the scouts of the valley-第51部分

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　These　men　made　but　little　noise　now。　　They　were　resting　and　waiting。

Thayendanegea　was　the　first　to　break　the　silence　in　the　group　at　the　fire。　　He　turned　his　dark　face　to　Sir　John　Johnson　and　said　in　his　excellent　English：　〃The　king　promised　us　that　if　we　would　take　up　arms　for　him　against　the　Yankees；　he　would　send　a　great　army；　many　thousands；　to　help　us。　　We　believed　him；　and　we　took　up　the　hatchet　for　him。　　We　fought　in　the　dark　and　the　storm　with　Herkimer　at　the　Oriskany；　and　many　of　our　warriors　fell。　　But　we　did　not　sulk　in　our　lodges。　　We　have　ravaged　and　driven　in　the　whole　American　border　along　a　line　of　hundreds　of　miles。　　Now　the　Congress　sends　an　army　to　attack　us；　to　avenge　what　we　have　done；　and　the　great　forces　of　the　king　are　not　here。　　I　have　been　across　the　sea；　I　have　seen　the　mighty　city　of　London　and　its　people　as　numerous　as　the　blades　of　grass。　　Why　has　not　the　king　kept　his　promise　and　sent　men　enough　to　save　the　Iroquois　？〃

Sir　John　Johnson　and　Thayendanegea　were　good　friends；　but　the　soul　of　the　great　Mohawk　chief　was　deeply　stirred。　　His　penetrating　mind　saw　the　uplifted　hand　about　to　strike…and　the　target　was　his　own　people。　　His　tone　became　bitterly　sarcastic　as　he　spoke；　and　when　he　ceased　he　looked　directly　at　the　baronet　in　a　manner　that　showed　a　reply　must　be　given。　　Sir　John　moved　uneasily；　but　he　spoke　at　last。

〃Much　that　you　say　is　true；　Thayendanegea；〃　he　admitted；　〃but　the　king　has　many　things　to　do。　　The　war　is　spread　over　a　vast　area；　and　he　must　keep　his　largest　armies　in　the　East。　　But　the　Royal　Greens；　the　Rangers；　and　all　others　whom　we　can　raise；　even　in　Canada；　are　here　to　help　you。　　In　the　coming　battle　your　fortunes　are　our　fortunes。〃

Thayendanegea　nodded；　but　he　was　not　yet　appeased。　　His　glance　fell　upon　the　two　Butlers；　father　and　son；　and　he　frowned。

〃There　are　many　in　England　itself；〃　he　said；　〃who　wish　us　harm；　and　who　perhaps　have　kept　us　from　receiving　some　of　the　help　that　we　ought　to　have。　　They　speak　of　Wyoming　and　Cherry　Valley；　of　the　torture　and　of　the　slaughter　of　women　and　children；　and　they　say　that　war　must　not　be　carried　on　in　such　a　way。　　But　there　are　some　among　us　who　are　more　savage　than　the　savages　themselves；　as　they　call　us。　　It　was　you；　John　Butler；　who　led　at　Wyoming；　and　it　was　you；　Walter　Butler；　who　allowed　the　women　and　children　to　be　killed　at　Cherry　Valley；　and　more　would　have　been　slain　there　had　I　not；　come　up　in　time。〃

The　dark　face　of　〃Indian〃　Butler　grew　darker；　and　the　pallid　face　of　his　son　grew　more　pallid。　　Both　were　angry；　and　at　the　same　time　a　little　afraid。

〃We　won　at　Wyoming　in　fair　battle；〃　said　the　elder　Butler。

〃But　afterwards？〃　said　Thayendanegea。

The　man　was　silent。

〃It　is　these　two　places　that　have　so　aroused　the　Bostonians　against　us；〃　continued　Thayendanegea。　　〃It　is　because　of　them　that　the　commander　of　the　Bostonians　has　sent　a　great　army；　and　the　Long　House　is　threatened　with　destruction。〃

〃My　son　and　I　have　fought　for　our　common　cause；〃　said　〃Indian〃　Butler；　the　blood　flushing　through　his　swarthy　face。

Sir　John　Johnson　interfered。

〃We　have　admitted；　Joseph；　the　danger　to　the　Iroquois；〃　he　said；　calling　the　chieftain　familiarly　by　his　first　Christian　name；　〃but　I　and　my　brother…in…law　and　Colonel　Butler　and　Captain　Butler　have　already　lost　though　we　may　regain。　　And　with　this　strong　position　and　the　aid　of　ambush　it　is　likely　that　we　can　defeat　the　rebels。〃

The　eyes　of　Thayendanegea　brightened　as　he　looked　at　the　long　embankment；　the　trees；　and　the　dark　forms　of　the　warriors　scattered　numerously　here　and　there。

〃You　may　be　right；　Sir　John；〃　he　said；　〃yes；　I　think　you　are　right；　and　by　all　the　gods；　red　and　white；　we　shall　see。　　I　wish　to　fight　here；　because　this　is　the　best　place　in　which　to　meet　the　Bostonians。　　What　say　you；　Timmendiquas；　sworn　brother　of　mine；　great　warrior　and　great　chief　of　the　Wyandots；　the　bravest　of　all　the　western　nations？〃

The　eye　of　Timmendiquas　expressed　little；　but　his　voice　was　sonorous；　and　his　words　were　such　as　Thayendanegea　wished　to　hear。

〃If　we　fight…and　we　must　fight…this　is　the　place　in　which　to　meet　the；　white　army；〃　he　said。　　〃The　Wyandots　are　here　to　help　the　Iroquois；　as　the　Iroquois　would　go　to　help　them。　　The　Manitou　of　the　Wyandots；　the　Aieroski　of　the　Iroquois；　alone　knows　the　end。〃

He　spoke　with　the　utmost　gravity；　and　after　his　brief　reply　he　said　no　more。　　All　regarded　him　with　respect　and　admiration。　　Even　Braxton　Wyatt　felt　that　it　was　a　noble　deed　to　remain　and　face　destruction　for　the　sake　of　tribes　not　his　own。

Sir　John　Johnson　turned　to　Braxton　Wyatt；　who　had　sat　all　the　while　in　silence。

〃You　have　examined　the　evening's　advance；　Wyatt；〃　he　said。　　〃What　further　information　can　you　give　us？〃

〃We　shall　certainly　be　attacked　to…morrow；〃　replied　Wyatt；　〃and　the　American　army　is　advancing　cautiously。　　It　has　out　strong　flanking　parties；　and　it　is　preceded　by　the　scouts；　those　Kentuckians　whom　I　know　and　have　met　often；　Murphy；　Elerson；　Heemskerk；　and　the　others。〃

〃If　we　could　only　lead　them　into　an　ambush；〃　said　Sir　John。　　〃Any　kind　of　troops；　even　the　best　of　regulars；　will　give　way　before　an　unseen　foe　pouring　a　deadly　fire　upon　them　from　the　deep　woods。　　Then　they　magnify　the　enemy　tenfold。〃

〃It　is　so；〃　said　the　fierce　old　Seneca　chief；　Hiokatoo。　　〃When　we　killed　Braddock　and　all　his　men；　they　thought　that　ten　warriors　stood　in　the　moccasins　of　only　one。〃

Sir　John　frowned。　　He　did　not　like　this　allusion　to　the　time　when　the　Iroquois　fought　against　the　English；　and　inflicted　on　them　a　great　defeat。　　But　he　feared　to　rebuke　the　old　chief。　　Hiokatoo　and　the　Senecas　were　too　important。

〃There　ought　to　be　a　chance　yet　for　an　ambuscade；〃　he　said。　　〃The　foliage　is　still　thick　and　heavy；　and　Sullivan；　their　general；　is　not　used　to　forest　warfare。　　What　say　you　to　this；　Wyatt？〃

Wyatt　shook　his　head。　　He　knew　the　caliber　of　the　five　from　Kentucky；　and　he　had　little　hope　of　such　good　fortune。

〃They　have　learned　from　many　lessons；〃　he　replied；　and　their　scouts　are　the　best。　　Moreover；　they　will　attempt　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