the scouts of the valley- 第8部分

The　bear；　although　small；　was　very　fat。　　Evidently　he　had　fed　well　on　acorns　and　wild　honey；　and　he　would　yield　up　steaks　which；　to　one　with　Henry's　appetite；　would　be　beyond　compare。　　He　calculated　that　it　was　more　than　a　mile　to　the　swamp；　and；　after　a　few　preliminaries；　he　flung　the　body　of　the　bear　over　his　shoulder。　　Through　some　power　of　the　mind　over　the　body　his　full　strength　had　returned　to　him　miraculously；　and　when　he　reached　the　stepping　stones　he　crossed　from　one　to　another　lightly　and　firmly；　despite　the　weight　that　he　carried。

He　came　to　the　little　bark　hut　which　he　now　considered　his　own。　　The　night　had　fallen　again；　but　some　coals　still　glowed　under　the　ashes；　and　there　was　plenty　of　dry　wood。　　He　did　everything　decently　and　in　order。　　He　took　the　pelt　from　the　bear；　carved　the　body　properly；　and　then；　just　as　the　Indians　had　done；　he　broiled　strips　over　the　coals。　　He　ate　them　one　after　another；　slowly；　and　tasting　all　the　savor；　and；　intense　as　was　the　mere　physical　pleasure；　it　was　mingled　with　a　deep　thankfulness。　　Not　only　was　the　life　nourished　anew　in　him；　but　he　would　now　regain　the　strength　to　seek　his　comrades。

When　he　had　eaten　enough　he　fastened　the　body　of　the　bear；　now　in　several　portions；　on　hooks　high　upon　the　walls；　hooks　which　evidently　had　been　placed　there　by　the　former　owner　of　the　hut　for　this　very　purpose。　　Then；　sure　that　the　savor　of　the　food　would　draw　other　wild　animals；　he　brought　one　of　the　stepping　stones　and　placed　it　on　the　inside　of　the　door。　　The　door　could　not　be　pushed　aside　without　arousing　him；　and；　secure　in　the　knowledge；　he　went　to　sleep　before　the　coals。




CHAPTER　IV

THE　RED　CHIEFS


Henry　awoke　only　once；　and　that　was　about　half　way　between　midnight　and　morning；　when　his　senses；　never　still　entirely；　even　in　sleep；　warned　him　that　something　was　at　the　door。　　He　rose　cautiously　upon　his　arm；　saw　a　dark　muzzle　at　the　crevice；　and　behind　it　a　pair　of　yellow；　gleaming　eyes。　　He　knew　at　once　that　it　was　a　panther；　probably　living　in　the　swamp　and　drawn　by　the　food。　　It　must　be　very　hungry　to　dare　thus　the　smell　of　man。　　Henry's　hand　moved　slowly　to　the　end　of　a　stick；　the　other　end　of　which　was　a　glowing　coal。　　Then　he　seized　it　and　hurled　it　directly　at　the　inquisitive　head。

The　hot　end　of　the　stick　struck　squarely　between　the　yellow　eyes。　　There　was　a　yelp　of　pain；　and　the　boy　heard　the　rapid　pad　of　the　big　cat's　feet　as　it　fled　into　the　swamp。　　Then　he　turned　over　on　his　side；　and　laughed　in　genuine　pleasure　at　what　was　to　him　a　true　forest　joke。　　He　knew　the　panther　would　not　come；　at　least　not　while　he　was　in　the　hut；　and　he　calmly　closed　his　eyes　once　more。　　The　old　Henry　was　himself　again。

He　awoke　in　the　morning　to　find　that　the　cold　rain　was　still　falling。　　It　seemed　to　him　that　it　had　prepared　to　rain　forever；　but　he　was　resolved；　nevertheless；　now　that　he　had　food　and　the　strength　that　food　brings；　to　begin　the　search　for　his　comrades。　　The　islet　in　the　swamp　would　serve　as　his　base…nothing　could　be　better…and　he　would　never　cease　until　he　found　them　or　discovered　what　had　become　of　them。

A　little　spring　of　cold　water　flowed　from　the　edge　of　the　islet　to　lose　itself　quickly　in　the　swamp。　　Henry　drank　there　after　his　breakfast；　and　then　felt　as　strong　and　active　as　ever。　　As　he　knew；　the　mind　may　triumph　over　the　body；　but　the　mind　cannot　save　the　body　without　food。　　Then　he　made　his　precious　bear　meat　secure　against　the　prowling　panther　or　others　of　his　kind；　tying　it　on　hanging　boughs　too　high　for　a　jump　and　too　slender　to　support　the　weight　of　a　large　animal。　　This　task　finished　quickly；　he　left　the　swamp　and　returned　toward　the　spot　where　lie　had　seen　the　Mohawks。

The　falling　rain　and　the　somber　clouds　helped　Henry；　in　a　way；　as　the　whole　forest　was　enveloped　in　a　sort　of　　gloom；　and　he　was　less　likely　to　be　seen。　　But　when　he　had　gone　about　half　the　distance　he　heard　Indians　signaling　to　one　another；　and；　burying　himself　as　usual　in　the　wet　bushes；　he　saw　two　small　groups　of　warriors　meet　and　talk。　　Presently　they　separated；　one　party　going　toward　the　east　and　the　other　toward　the　west。　　Henry　thought　they　were　out　hunting；　as　the　Indians　usually　took　little　care　of　the　morrow；　eating　all　their　food　in　a　few　days；　no　matter　how　great　the　supply　might　be。

When　he　drew　near　the　place　he　saw　three　more　Indians；　and　these　were　traveling　directly　south。　　He　was　quite　sure　now　that　his　theory　was　correct。　　They　were　sending　out　hunters　in　every　direction；　in　order　that　they　might　beat　up　the　woods　thoroughly　for　game；　and　his　own　position　anywhere　except　on　the　islet　was　becoming　exceedingly　precarious。　　Nevertheless；　using　all　his　wonderful　skill；　he　continued　the　hunt。　　He　had　an　abiding　faith　that　his　four　comrades　were　yet　alive；　and　he　meant　to　prove　it。

In　the　afternoon　the　clouds　moved　away　a　little；　and　the　rain　decreased；　though　it　did　not　cease。　　The　Indian　signs　multiplied；　and　Henry　felt　sure　that　the　forest　within　a　radius　of　twenty　miles　of　his　islet　contained　more　than　one　camp。　　Some　great　gathering　must　be　in　progress　and　the　hunters　were　out　to　supply　it　with　food。　　Four　times　he　heard　the　sound　of　shots；　and　thrice　more　he　saw　warriors　passing　through　the　forest。　　Once　a　wounded　deer　darted　past　him；　and；　lying　down　in　the　bushes；　he　saw　the　Indians　following　the　fleeing　animal。　　As　the　day　grew　older　the　trails　multiplied。　　Certainly　a　formidable　gathering　of　bands　was　in　progress；　and；　feeling　that　he　might　at　any　time　be　caught　in　a　net；　he　returned　to　the　islet；　which　had　now　become　a　veritable　fort　for　him。

It　was　not　quite　dark　when　he　arrived；　and　he　found　all　as　it　had　been　except　the　tracks　of　two　panthers　under　the　boughs　to　which　he　had　fastened　the　big　pieces　of　bear　meat。　　Henry　felt　a　malicious　satisfaction　at　the　disappointment　of　the　panthers。

〃Come　again；　and　have　the　same　bad　luck；〃　he　murmured。〃

At　dusk　the　rain　ceased　entirely；　and　he　prepared　for　a　journey　in　the　night。　　He　examined　his　powder　carefully　to　see　that　no　particle　of　it　was　wet；　counted　the　bullets　in　his　pouch；　and　then　examined　the　skies。　　There　was　a　little　moon；　not　too　much；　enough　to　show　him　the　way；　but　not　enough　to　disclose　him　to　an　enemy　unless　very　near。　　Then　he　left　the　islet　and　went　swiftly　through　the　forest；　laying　his　course　a　third　time　toward　the　Indian　camp。　　He　was　sure　now　that　all　the　hunters　had　returned；　and　he　did　not　expect　the　necessity　of　making　any　　stops　for　the　purpose　of　hiding。　　His　hopes　were　justified；　and　as　he　drew　near　the　camp　he　became　aware　that　its　population　had　increased　greatly。　　It　was　proved　by　many　signs。　　New　trails　converged　upon　it；　and　some　of　them　were　very　broad；　indicating　that　many　warriors　had　passed。　　They　had　passed；　too；　in　perfect　confidence；　as　there　was　no　effort　at　concealment；　and　Henry　surmised　that　no　white　force　of　any　size　could　be　within　many　days'　march　of　this　place。　　But　the　very　security　of　the　Indians　helped　his　own　design。　　They　would　not　dream　that　any　one　of　the　hated　race　was　daring　to　come　almost　within　the　light　of　their　fires。

Henry　had　but　one　fear　just　now；　and　that　was　dogs。　　If　the　Indians　had　any　of　their　mongrel　curs　with　them；　they　would　quickly　scent　him　out　and　give　the　alarm　with　their　barking。　　But　he　believed　that　the　probabilities　were　against　it。　　This；　so　he　thought　then；　was　a　war　or　hunting　camp；　and　it　was　likely　that　the　Indians　would　leave　the　dogs　at　their　permanent　villages。　　At　any　rate　he　would　take　the　risk；　and　he　drew　slowly　toward　the　oak　opening；　where　some　Indians　stood　about。　　Beyond　them；　in　another　dip　of　the　valley；　was　a　wider　opening　which　he　had　not　seen　on　his　first　trip；　and　this　contained　not　only　bark　shelters；　but　buildings　that　indicated　a　permanent　village。　　The　second　and　larger　opening　was　filled　with　a　great　concourse　of　warriors。

Fortunately　the　foliage　around　the　opening　was　very　dense；　many　trees　and　thickets　everywhere。　　Henry　crept　to　the　very　rim；　where；　lying　in　the　blackest　of　the　shadows；　and　well　hidden　himself；　he　could　yet　see　nearly　everything　in　the　camp。　　The　men　were　not　eating　now；　although　it　was　obvious　that　the　hunters　had　done　well。　　The　dressed　bodies　of　deer　and　bear　hung　in　the　bark　shelters。　　Most　of　the　Indians　sat　about　the　fires；　and　it　seemed　to　Henry　that　they　had　an　air　of　expectancy。　　At　least　two　hundred　were　present；　and　all　of　them　were　in　war　paint；　although　there　were　several　styles　of　paint。　　There　was　a　difference　in　appearance；　too；　in　the　warriors；　and　Henry　surmised　that　representatives　of　all　the　tribes　of　the　Iroquois　were　there；　coming　to　the　extreme　western　boundary　or　fringe　of　their　country。

While　Henry　watched　them　a　half　dozen　who　seemed　by　their　bearing　and　manner　to　be　chiefs　drew　together　at　a　point　not　far　from　him　and　talked　together　earnestly。　　Now　and　then　they　looked　toward　the　forest；　and　he　was　quite　sure　that　they　were　expecting　somebody；　a　person　of　importance。　　He　became　deeply　interested。　　He　was　lying　in　a　dense　clump　of　hazel　bushes；　flat　upon　his　stomach；　his　face　raised　but　little　above　the　ground。　　He　would　have　been　hidden　from　the　keenest　eye　only　ten　feet　away；　but　the　faces　of　the　chiefs　outlined　against　the　blazing　firelight　were　so　clearly　visible　to　him　that　he　could　see　every　change　of　expression。　　They　were　fine…looking　men；　all　of　middle　age；　tall；　lean；　their　noses　hooked；　features　cut　clean　and　strong；　and　their　heads　shaved；　all　except　the　defiant　scalp　lock；　into　which　the　feather　of　an　eagle　was　twisted。　　Their　bodies　were　draped　in　fine　red　or　blue　blankets；　and　they　wore　leggins　and　moccasins　of　beautifully　tanned　deerskin。

They　ceased　talking　presently；　and　Henry　heard　a　distant　wailing　note　from　the　west。　　Some　one　in　the　camp　replied　with　a　cry　in　kind；　and　then　a　silence　fell　upon　them　all。　　The　chiefs　stood　erect；　looking　toward　the　west。　　Henry　knew　that　he　whom　they　expected　was　at　hand。

The　cry　was　repeated；　but　much　nearer；　and　a　warrior　leaped　into　the　opening；　in　the　full　blaze　of　the　firelight。　　He　was　entirely　naked　save　for　a　breech　cloth　and　moccasins；　and　he　was　a　wild　and　savage　figure。　　He　stood　for　a　moment　or　two；　then　faced　the　chiefs；　and；　bowing　before　them；　spoke　a　few　words　in