He　clenched　his　fist　and　shook　it　at　the　warrior；　who　little　suspected　the　proximity　of　a　hatred　so　intense。　　Then　he　bent　his　head　down　and　rushed　away　among　the　wet　bushes　which　in　rebuke　at　his　lack　of　caution　raked　him　across　the　face。

Henry　walked　despondently　back　toward　the　islet　in　the　swamp。　　The　aspect　of　air　and　sky　had　not　changed。　　The　heavens　still　dripped　icy　water；　and　there　was　no　ray　of　cheerfulness　anywhere。　　The　game　remained　well　hidden。

It　was　a　long　journey　back；　and　as　he　felt　that　he　was　growing　weak　he　made　no　haste。　　He　came　to　dense　clumps　of　bushes；　and　plowing　his　way　through　them；　he　saw　a　dark　opening　under　some　trees　thrown　down　by　an　old　hurricane。　　Having　some　vague　idea　that　it　might　be　the　lair　of　a　wild　animal；　he　thrust　the　muzzle　of　his　rifle　into　the　darkness。　　It　touched　a　soft　substance。　　There　was　a　growl；　and　a　black　form　shot　out　almost　into　his　face。　　Henry　sprang　aside；　and　in　an　instant　all　his　powers　and　faculties　returned。　　He　had　stirred　up　a　black　bear；　and　before　the　animal；　frightened　as　much　as　he　was　enraged；　could　run　far　the　boy；　careless　how　many　Indians　might　hear；　threw　up　his　rifle　and　fired。

His　aim　was　good。　　The　bear；　shot　through　the　head；　fell；　and　was　dead。　　Henry；　transformed；　ran　up　to　him。　　Bear　life　had　been　given　up　to　sustain　man's。　　Here　was　food　for　many　days；　and　he　rejoiced　with　a　great　joy。　　He　did　not　now　envy　those　warriors　back　there。

The　bear；　although　small；　was　very　fat。　　Evidently　he　had　fed　well　on　acorns　and　wild　honey；　and　he　would　yield　up　steaks　which；　to　one　with　Henry's　appetite；　would　be　beyond　compare。　　He　calculated　that　it　was　more　than　a　mile　to　the　swamp；　and；　after　a　few　preliminaries；　he　flung　the　body　of　the　bear　over　his　shoulder。　　Through　some　power　of　the　mind　over　the　body　his　full　strength　had　returned　to　him　miraculously；　and　when　he　reached　the　stepping　stones　he　crossed　from　one　to　another　lightly　and　firmly；　despite　the　weight　that　he　carried。

He　came　to　the　little　bark　hut　which　he　now　considered　his　own。　　The　night　had　fallen　again；　but　some　coals　still　glowed　under　the　ashes；　and　there　was　plenty　of　dry　wood。　　He　did　everything　decently　and　in　order。　　He　took　the　pelt　from　the　bear；　carved　the　body　properly；　and　then；　just　as　the　Indians　had　done；　he　broiled　strips　over　the　coals。　　He　ate　them　one　after　another；　slowly；　and　tasting　all　the　savor；　and；　intense　as　was　the　mere　physical　pleasure；　it　was　mingled　with　a　deep　thankfulness。　　Not　only　was　the　life　nourished　anew　in　him；　but　he　would　now　regain　the　strength　to　seek　his　comrades。

When　he　had　eaten　enough　he　fastened　the　body　of　the　bear；　now　in　several　portions；　on　hooks　high　upon　the　walls；　hooks　which　evidently　had　been　placed　there　by　the　former　owner　of　the　hut　for　this　very　purpose。　　Then；　sure　that　the　savor　of　the　food　would　draw　other　wild　animals；　he　brought　one　of　the　stepping　stones　and　placed　it　on　the　inside　of　the　door。　　The　door　could　not　be　pushed　aside　without　arousing　him；　and；　secure　in　the　knowledge；　he　went　to　sleep　before　the　coals。




CHAPTER　IV

THE　RED　CHIEFS


Henry　awoke　only　once；　and　that　was　about　half　way　between　midnight　and　morning；　when　his　senses；　never　still　entirely；　even　in　sleep；　warned　him　that　something　was　at　the　door。　　He　rose　cautiously　upon　his　arm；　saw　a　dark　muzzle　at　the　crevice；　and　behind　it　a　pair　of　yellow；　gleaming　eyes。　　He　knew　at　once　that　it　was　a　panther；　probably　living　in　the　swamp　and　drawn　by　the　food。　　It　must　be　very　hungry　to　dare　thus　the　smell　of　man。　　Henry's　hand　moved　slowly　to　the　end　of　a　stick；　the　other　end　of　which　was　a　glowing　coal。　　Then　he　seized　it　and　hurled　it　directly　at　the　inquisitive　head。

The　hot　end　of　the　stick　struck　squarely　between　the　yellow　eyes。　　There　was　a　yelp　of　pain；　and　the　boy　heard　the　rapid　pad　of　the　big　cat's　feet　as　it　fled　into　the　swamp。　　Then　he　turned　over　on　his　side；　and　laughed　in　genuine　pleasure　at　what　was　to　him　a　true　forest　joke。　　He　knew　the　panther　would　not　come；　at　least　not　while　he　was　in　the　hut；　and　he　calmly　closed　his　eyes　once　more。　　The　old　Henry　was　himself　again。

He　awoke　in　the　morning　to　find　that　the　cold　rain　was　still　falling。　　It　seemed　to　him　that　it　had　prepared　to　rain　forever；　but　he　was　resolved；　nevertheless；　now　that　he　had　food　and　the　strength　that　food　brings；　to　begin　the　search　for　his　comrades。　　The　islet　in　the　swamp　would　serve　as　his　base…nothing　could　be　better…and　he　would　never　cease　until　he　found　them　or　discovered　what　had　become　of　them。

A　little　spring　of　cold　water　flowed　from　the　edge　of　the　islet　to　lose　itself　quickly　in　the　swamp。　　Henry　drank　there　after　his　breakfast；　and　then　felt　as　strong　and　active　as　ever。　　As　he　knew；　the　mind　may　triumph　over　the　body；　but　the　mind　cannot　save　the　body　without　food。　　Then　he　made　his　precious　bear　meat　secure　against　the　prowling　panther　or　others　of　his　kind；　tying　it　on　hanging　boughs　too　high　for　a　jump　and　too　slender　to　support　the　weight　of　a　large　animal。　　This　task　finished　quickly；　he　left　the　swamp　and　returned　toward　the　spot　where　lie　had　seen　the　Mohawks。

The　falling　rain　and　the　somber　clouds　helped　Henry；　in　a　way；　as　the　whole　forest　was　enveloped　in　a　sort　of　　gloom；　and　he　was　less　likely　to　be　seen。　　But　when　he　had　gone　about　half　the　distance　he　heard　Indians　signaling　to　one　another；　and；　burying　himself　as　usual　in　the　wet　bushes；　he　saw　two　small　groups　of　warriors　meet　and　talk。　　Presently　they　separated；　one　party　going　toward　the　east　and　the　other　toward　the　west。　　Henry　thought　they　were　out　hunting；　as　the　Indians　usually　took　little　care　of　the　morrow；　eating　all　their　food　in　a　few　days；　no　matter　how　great　the　supply　might　be。

When　he　drew　near　the　place　he　saw　three　more　Indians；　and　these　were　traveling　directly　south。　　He　was　quite　sure　now　that　his　theory　was　correct。　　They　were　sending　out　hunters　in　every　direction；　in　order　that　they　might　beat　up　the　woods　thoroughly　for　game；　and　his　own　position　anywhere　except　on　the　islet　was　becoming　exceedingly　precarious。　　Nevertheless；　using　all　his　wonderful　skill；　he　continued　the　hunt。　　He　had　an　abiding　faith　that　his　four　comrades　were　yet　alive；　and　he　meant　to　prove　it。

In　the　afternoon　the　clouds　moved　away　a　little；　and　the　rain　decreased；　though　it　did　not　cease。　　The　Indian　signs　multiplied；　and　Henry　felt　sure　that　the　forest　within　a　radius　of　twenty　miles　of　his　islet　contained　more　than　one　camp。　　Some　great　gathering　must　be　in　progress　and　the　hunters　were　out　to　supply　it　with　food。　　Four　times　he　heard　the　sound　of　shots；　and　thrice　more　he　saw　warriors　passing　through　the　forest。　　Once　a　wounded　deer　darted　past　him；　and；　lying　down　in　the　bushes；　he　saw　the　Indians　following　the　fleeing　animal。　　As　the　day　grew　older　the　trails　multiplied。　　Certainly　a　formidable　gathering　of　bands　was　in　progress；　and；　feeling　that　he　might　at　any　time　be　caught　in　a　net；　he　returned　to　the　islet；　which　had　now　become　a　veritable　fort　for　him。

It　was　not　quite　dark　when　he　arrived；　and　he　found　all　as　it　had　been　except　the　tracks　of　two　panthers　under　the　boughs　to　which　he　had　fastened　the　big　pieces　of　bear　meat。　　Henry　felt　a　malicious　satisfaction　at　the　disappointment　of　the　panthers。

〃Come　again；　and　have　the　same　bad　luck；〃　he　murmured。〃

At　dusk　the　rain　ceased　entirely；　and　he　prepared　for　a　journey　in　the　night。　　He　examined　his　powder　carefully　to　see　that　no　particle　of　it　was　wet；　counted　the　bullets　in　his　pouch；　and　then　examined　the　skies。　　There　was　a　little　moon；　not　too　much；　enough　to　show　him　the　way；　but　not　enough　to　disclose　him　to　an　enemy　unless　very　near。　　Then　he　left　the　islet　and　went　swiftly　through　the　forest；　laying　his　course　a　third　time　toward　the　Indian　camp。　　He　was　sure　now　that　all　the　hunters　had　returned；　and　he　did　not　expect　the　necessity　of　making　any　　stops　for　the　purpose　of　hiding。　　His　hopes　were　justified；　and　as　he　drew　near　the　camp　he　became　aware　that　its　population　had　increased　greatly。　　It　was　proved　by　many　signs。　　New　trails　converged　upon　it；　and　some　of　them　were　very　broad；　indicating　that　many　warriors　had　passed。　　They　had　passed；　too；　in　perfect　confidence；　as　there　was　no　effort　at　concealment；　and　Henry　surmised　that　no　white　force　of　any　size　could　be　within　many　days'　march　of　this　place。　　But　the　very　security　of　the　Indians　helped　his　own　design。　　They　would　not　dream　that　any　one　of　the　hated　race　was　daring　to　come　almost　within　the　light　of　their　fires。

Henry　had　but　one　fear　just　now；　and　that　was　dogs。　　If　the　Indians　had　any　of　their　mongrel　curs　with　them；　they　would　quickly　scent　him　out　and　give　the　alarm　with　their　barking。　　But　he　belie