the scouts of the valley-第30部分
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women and little children； save you and your comrades who stayed to fight and protect them。〃
〃You speak true words； Timmendiquas；〃 said Henry。
〃The Wyandots have remained in the East to fight men； not to kill squaws and papooses；〃 continued Timmendiquas。 〃So I say to you； go on with those who flee across the mountains。 Our warriors shall not pursue you any longer。 We will turn back to the valley from which we come； and those of your race； Blackstaffe and Wyatt； shall go with us。〃
The great chief spoke quietly； but there was an edge to his tone that told that every word was meant。 Henry felt a glow of admiration。 The true greatness of Timmendiquas spoke。
〃And the Iroquois？〃 he said； 〃will they go back with you？〃
〃They will。 They have killed too much。 Today all the white people in the valley are killed or driven away。 Many scalps have been taken； those of women and children； too； and men have died at the stake。 I have felt shame for their deeds； Ware； and it will bring punishment upon my brethren； the Iroquois。 It will make so great a noise in the world that many soldiers will come； and the villages of the Iroquois will cease to be。〃
〃I think it is so； Timmendiquas；〃 said Henry。 〃But you will be far away then in your own land。〃
The chief drew himself up a little。
〃I shall remain with the Iroquois；〃 he said。 〃I have promised to help them； and I must do so。〃
〃I can't blame you for that；〃 said Henry； 〃but I am glad that you do not seek the scalps of women and children。 We are at once enemies and friends； Timmendiquas。〃
White Lightning bowed gravely。 He and Henry touched hands again； and each withdrew； the chief into the morass； while Henry walked back toward his comrades； holding himself erect； as if no enemy were near。
The four rose up to greet him。 They had heard part of what was said； and Henry quickly told them the rest。
〃He's shorely a great chief；〃 said Shif'less Sol。 He'll keep his word； too。 Them people on ahead ain't got anything more to fear from pursuit。〃
He's a statesman； too；〃 said Henry。 〃He sees what damage the deeds of Wyoming Valley will do to those who have done them。 He thinks our people will now send a great army against the Iroquois； and I think so； too。〃
〃No nation can stand a thing like that；〃 said Paul； and I didn't dream it could happen。〃
They now left the oasis； and went swiftly along the trail left by the fugitives。 All of them had confidence in the word of Timmendiquas。 There was a remote chance that some other band had entered the swamp at a different point； but it was remote； indeed； and it did not trouble them much。
Night was now over the great swamp。 The sun no longer came through the gray clouds； but here and there were little flashes of flame made by fireflies。 Had not the trail been so broad and deep it could easily have been lost； but； being what it was； the skilled eyes of the frontiersmen followed it without trouble。
〃Some uv 'em are gittin' pow'ful tired；〃 said Tom Ross； looking at the tracks in the mud。 Then he suddenly added： 〃Here's whar one's quit forever。〃
A shallow grave； not an hour old； had been made under some bushes； and its length indicated that a woman lay there。 They passed it by in silence。 Henry now appreciated more fully than ever the mercy of Timmendiquas。 The five and Carpenter could not possibly have protected the miserable fugitives against the great chief； with fifty Wyandots and Iroquois at his back。 Timmendiquas knew this； and he had done what none of the Indians or white allies around him would have done。
In another hour they saw a man standing among some vines； but watchful； and with his rifle in the hollow of his arm。 It was Carpenter； a man whose task was not less than that of the five。 They were in the thick of it and could see what was done； but he had to lead on and wait。 He counted the dusk figures as they approached him； one； two； three； four； five； and perhaps no man ever felt greater relief。 He advanced toward them and said huskily：
〃There was no fight！ They did not attack！〃
〃There was a fight；〃 said Henry； 〃and we beat them back； then a second and a larger force came up； but it was composed chiefly of Wyandots； led by their great chief； Timmendiquas。 He came forward and said that they would not pursue women and children； and that we could go in safety。〃
Carpenter looked incredulous。
〃It is true；〃 said Henry； 〃every word of it。〃
〃It is more than Brant would have done；〃 said Carpenter； 〃and it saves us； with your help。〃
〃You were first； and the first credit is yours； Mr。 Carpenter；〃 said Henry sincerely。
They did not tell the women and children of the fight at the oasis； but they spread the news that there would be no more pursuit； and many drooping spirits revived。 They spent another day in the Great Dismal Swamp； where more lives were lost。 On the day after their emergence from the marsh； Henry and his comrades killed two deer； which furnished greatly needed food； and on the day after that； excepting those who had died by the way； they reached Fort Penn； where they were received into shelter and safety。
The night before the fugitives reached Fort Penn； the Iroquois began the celebration of the Thanksgiving Dance for their great victory and the many scalps taken at Wyoming。 They could not recall another time when they had secured so many of these hideous trophies； and they were drunk with the joy of victory。 Many of the Tories； some in their own clothes； and some painted and dressed like Indians； took part in it。
According to their ancient and honored custom they held a grand council to prepare for it。 All the leading chiefs were present； Sangerachte； Hiokatoo； and the others。 Braxton Wyatt； Blackstaffe； and other white men were admitted。 After their deliberations a great fire was built in the center of the camp； the squaws who had followed the army feeding it with brushwood until it leaped and roared and formed a great red pyramid。 Then the chiefs sat down in a solemn circle at some distance； and waited。
Presently the sound of a loud chant was heard； and from the farthest point of the camp emerged a long line of warriors； hundreds and hundreds of them； all painted in red and black with horrible designs。 They were naked except the breechcloth and moccasins； and everyone waved aloft a tomahawk as he sang。
Still singing and brandishing the tomahawks； which gleamed in the red light； the long procession entered the open space； and danced and wheeled about the great fire； the flames casting a lurid light upon faces hideous with paint or the intoxication of triumph。 The glare of their black eyes was like those of Eastern eaters of hasheesh or opium； and they bounded to and fro as if their muscles were springs of steel。 They sang：
We have met the Bostonians* in battle； We slew them with our rifles and tomahawks。 Few there are who escaped our warriors。 Ever…victorious is the League of the Ho…de…no…sau…nee。
＇*Note： All the Americans were often called Bostonians by the Indians as late as the Revolutionary War。＇
Mighty has been our taking of scalps； They will fill all the lodges of the Iroquois。 We have burned the houses of the Bostonians。 Ever…victorious is the League of the Ho…de…no…sau…nee。
The wolf will prowl in their corn…fields； The grass will grow where their blood has soaked； Their bones will lie for the buzzard to pick。 Ever…victorious is the League of the Ho…de…no…sau…nee。
We came upon them by river and forest； As we smote Wyoming we will smite the others； We will drive the Bostonians back to the sea。 Ever…victorious is the League of the Ho…de…no…sau…nee。
The monotonous chant with the refrain； 〃Ever…victorious is the League of the Ho…de…no…sau…nee；〃 went on for many verses。 Meanwhile the old squaws never ceased to feed the bonfire； and the flames roared； casting a deeper and more vivid light over the distorted faces of the dancers and those of the chiefs； who sat gravely beyond。
Higher and higher leaped the warriors。 They seemed unconscious of fatigue； and the glare in their eyes became that of maniacs。 Their whole souls were possessed by the orgy。 Beads of sweat； not of exhaustion； but of emotional excitement； appeared upon their faces and naked bodies； and the red and black paint streaked together horribly。
For a long time this went on； and then the warriors ceased suddenly to sing； although they continued their dance。 A moment later a cry which thrilled every nerve came from a far point in the dark background。 It was the scalp yell； the most terrible of all Indian cries； long； high…pitched； and quavering； having in it
something of the barking howl of the wolf and the fiendish shriek of a murderous maniac。 The warriors instantly took it up； and gave it back in a gigantic chorus。
A ghastly figure bounded into the circle of the firelight。 It was that of a woman； middle…aged； tall and powerful； naked to the waist； her body covered with red and black paint； her long black hair hanging in a loose cloud down her back。 She held a fresh scalp； taken from a white head； aloft in either band。 It was Catharine Montour； and it was she who had first emitted the scalp yell。 After her came more warriors； all bearing scalps。 The scalp yell was supposed to be uttered for every scalp taken； and； as they had taken more than three hundred； it did not cease for hours； penetrating every part of the forest。 All the time Catharine Montour led the dance。 None bounded higher than she。 None grimaced more horribly。
While they danced； six men； with their hands tied behind them and black caps on their heads； were brought forth and paraded around amid hoots and yells and brandishing of tomahawks in their faces。 They were the surviving prisoners； and the black caps meant that they were to be killed and scalped on the morrow。 Stupefied by all through which they had gone； they were scarcely conscious now。
Midnight came。 The Iroquois still danced and sang； and the calm stars looked down upon the savage and awful scene。 Now the dancers began to weary。 Many dropped unconscious； and the others danced about them where they lay。 After a while all ceased。 Then the chiefs brought forth a whi
