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