the scouts of the valley- 第34部分

〃If　the　time　comes；　use　them；　you　are　strong；　and　you　know　how；〃　said　the　voice。　　Then　she　saw　the　dark　figure　creeping　away。



CHAPTER　XIV

THE　PURSUIT　ON　THE　RIVER


The　story　of　the　frontier　is　filled　with　heroines；　from　the　far　days　of　Hannah　Dustin　down　to　the　present；　and　Mary　Newton；　whom　the　unknown　figure　in　the　dark　had　just　aroused；　is　one　of　them。　　It　had　seemed　to　her　that　God　himself　had　deserted　her；　but　at　the　last　moment　he　had　sent　some　one。　　She　did　not　doubt；　she　could　not　doubt；　because　the　bonds　had　been　severed；　and　there　she　lay　with　a　deadly　weapon　in　either　hand。　　The　friendly　stranger　who　had　come　so　silently　was　gone　as　he　had　come；　but　she　was　not　helpless　now。　　Like　many　another　frontier　woman；　she　was　naturally　lithe　and　powerful；　and；　stirred　by　a　great　hope；　all　her　strength　had　returned　for　the　present。

Nobody　who　lives　in　the　wilderness　can　wholly　escape　superstition；　and　Mary　Newton　began　to　believe　that　some　supernatural　creature　had　intervened　in　her　behalf。　　She　raised　herself　just　a　little　on　one　elbow　and　surveyed　the　surrounding　thicket。　　She　saw　only　the　dead　embers　of　the　fire；　and　the　dark　forms　of　the　Indians　lying　upon　the　bare　ground。　　Had　it　not　been　for　the　knife　and　pistol　in　her　hand；　she　could　have　believed　that　the　voice　was　only　a　dream。

There　was　a　slight　rustling　in　the　thicket；　and　a　Seneca　rose　quickly　to　his　knees；　grasping　his　rifle　in　both　hands。　　The　woman's　fingers　clutched　the　knife　and　pistol　more　tightly；　and　her　whole　gaunt　figure　trembled。　　The　Seneca　listened　only　a　moment。　　Then　he　gave　a　sharp　cry；　and　all　the　other　warriors　sprang　up。　　But　three　of　them　rose　only　to　fall　again；　as　the　rifles　cracked　in　the　bushes；　while　two　others　staggered　from　wounds。

The　triumphant　shout　of　the　frontiersmen　came　from　the　thicket；　and　then　they　rushed　upon　the　camp。　　Quick　as　a　flash　two　of　the　Senecas　started　toward　the　woman　and　children　with　their　tomahawks；　but　Mary　Newton　was　ready。　　Her　heart　had　leaped　at　the　shots　when　the　Senecas　fell；　and　she　kept　her　courage。　　Now　she　sprang　to　her　full　height；　and；　with　the　children　screaming　at　her　feet；　fired　one　barrel　of　the　pistol　directly　into　the　face　of　the　first　warrior；　and　served　the　second　in　the　same　way　with　the　other　barrel　when　he　was　less　than　four　feet　away。　　Then；　tomahawk　in　hand；　she　rushed　forward。　　In　judging　Mary　Newton；　one　must　consider　time　and　place。

But　happily　there　was　no　need　for　her　to　use　her　tomahawk。　　As　the　five　rushed　in；　four　of　them　emptied　their　double…barreled　pistols；　while　Henry　swung　his　clubbed　rifle　with　terrible　effect。　　It　was　too　much　for　the　Senecas。　　The　apparition　of　the　armed　woman；　whom　they　had　left　bound；　and　the　deadly　fire　from　the　five　figures　that　sprang　upon　them；　was　like　a　blow　from　the　hand　of　Aieroski。　　The　unhurt　and　wounded　fled　deep　into　the　forest；　leaving　their　dead　behind。　　Mary　Newton；　her　great　deed　done；　collapsed　from　emotion　and　weakness。　　The　screams　of　the　children　sank　in　a　few　moments　to　frightened　whimpers。　　But　the　oldest；　when　they　saw　the　white　faces；　knew　that　rescue　had　come。

Paul　brought　water　from　the　brook　in　his　cap；　and　Mary　Newton　was　revived；　Jim　was　reassuring　the　children；　and　the　other　three　were　in　the　thickets；　watching　lest　the　surviving　Senecas　return　for　attack。

〃I　don't　know　who　you　are；　but　I　think　the　good　God　himself　must　have　sent　you　to　our　rescue；〃　said　Mary　Newton　reverently。

〃We　don't　know；〃　said　Paul；　〃but　we　are　doing　the　best　we　can。　　Do　you　think　you　can　walk　now？〃

〃Away　from　the　savages？　　Yes！〃　she　said　passionately。　　She　looked　down　at　the　dead　figures　of　the　Senecas；　and　she　did　not　feel　a　single　trace　of　pity　for　them。　　Again　it　is　necessary　to　consider　time　and　place。

〃Some　of　my　strength　came　back　while　I　was　lying　here；〃　she　said；　〃and　much　more　of　it　when　you　drove　away　the　Indians。〃

〃Very　well；〃　said　Henry；　who　had　returned　to　the　dead　camp　fire　with　his　comrades；　〃we　must　start　on　the　back　trail　at　once。　　The　surviving　Senecas；　joined　by　other　Iroquois；　will　certainly　pursue；　and　we　need　all　the　start　that　we　can　get。〃

Long　Jim　picked　up　one　of　the　two　younger　children　and　flung　him　over　his　shoulder；　Tom　Ross　did　as　much　for　the　other；　but　the　older　two　scorned　help。　　They　were　full　of　admiration　for　the　great　woodsmen；　mighty　heroes　who　had　suddenly　appeared　out　of　the　air；　as　it　were；　and　who　had　swept　like　a　tornado　over　the　Seneca　band。　　It　did　not　seem　possible　now　that　they；　could　be　retaken。

But　Mary　Newton；　with　her　strength　and　courage；　had　also　recovered　her　forethought。

〃Maybe　it　will　not　be　better　to　go　on　the　back　trail；〃　she　said。　　〃One　of　the　Senecas　told　me　to…day　that　six　or　seven　miles　farther　on　was　a　river　flowing　into　the　Susquehanna；　and　that　they　would　cross　this　river　on　a　boat　now　concealed　among　bushes　on　the　bank。　　The　crossing　was　at　a　sudden　drop　between　high　banks。　　Might　not　we　go　on；　find　the　boat；　and　come　back　in　it　down　the　river　and　into　the　Susquehanna？〃

〃That　sounds　mighty　close　to　wisdom　to　me；〃　said　Shif'less　Sol。　　〃Besides；　it's　likely　to　have　the　advantage　o'　throwin'　the　Iroquois　off　our　track。　　They'll　think；　o'　course；　that　we've　gone　straight　back；　an'　we'll　pass　'em　ez　we're　going　forward。〃

〃It's　certainly　the　best　plan；〃　said　Henry；　〃and　it's　worth　our　while　to　try　for　that　hidden　boat　of　the　Iroquois。　　Do　you　know　the　general　direction？〃

〃Almost　due　north。〃

〃Then　we'll　make　a　curve　to　the　right；　in　order　to　avoid　any　Iroquois　who　may　be　returning　to　this　camp；　and　push　for　it。〃

Henry　led　the　way　over　hilly；　rough　ground；　and　the　others　followed　in　a　silent　file；　Long　Jim　and　Tom　still　carrying　the　two　smallest　children；　who　soon　fell　asleep　on　their　shoulders。　　Henry　did　not　believe　that　the　returning　Iroquois　could　follow　their　trail　on　such　a　dark　night；　and　the　others　agreed　with　him。

After　a　while　they　saw　the　gleam　of　water。　　Henry　knew　that　it　must　be　very　near；　or　it　would　have　been　wholly　invisible　on　such　a　dark　night。

〃I　think；　Mrs。　Newton；〃　he　said；　〃that　this　is　the　river　of　which　you　spoke；　and　the　cliffs　seem　to　drop　down　just　as　you　said　they　would。〃

The　woman　smiled。

〃Yes；〃　she　said；　〃you've　done　well　with　my　poor　guess；　and　the　boat　must　be　hidden　somewhere　near　here。〃

Then　she　sank　down　with　exhaustion；　and　the　two　　older　children；　unable　to　walk　farther；　sank　down　beside　her。　　But　the　two　who　slept　soundly　on　the　shoulders　of　Long　Jim　and　Tom　Ross　did　not　awaken。　　Henry　motioned　to　Jim　and　Tom　to　remain　there；　and　Shif'less　Sol　bent　upon　them　a　quizzical　and　approving　look。

〃Didn't　think　it　was　in　you；　Jim　Hart；　you　old　horny…handed　galoot；〃　he　said；　〃carryin'　a　baby　that　tender。　　Knew　Jim　could　sling　a　little　black　bar　'roun'　by　the　tail；　but　I　didn't　think　you'd　take　to　nussin'　so　easy。〃

〃I'd　luv　you　to　know；　Sol　Hyde；〃　said　Jim　Hart　in　a　tone　of　high　condescension；　〃that　Tom　Ross　an'　me　are　civilized　human　bein's。　　In　face　uv　danger　we　are　ez　brave　ez　forty　thousand　lions；　but　with　the　little　an'　the　weak　we're　as　easy　an'　kind　an'　soft　ez　human　bein's　are　ever　made　to　be。〃

〃You're　right；　old　hoss；〃　said　Tom　Ross。

〃Well；〃　said　the　shiftless　one；　〃I　can't　argify　with　you　now；　ez　the　general　hez　called　on　his　colonel；　which　is　me；　an'　his　major；　which　is　Paul；　to　find　him　a　nice　new　boat　like　one　o'　them　barges　o'　Clepatry　that　Paul　tells　about；　all　solid　silver；　with　red　silk　sails　an'　gold　oars；　an'　we're　meanin'　to　do　it。〃

Fortune　was　with　them；　and　in　a　quarter　of　an　hour　they　discovered；　deep　among　bushes　growing　in　the　shallow　water；　a　large；　well…made　boat　with　two　pairs　of　oars　and　with　small　supplies　of　parched　corn　and　venison　hidden　in　it。

〃Good　luck　an'　bad　luck　come　mixed；〃　said　the　shift…less　one；　〃an'　this　is　shorely　one　o'　our　pieces　o'　good　luck。　　The　woman　an'　the　children　are　clean　tuckered　out；　an'　without　this　boat　we　could　never　hev　got　them　back。　　Now　it's　jest　a　question　o'　rowin'　an'　fightin'。〃

〃Paul　and　I　will　pull　her　out　to　the　edge　of　the　clear　water；〃　said　Henry；　〃while　you　can　go　back　and　tell　the　others；　Sol。〃

〃That　just　suits　a　lazy　man；〃　said　Sol；　and　he　walked　away　jauntily。　　Under　his　apparent　frivolity　he　concealed　his　joy　at　the　find；　which　he　knew　to　be　of　such　vast　importance。　　He　approached　the　dusky　group；　and　his　really　tender　heart　was　stirred　with　pity　for　the　rescued　captives。　　Long　Jim　and　Silent　Tom　held　the　smaller　two　on　their　shoulders；　but　the　older　ones　and　the　woman；　also；　had　fallen　asleep。　　Sol；　in　order　to　conceal　his　emotion；　strode　up　rather　roughly。　　Mary　Newton　awoke。

〃Did　you　find　anything？〃　she　asked。

〃Find　anything？〃　repeated　Shif'less　Sol。　〃Well；　Long　Jim　an'　Tom　here　might　never　hev　found　anything；　but　Henry　an'　Paul　an'　me；　three　eddicated　men；　scholars；　I　might　say；　wuz　jest　natcherally　bound　to　find　it　whether　it　wuz　thar　or　not。　　Yes；　we've　unearthed　what　Paul　would　call　an　argosy；　the　grandest　craft　that　ever　floated　on　this　here　creek；　that　I　never　saw　before；　an'　that　I　don't　know　the　name　uv。　　She's　bein'　floated　out　now；　an'　I；　the　Gran'　Hidalgo　an'　Majordomo；　hev　come　to　tell　the　princes　and　princesses；　an'　the　dukes　and　dukesses；　an'　all　the　other　gran'　an'　mighty　passengers；　that　the　barge　o'　the　Dog　o'　Venice　is　in　the　stream；　an'　the　Dog；　which　is　Henry　Ware；　is　waitin'；　settin'　on　the　Pup　to　welcome　ye。〃

〃Sol；〃　said　Long　Jim；　〃you　do　talk　a　power　uv　foolishness；　with　your　Dogs　an'　Pups。〃

〃It　ain't　foolishness；〃　rejoined　the　shiftless　one。　　〃I　heard　Paul　read　it　out　o'　a　book　oncet；　plain　ez　day。　　They've　been　ruled　by　Dogs　at　Venice　for　more　than　a　thousand　years；　an'　on　big　'casions　the　Dog　comes　down　a　canal　in　a　golden　barge；　settin'　on　the　Pup。　　I'll　admit　it　'pears　strange　to　me；　too；　but　who　are　you　an'　me；　Jim　Hart；　to　question　the　ways　of　foreign　countries；　thousands　o'　miles　on　the　other　side　o'　the　sea？〃

〃They've　found　the　boat；〃　said　Tom　Ross；　〃an'　that's　enough！〃　　　　　

〃Is　it　really　true？〃　asked　Mrs。　Newton。

〃It　is；〃　replied　Shif'less　Sol；　〃an'　Henry　an'　Paul　are　in　it；　waitin'　fur　us。　　We're　thinkin'；　Mrs。　　Newton；　that　the　roughest　part　of　your　trip　is　over。〃

In　another　five　minutes　all　were　in　the　boat；　which　was　a　really　fine　on