the scouts of the valley- 第21部分

The　shiftless　one　raked　away　the　ashes；　and　put　on　two　or　three　pieces　of　wood　that　lay　on　the　hearth。　　Little　flames　and　smoke　arose。　　Henry　looked　curiously　about　the　house。　　It　was　the　usual　cabin　of　the　frontier；　although　somewhat　larger。　　The　bed　on　which　Shif'less　Sol　sat　was　evidently　that　of　the　father　and　mother；　while　two　large　ones　behind　the　curtain　were　used　by　the　children。　　On　the　shelf　stood　a　pail　half　full　of　drinking　water；　and　by　the　side　of　it　a　tin　cup。　　Dried　herbs　hung　over　the　fireplace；　and　two　or　three　chests　stood　in　the　corners。　　The　clothing　of　the　children　was　scattered　about。　　Unprepared　food　for　breakfast　stood　on　a　table。　　Everything　told　of　a　hasty　flight　and　its　terrible　need。　　Henry　was　already　resolved；　but　his　heart　hardened　within　him　as　he　saw。

He　took　the　hatchet　from　his　belt　and　cut　one　of　the　hooks　for　the　door　bar　nearly　in　two。　　The　others　said　not　a　word。　　They　had　no　need　to　speak。　　They　understood　everything　that　he　did。　　He　opened　the　window　again　and　looked　out。　　Nothing　yet　appeared。　　〃The　dawn　will　come　in　three　quarters　of　an　hour；〃　he　said；　〃and　we　shall　not　have　to　wait　long　for　what　we　want　to　do。〃

He　sat　down　facing　the　door。　　All　the　others　were　sitting；　and　they；　too；　faced　the　door。　　Everyone　had　his　rifle　across　his　knees；　with　one　hand　upon　the　hammer。　　The　wood　on　the　hearth　sputtered　as　the　fire　spread；　and　the　flames　grew。　　Beyond　a　doubt　a　thin　spire　of　smoke　was　rising　from　the　chimney；　and　a　watching　eye　would　see　this　sign　of　a　peaceful　and　unsuspecting　mind。

〃I　hope　Braxton　Wyatt　will　be　the　first　to　knock　at　our　door；〃　said　Shif'less　Sol。

〃I　wouldn't　be　sorry；〃　said　Henry。

Paul　was　sitting　in　a　chair　near　the　fire；　and　he　said　nothing。　　He　hoped　the　waiting　would　be　very　short。　　The　light　was　sufficient　for　him　to　see　the　faces　of　his　comrades；　and　he　noticed　that　they　were　all　very　tense。　　This　was　no　common　watch　that　they　kept。　　Shif'less　Sol　remained　on　the　bed；　Henry　sat　on　another　of　the　chairs；　Tom　Ross　was　on　one　of　the　chests　with　his　back　to　the　wall。　　Long　Jim　was　near　the　curtain。　　Close　by　Paul　was　a　home…made　cradle。　　He　put　down　his　hand　and　touched　it。　　He　was　glad　that　it　was　empty　now；　but　the　sight　of　it　steeled　his　heart　anew　for　the　task　that　lay　before　them。

Ten　silent　minutes　passed；　and　Henry　went　to　the　window　again。　　He　did　not　open　it；　but　there　was　a　crack　through　which　he　could　see。　　The　others　said　nothing；　but　watched　his　face。　　When　he　turned　away　they　knew　that　the　moment　was　at　hand。

〃They've　just　come　from　the　woods；〃　he　said；　〃and　in　a　minute　they'll　be　at　the　door。　　Now；　boys；　take　one　last　look　at　your　rifles。〃

A　minute　later　there　was　a　sudden　sharp　knock　at　the　door；　but　no　answer　came　from　within。　　The　knock　was　repeated；　sharper　and　louder；　and　Henry；　altering　his　voice　as　much　as　possible；　exclaimed　like　one　suddenly　awakened　from　sleep：

〃Who　is　it？　　What　do　you　want？〃

Back　came　a　voice　which　Henry　knew　to　be　that　of　Braxton　Wyatt：

〃We've　come　from　farther　up　the　valley。　　We're　scouts；　we've　been　up　to　the　Indian　country。　　We're　half　starved。　　Open　and　give　us　food！〃

〃I　don't　believe　you；〃　replied　Henry。　　〃Honest　people　don't　come　to　my　door　at　this　time　in　the　morning。〃

Then　ensued　a　few　moments　of　silence；　although　Paul；　with　his　vivid　fancy；　thought　he　heard　whispering　on　the　other　side　of　the　door。

〃Open！〃　cried　Wyatt；　〃or　we'll　break　your　door　down！〃　Henry　said　nothing；　nor　did　any　of　the　others。　　They　did　not　stir。　　The　fire　crackled　a　little；　but　there　was　no　other　sound　in　the　Standish　house。　　Presently　they　heard　a　slight　noise　outside；　that　of　light　feet。

〃They　are　going　for　a　log　with　which　to　break　the　door　in；〃　whispered　Henry。　　〃They　won't　have　to　look　far。　　The　wood　pile　isn't　fifty　feet　away。〃

〃An'　then；〃　said　Shif'less　Sol；　〃they　won't　have　much　left　to　do　but　to　take　the　scalps　of　women　an'　little　children。〃

Every　figure　in　the　Standish　house　stiffened　at　the　shiftless　one's　significant　words；　and　the　light　in　the　eyes　grew　sterner。　　Henry　went　to　the　door；　put　his　ear　to　the　line　where　it　joined　the　wall；　and　listened。

〃They've　got　their　log；〃　he　said；　〃and　in　half　a　minute　they'll　rush　it　against　the　door。〃

He　came　back　to　his　old　position。　　Paul's　heart　began　to　thump；　and　his　thumb　fitted　itself　over　the　trigger　of　his　cocked　rifle。　　Then　they　heard　rapid　feet；　a　smash；　a　crash；　and　the　door　flew　open。　　A　half　dozen　　Iroquois　and　a　log　that　they　held　between　them　were　hurled　into　the　middle　of　the　room。　　The　door　had　given　away　so　easily　and　unexpectedly　that　the　warriors　could　not　check　themselves；　and　two　or　three　fell　with　the　log。　　But　they　sprang　like　cats　to　their　feet；　and　with　their　comrades　uttered　a　cry　that　filled　the　whole　cabin　with　its　terrible　sound　and　import。

The　Iroquois；　keen　of　eyes　and　quick　of　mind；　saw　the　trap　at　once。　　　The　five　grim　figures；　rifle　in　hand　and　finger　on　trigger；　all　waiting　silent　and　motionless　were　far　different　from　what　they　expected。　　Here　could　be　no　scalps；　with　the　long；　silky　hair　of　women　and　children。

There　was　a　moment's　pause；　and　then　the　Indians　rushed　at　their　foes。　　Five　fingers　pulled　triggers；　flame　leaped　from　five　muzzles；　and　in　an　instant　the　cabin　was　filled　with　smoke　and　war　shouts；　but　the　warriors　never　had　a　chance。　　They　could　only　strike　blindly　with　their　tomahawks；　and　in　a　half　minute　three　of　them；　two　wounded；　rushed　through　the　door　and　fled　to　the　woods。　　They　had　been　preceded　already　by　Braxton　Wyatt；　who　had　hung　back　craftily　while　the　Iroquois　broke　down　the　door。




CHAPTER　IX

WYOMING


The　five　made　no　attempt　to　pursue。　　In　fact；　they　did　not　leave　the　cabin；　but　stood　there　a　while；　looking　down　at　the　fallen；　hideous　with　war　paint；　but　now　at　the　end　of　their　last　trail。　　Their　tomahawks　lay　upon　the　floor；　and　glittered　when　the　light　from　the　fire　fell　upon　them。　　Smoke；　heavy　with　the　odor　of　burned　gunpowder；　drifted　about　the　room。

Henry　threw　open　the　two　shuttered　windows；　and　fresh　currents　of　air　poured　into　the　room。　　Over　the　mountains　in　the　east　came　the　first　shaft　of　day。　　The　surface　of　the　river　was　lightening。

〃What　shall　we　do　with　them？〃　asked　Paul；　pointing　to　the　silent　forms　on　the　floor。

〃Leave　them；〃　said　Henry。　　〃Butler's　army　is　burning　everything　before　it；　and　this　house　and　all　in　it　is　bound　to　go。　　You　notice；　however；　that　Braxton　Wyatt　is　not　here。〃

〃Trust　him　to　escape　every　time；〃　said　Shif'less　Sol。　　〃Of　course　he　stood　back　while　the　Indians　rushed　the　house。　　But　ez　shore　ez　we　live　somebody　will　get　him　some　day。　　People　like　that　can't　escape　always。〃

They　slipped　from　the　house；　turning　toward　the　river　bank；　and　not　long　after　it　was　full　daylight　they　were　at　Forty　Fort　again；　where　they　found　Standish　and　his　family。　　Henry　replied　briefly　to　the　man's　questions；　but　two　hours　later　a　scout　came　in　and　reported　the　grim　sight　that　he　had　seen　in　the　Standish　home。　　No　one　could　ask　for　further　proof　of　the　fealty　of　the　five；　who　sought　a　little　sleep；　but　before　noon　were　off　again。

They　met　more　fugitives；　and　it　was　now　too　dangerous　to　go　farther　up　the　valley。　　But　not　willing　to　turn　back；　they　ascended　the　mountains　that　hem　it　in；　and　from　the　loftiest　point　that　they　could　find　sought　a　sight　of　the　enemy。

It　was　an　absolutely　brilliant　day　in　summer。　　The　blue　of　the　heavens　showed　no　break　but　the　shifting　bits　of　white　cloud；　and　the　hills　and　mountains　rolled　away；　solid　masses　of　rich；　dark　green。　　The　river；　a　beautiful　river　at　any　time；　seemed　from　this　height　a　great　current　of　quicksilver。　　Henry　pointed　to　a　place　far　up　the　stream　where　black　dots　appeared　on　its　surface。　　These　dots　were　moving；　and　they　came　on　in　four　lines。

〃Boys；〃　he　said；　〃you　know　what　those　lines　of　black　dots　are？〃

〃Yes；〃　replied　Shif'less　Sol；　〃it's　Butler's　army　of　Indians；　Tories；　Canadians；　an'　English。　　They've　come　from　Tioga　Point　on　the　river；　an'　our　Colonel　Butler　kin　expect　'em　soon。〃

The　sunlight　became　dazzling；　and　showed　the　boats；　despite　the　distance；　with　startling　clearness。　　The　five；　watching　from　their　peak；　saw　them　turn　in　toward　the　land；　where　they　poured　forth　a　motley　stream　of　red　men　and　white；　a　stream　that　was　quickly　swallowed　up　in　the　forest。

〃They　are　coming　down　through　the　woods　on　the　fort；　said　Tom　Ross。

〃And　they're　coming　fast；〃　said　Henry。　　〃It's　for　us　to　carry　the　warning。〃

They　sped　back　to　the　Wyoming　fort；　spreading　the　alarm　as　they　passed；　and　once　more　they　were　in　the　council　room　with　Colonel　Zebulon　Butler　and　his　officers　around　him。

〃So　they　are　at　hand；　and　you　have　seen　them？〃　said　the　colonel。

〃Yes；〃　replied　Henry；　the　spokesman；　〃they　came　down　from　Tioga　Point　in　boats；　but　have　disembarked　and　are　advancing　through　the　woods。　　They　will　be　here　today。〃

There　was　a　little　silence　in　the　room。　　The　older　men　understood　the　danger　perhaps　better　than　the　younger；　who　were　eager　for　battle。

〃Why　should　we　stay　here　and　wait　for　them？〃　exclaimed　one　of　the　younger　captains　at　length…some　of　these　captains　were　mere　boys。　　〃Why　not　go　out；　meet　them；　and　beat　them　？〃

〃They　outnumber　us　about　five　to　one；〃　said　Henry。　　〃Brant；　if　he　is　still　with　them；　though　be　may　have　gone　to　some　other　place　from　Tioga　Point；　is　a　great　captain。　　So　is　Timmendiquas；　the　Wyandot；　and　they　say　that　the　Tory　leader　is　energetic　and　capable。〃

〃It　is　all　true！〃　exclaimed　Colonel　Butler。　　〃We　must　stay　in　the　fort！　　We　must　not　go　out　to　meet　them！　　We　are　not　strong　enough！〃

A　murmur　of　protest　and　indignation　came　from　the　younger　officers。

〃And　leave　the　valley　to　be　ravaged！　　Women　and　children　to　be　scalped；　while　we　stay　behind　log　walls！〃　said　one　of　them　boldly。　　

The　men　in　the　Wyoming　fort　were　not　regular　troops；　merely　militia；　farmers　gathered　hastily　for　their　own　defense。

Colonel　Butler　flushed。

〃We　have　induced　as　many　as　we　could　to　seek　refuge；〃　he　said。　　〃It　hurts　me　as　much　as　you　to　have　the　valley　ravaged　while　we　sit　quiet　here。　　But　I　know　that　we　have　no　chance　against　so　large　a　force；　and　if　we　fall　what　is　to　become　of　the　hundreds　whom　we　now　protect？〃

But　the　murm