the scouts of the valley-第17部分

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nnibal　that　Paul　talks　about　couldn't　hev　been　knee　high　to　Henry。　　Besides；　ef　them　old　Greeks　an'　Romans　hed　hed　to　fight　Wyandots　an'　Shawnees　an'　Iroquois　ez　we've　done；　whar'd　they　hev　been？〃

Tom　Ross　uttered　a　contemptuous　little　sniff；　and　on　the　edge　of　that　sniff　Alexander　and　Hannibal　were　wafted　into　oblivion。　　Then　he　went　outside　and　walked　about　the　islet；　appreciating　for　the　tenth　time　what　a　wonderful　little　refuge　it　was。　　He　was　about　to　return　to　the　hut　when　he　saw　a　dozen　dark　blots　along　the　high　bough　of　a　tree。　　He　knew　them。　　They　were　welcome　blots。　　They　were　wild　turkeys　that　had　found　what　had　seemed　to　be　a　secure　roosting　place　in　the　swamp。

Tom　knew　that　the　meat　of　the　little　bear　was　nearly　exhausted；　and　here　was　more　food　come　to　their　hand。　　〃We're　five　pow'ful　feeders；　an'　we'll　need　you；〃　he　murmured；　looking　up　at　the　turkeys；　〃　but　you　kin　rest　thar　till　nearly　mornin'。〃

He　knew　that　the　turkeys　would　not　stir；　and　he　went　back　to　the　hut　to　resume　his　watch。　just　before　the　first　dawn　he　awoke　Henry。

〃Henry；〃　he　said；　〃a　lot　uv　foolish　wild　turkeys　hev　gone　to　rest　on　the　limb　of　a　tree　not　twenty　yards　from　this　grand　manshun　uv　ourn。　　'Pears　to　me　that　wild　turkeys　wuz　made　fur　hungry　fellers　like　us　to　eat。　　Kin　we　risk　a　shot　or　two　at　'em；　or　is　it　too　dangerous？〃

〃I　think　we　can　risk　the　shots；〃　said　Henry；　rising　and　taking　his　rifle。　　〃　We're　bound　to　risk　something；　and　it's　not　likely　that　Indians　are　anywhere　near。〃

They　slipped　from　the　cabin；　leaving　the　other　three　still　sound　asleep；　and　stepped　noiselessly　among　the　trees。　　The　first　pale　gray　bar　that　heralded　the　dawn　was　just　showing　in　the　cast。

〃Thar　they　are；〃　said　Tom　Ross；　pointing　at　the　dozen　dark　blots　on　the　high　bough。

〃We'll　take　good　aim；　and　when　I　say　'fire！'　we'll　both　pull　trigger；〃　said　Henry。

He　picked　out　a　huge　bird　near　the　end　of　the　line；　but　be　noticed　when　be　drew　the　bead　that　a　second　turkey　just　behind　the　first　was　directly　in　his　line　of　fire。　　The　fact　aroused　his　ambition　to　kill　both　with　one　bullet。　　It　was　not　a　mere　desire　to　slaughter　or　to　display　marksmanship；　but　they　needed　the　extra　turkey　for　food。

〃Are　you　ready；　Tom？〃　he　asked。　　〃　Then　fire。〃

They　pulled　triggers；　there　were　two　sharp　reports　terribly　loud　to　both　under　the　circumstances；　and　three　of　the　biggest　and　fattest　of　the　turkeys　fell　heavily　to　the　ground；　while　the　rest　flapped　their　wings；　and　with　frightened　gobbles　flew　away。

Henry　was　about　to　rush　forward；　but　Silent　Tom　held　him　back。

〃Don't　show　yourself；　Henry！　　Don't　show　yourself！〃　he　cried　in　tense　tones。

〃Why；　what's　the　matter？〃　asked　the　boy　in　surprise。

〃Don't　you　see　that　three　turkeys　fell；　and　we　are　only　two　to　shoot？　　An　Injun　is　layin'　'roun'　here　some　whar；　an'　he　drawed　a　bead　on　one　uv　them　turkeys　at　the　same　time　we　did。〃

Henry　laughed　and　put　away　Tom's　detaining　hand。

〃There's　no　Indian　about；〃　he　said。　　〃I　killed　two　turkeys　with　one　shot；　and　I'm　mighty　proud　of　it；　too。　　I　saw　that　they　were　directly　in　the　line　of　the　bullet；　and　it　went　through　both。〃

Silent　Tom　heaved　a　mighty　sigh　of　relief；　drawn　up　from　great　depths。

〃I'm　tre…men…jeous…ly　glad　uv　that；　Henry；〃　he　said。　〃Now　when　I　saw　that　third　turkey　come　tumblin'　down　I　wuz　shore　that　one　Injun　or　mebbe　more　had　got　on　this　snug　little　place　uv　ourn　in　the　swamp；　an'　that　we'd　hev　to　go　to　fightin'　ag'in。　　Thar　come　times；　Henry；　when　my　mind　just　natchally　rises　up　an'　rebels　ag'in　fightin'；　'specially　when　I　want　to　eat　or　sleep。　　Ain't　thar　anythin'　else　but　fight；　fight；　fight；　'though　I　'low　a　feller　hez　got　to　expect　a　lot　uv　it　out　here　in　the　woods？〃

They　picked　up　the　three　turkeys；　two　gobblers　and　a　hen；　and　found　them　large　and　fat　as　butter。　　More　than　once　the　wild　turkey　had　come　to　their　relief；　and；　in　fact；　this　bird　played　a　great　part　in　the　life　of　the　frontier；　wherever　that　frontier　might　be；　as　it　shifted　steadily　westward。　　As　they　walked　back　toward　the　hut　they　faced　three　figures；　all　three　with　leveled　rifles。

〃All　right；　boys；〃　sang　out　Henry。　〃It's　nobody　but　Tom　and　myself；　bringing　in　our　breakfast。〃

The　three　dropped　their　rifles。

〃That's　good；〃　said　Shif'less　Sol。　〃When　them　shots　roused　us　out　o'　our　beauty　sleep　we　thought　the　whole　Iroquois　nation；　horse；　foot；　artillery　an'　baggage　wagons；　wuz　comin'　down　upon　us。　　So　we　reckoned　we'd　better　go　out　an'　lick　'em　afore　it　wuz　too　late。

〃But　it's　you；　an'　you've　got　turkeys；　nothin'　but　turkeys。　　Sho'　I　reckoned　from　the　peart　way　Long　Jim　spoke　up　that　you　wuz　loaded　down　with　hummin'　birds'　tongues；　ortylans；　an'　all　them　other　Roman　and　Rooshian　delicacies　Paul　talks　about　in　a　way　to　make　your　mouth　water。　　But　turkeys！　jest　turkeys！　　Nothin'　but　turkeys！〃

〃You　jest　wait　till　you　see　me　cookin'　'em；　Sol　Hyde；〃　said　Long　Jim。　〃Then　your　mouth'll　water；　an'　it'll　take　Henry　and　Tom　both　to　hold　you　back。〃

But　Shif'less　Sol's　mouth　was　watering　already；　and　his　eyes　were　glued　on　the　turkeys。

〃I'm　a　pow'ful　lazy　man；　ez　you　know；　Saplin'；〃　he　said；　〃but　I'm　goin'　to　help　you　pick　them　turkeys　an'　get　'em　ready　for　the　coals。　　The　quicker　they　are　cooked　the　better　it'll　suit　me。〃

While　they　were　cooking　the　turkeys；　Henry；　a　little　anxious　lest　the　sound　of　the　shots　had　been　heard；　crossed　on　the　stepping　stones　and　scouted　a　bit　in　the　woods。　　But　there　was　no　sign　of　Indian　presence；　and；　relieved；　he　returned　to　the　islet　just　as　breakfast　was　ready。

Long　Jim　had　exerted　all　his　surpassing　skill；　and　it　was　a　contented　five　that　worked　on　one　of　the　turkeys　…　the　other　two　being　saved　for　further　needs。

〃What's　goin'　to　be　the　next　thing　in　the　line　of　our　duty；　Henry？〃　asked　Long　Jim　as　they　ate。

〃We'll　have　plenty　to　do；　from　all　that　Sol　tells　us；〃　replied　the　boy。　　〃It　seems　that　they　felt　so　sure　of　you；　while　you　were　prisoners；　that　they　often　talked　about　their　plans　where　you　could　hear　them。　　Sol　has　told　me　of　two　or　three　talks　between　Timmendiquas　and　Thayendanegea；　and　from　the　last　one　he　gathered　that　they're　intending　a　raid　with　a　big　army　against　a　place　called　Wyoming；　in　the　valley　of　a　river　named　the　Susquehanna。　　It's　a　big　settlement；　scattered　all　along　the　river；　and　they　expect　to　take　a　lot　of　scalps。　　They're　going　to　be　helped　by　British　from　Canada　and　Tories。　　Boys；　we're　a　long　way　from　home；　but　shall　we　go　and　tell　them　in　Wyoming　what's　coming？〃

〃Of　course；〃　said　the　four　together。

〃Our　bein'　a　long　way　from　home　don't　make　any　difference　〃　said　Shif'less　Sol。　　〃We're　generally　a　long　way　from　home；　an'　you　know　we　sent　word　back　from　Pittsburgh　to　Wareville　that　we　wuz　stayin'　a　while　here　in　the　east　on　mighty　important　business。〃

〃Then　we　go　to　the　Wyoming　Valley　as　straight　and　as　fast　as　we　can；〃　said　Henry。　　〃That's　settled。　　What　else　did　you　bear　about　their　plans；　Sol？〃

〃They're　to　break　up　the　village　here　soon　and　then　they'll　march　to　a　place　called　Tioga。　　The　white　men　an'　I　hear　that's　to　be　a　lot　uv　'em…will　join　'em　thar　or　sooner。　　They've　sent　chiefs　all　the　way　to　our　Congress　at　Philydelphy；　pretendin'　peace；　an'　then；　when　they　git　our　people　to　thinkin'　peace；　they'll　jump　on　our　settlements；　the　whole　ragin'　army　uv　'em；　with　tomahawk　an'　knife。　　A　white　man　named　John　Butler　is　to　command　'em。〃

Paul　shuddered。

〃I've　heard　of　him；〃　he　said。　　〃They　called　him　'Indian'　Butler　at　Pittsburgh。　　He　helped　lead　the　Indians　in　that　terrible　battle　of　the　Oriskany　last　year。　　And　they　say　he's　got　a　son；　Walter　Butler；　who　is　as　bad　as　he　is；　and　there　are　other　white　leaders　of　the　Indians；　the　Johnsons　and　Claus。〃

〃'Pears　ez　ef　we　would　be　needed；〃　said　Tom　Ross。　　

〃I　don't　think　we　ought　to　hurry；〃　said　Henry。　　The　more　we　know　about　the　Indian　plans　the　better　it　will　be　for　the　Wyoming　people。　　We've　a　safe　and　comfortable　hiding　place　here；　and　we　can　stay　and　watch　the　Indian　movements。〃

〃Suits　me；〃　drawled　Shif'less　Sol。　　〃My　legs　an'　arms　are　still　stiff　from　them　deerskin　thongs　an'　ez　Long　Jim　is　here　now　to　wait　on　me　I　guess　I'll　take　a　rest　from　travelin。〃

〃You'll　do　all　your　own　waitin'　on　yourself；〃　rejoined　Long　Jim；　　'an　I'm　afraid　you　won't　be　waited　on　so　Pow'ful　well；　either；　but　a　good　deal　better　than　you　deserve。〃

They　lay　on　the　islet　several　days；　meanwhile　keeping　a　close　watch　on　the　Indian　camp。　　They　really　had　little　to　fear　except　from　hunting　parties；　as　the　region　was　far　from　any　settled　portion　of　the　country；　and　the　Indians　were　not　likely　to　suspect　their　continued　presence。　　But　the　hunters　were　numerous；　and　all　the　squaws　in　the　camp　were　busy　jerking　meat。　　It　was　obvious　that　the　Indians　were　preparing　for　a　great　campaign；　but　that　they　would　take　their　own　time。　　Most　of　the　scouting　was　done　by　Henry　and　Sol；　and　several　times　they　lay　in　the　thick　brushwood　and　watched；　by　the　light　of　the　fires；　what　was　passing　in　the　Indian　camp。

On　the　fifth　night　after　the　rescue　of　Long　Jim；　Henry　and　Shif'less　Sol　lay　in　the　covert。　　It　was　nearly　midnight；　but　the　fires　still　burned　in　the　Indian　camp；　warriors　were　polishing　their　weapons；　and　the　women　were　cutting　up　or　jerking　meat。　　While　they　were　watching　they　heard　from　a　point　to　the　north　the　sound　of　a　voice　rising　and　failing　in　a　kind　of　chant。

〃Another　war　party　comin'；〃　whispered　Shif'less　Sol；　〃an'　singin'　about　the　victories　that　they're　goin'　to　win。〃

〃But　did　you　notice　that　voice？〃　Henry　whispered　back。　　〃　It's　not　a　man's；　it's　a　woman's。〃

〃Now　that　you　speak　of　it；　you're　right；〃　said　Shif'less　Sol。　　〃It's　funny　to　hear　an　Injun　woman　chantin'　about　battles　as　she　comes　into　camp。　　That's　the　business　o'　warriors。〃

〃Then　this　is　no　ordinary　woman；〃　said　Henry。

〃They'll　pass　along　that　trail　there　within　twenty　yards　of　us；　Sol；　and　we　want　to　see　her。〃

〃So　we　do；〃　said　Sol；　〃but　I　ain't　breathin'　while　they　pass。〃

They　flattened　themselves　against　the　earth　until　the　keenest　eye　could　not　see　them　in　the　darkness。　　All　the　time　the　singing　was　growing　louder；　and　both　remained；　quite　sure　that　it　was　the　voice　of　a　woman。　　The　trail　was　but　a　short　distance　away；　and　the　moon　was　bright。