the scouts of the valley-第57章

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The　wind　which　bad　been　roaring　so　loudly　at　the　time　of　the　fire　sank　to　nothing。　　The　leafless　trees　stood　up；　the　branches　unmoving。　　The　forest　was　bare　and　deserted。　　All　the　animals；　big　and　little；　had　gone　into　their　lairs。　　Nobody　witnessed　the　great　pursuit　save　pursuers　and　pursued。　　Henry　kept　his　direction　clear　in　his　mind；　and　allowed　the　Iroquois　to　take　no　advantage　of　a　curve　save　once。　　Then　he　came　to　a　thicket　so　large　that　he　was　compelled　to　make　a　considerable　circle　to　pass　it。　　He　turned　to　the　right；　hence　the　Indians　on　the　right　gained；　and　they　sent　up　a　yell　of　delight。　　He　replied　defiantly　and　increased　his　speed。

But　one　of　the　Indians；　a　flying　Mohawk；　had　come　dangerously　near…near　enough；　in　fact；　to　fire　a　bullet　that　did　not　miss　the　fugitive　much。　　It　aroused　Henry's　anger。　　He　took　it　as　an　indignity　rather　than　a　danger；　and　he　resolved　to　avenge　it。　　So　far　as　firing　was　concerned；　he　was　at　a　disadvantage。　　He　must　stop　and　turn　around　for　his　shot；　while　the　Iroquois；　without　even　checking　speed；　could　fire　straight　at　the　flying　target；　ahead。

Nevertheless；　he　took　the　chance。　　He　turned　deftly　on　the　snowshoes；　fired　as　quick　as　lightning　at　the　swift　Mohawk；　saw　him　fall；　then　Whirled　and　resumed　his　flight。　　He　had　lost　ground；　but　he　had　inspired　respect。　　A　single　man　could　not　afford　to　come　too　near　to　a　marksman　so　deadly；　and　the　three　or　four　who　led　dropped　back　with　the　main　body。

Now　Henry　made　his　greatest　effort。　　He　wished　to　leave　the　foe　far　behind；　to　shake　off　his　pursuit　entirely。　　He　bounded　over　the　ice　and　snow　with　great　leaps；　and　began　to　gain。　　Yet　he　felt　at　last　the　effects　of　so　strenuous　a　flight。　　His　breath　became　shorter；　despite　the　intense　cold；　perspiration　stood　upon　his　face；　and　the　straps　that　fastened　the　snowshoes　were　chafing　his　ankles。　　An　end　must　come　even　to　such　strength　as　his。　　Another　backward　look；　and　he　saw　that　the　foe　was　sinking　into　the　darkness。　　If　he　could　only　increase　his　speed　again；　be　might　leave　the　Iroquois　now。　　He　made　a　new　call　upon　the　will；　and　the　body　responded。　　For　a　few　minutes　his　speed　became　greater。　　A　disappointed　shout　arose　behind　him；　and　several　shots　were　fired。　　But　the　bullets　fell　a　hundred　yards　short；　and　then；　as　he　passed　over　a　little　hill　and　into　a　wood　beyond；　he　was　hidden　from　the　sight　of　his　pursuers。

Henry　knew　that　the　Iroquois　could　trail　him　over　the　snow；　but　they　could　not　do　it　at　full　speed；　and　he　turned　sharply　off　at　an　angle。　　Pausing　a　second　or　two　for　fresh　breath；　he　continued　on　his　new　course；　although　not　so　fast　as　before。　　He　knew　that　the　Iroquois　would　rush　straight　ahead；　and　would　not　discover　for　two　or　three　minutes　that　they　were　off　the　trail。　　It　would　take　them　another　two　or　three　minutes　to　recover；　and　he　would　make　a　gain　of　at　least　five　minutes。　　Five　minutes　had　saved　the　life　of　many　a　man　on　the　border。

How　precious　those　five　minutes　were！　　He　would　take　them　all。　　He　ran　forward　some　distance；　stopped　where　the　trees　grew　thick；　and　then　enjoyed　the　golden　five；　minute　by　minute。　　He　had　felt　that　he　was　pumping　the　very　lifeblood　from　his　heart。　　His　breath　had　come　painfully；　and　the　thongs　of　the　snowshoes　were　chafing　his　ankles　terribly。　　But　those　minutes　were　worth　a　year。　　Fresh　air　poured　into　his　lungs；　and　the　muscles　became　elastic　once　more。　　In　so　brief　a　space　be　had　recreated　himself。

Resuming　his　flight；　he　went　at　a　steady　pace；　resolved　not　to　do　his　utmost　unless　the　enemy　came　in　sight。　　About　ten　minutes　later　he　heard　a　cry　far　behind　him；　and　he　believed　it　to　be　a　signal　from　some　Indian　to　the　others　that　the　trail　was　found　again。　　But　with　so　much　advantage　he　felt　sure　that　he　was　now　quite　safe。　　He　ran；　although　at　decreased　speed；　for　about　two　hours　more；　and　then　he　sat　down　on　the　upthrust　root　of　a　great　oak。　　Here　he　depended　most　upon　his　ears。　　The　forest　was　so　silent　that　he　could　hear　any　noise　at　a　great　distance；　but　there　was　none。　　Trusting　to　his　ears　to　warn　him；　he　would　remain　there　a　long　time　for　a　thorough　rest。　　He　even　dared　to　take　off　his　snowshoes　that　he　might　rub　his　sore　ankles；　but　he　wrapped　his　heavy　blanket　about　his　body；　lest　he　take　deep　cold　in　cooling　off　in　such　a　temperature　after　so　long　a　flight。

He　sat　enjoying　a　half　hour；　golden　like　the　five　minutes；　and　then　he　saw；　outlined　against　the　bright；　moonlit　sky；　something　that　told　him　he　must　be　on　the　alert　again。　　It　was　a　single　ring　of　smoke；　like　that　from　a　cigar；　only　far　greater。　　It　rose　steadily；　untroubled　by　wind　until　it　was　dissipated。　　It　meant　〃attention！〃　and　presently　it　was　followed　by　a　column　of　such　rings；　one　following　another　beautifully。　　The　column　said：　〃　The　foe　is　near。〃　　Henry　read　the　Indian　signs　perfectly。　　The　rings　were　made　by　covering　a　little　fire　with　a　blanket　for　a　moment　and　then　allowing　the　smoke　to　ascend。　　On　clear　days　such　signals　could　be　seen　a　distance　of　thirty　miles　or　more；　and　he　knew　that　they　were　full　of　significance。

Evidently　the　Iroquois　party　had　divided　into　two　or　more　bands。　　One　had　found　his　trail；　and　was　signaling　to　the　other。　　The　party　sending　up　the　smoke　might　be　a　half　mile　away；　but　the　others；　although　his　trail　was　yet　hidden　from　them；　might　be　nearer。　　It　was　again　time　for　flight。

He　swiftly　put　on　the　snowshoes；　neglecting　no　thong　or　lace；　folded　the　blanket　on　his　back　again；　and；　leaving　the　friendly　root；　started　once　more。　　He　ran　forward　at　moderate　speed　for　perhaps　a　mile；　when　he　suddenly　heard　triumphant　yells　on　both　right　and　left。　　A　strong　party　of　Iroquois　were　coming　up　on　either　side；　and　luck　had　enabled　them　to　catch　him　in　a　trap。

They　were　so　near　that　they　fired　upon　him；　and　one　bullet　nicked　his　glove；　but　he　was　hopeful　that　after　his　long　rest　he　might　again　stave　them　off。　　He　sent　back　no　defiant　cry；　but；　settling　into　determined　silence；　ran　at　his　utmost　speed。　　The　forest　here　was　of　large　trees；　with　no　undergrowth；　and　he　noticed　that　the　two　parties　did　not　join；　but　kept　on　as　they　had　come；　one　on　the　right　and　the　other　on　the　left。　　This　fact　must　have　some　significance；　but　he　could　not　fathom　it。　　Neither　could　he　guess　whether　the　Indians　were　fresh　or　tired；　but　apparently　they　made　no　effort　to　come　within　range　of　his　rifle。

Presently　he　made　a　fresh　spurt　of　speed；　the　forest　opened　out；　and　then　both　bands　uttered　a　yell　full　of　ferocity　and　joy；　the　kind　that　savages　utter　only　when　they　see　their　triumph　complete。

Before；　and　far　below　Henry；　stretched　a　vast；　white　expanse。　　He　had　come　to　the　lake；　but　at　a　point　where　the　cliff　rose　high　like　a　mountain；　and　steep　like　a　wall。　　The　surface　of　the　lake　was　so　far　down　that　it　was　misty　white　like　a　cloud。　　Now　he　understood　the　policy　of　the　Indian　bands　in　not　uniting。　　They　knew　that　they　would　soon　reach　the　lofty　cliffs　of　the　lake；　and　if　he　turned　to　either　right　or　left　there　was　a　band　ready　to　seize　him。

Henry's　heart　leaped　up　and　then　sank　lower　than　ever　before　in　his　life。　　It　seemed　that　he　could　not　escape　from　so　complete　a　trap；　and　Braxton　Wyatt　was　not　one　who　would　spare　a　prisoner。　　That　was　perhaps　the　bitterest　thing　of　all；　to　be　taken　and　tortured　by　Braxton　Wyatt。　　He　was　there。　　He　could　hear　his　voice　in　one　of　the　bands；　and　then　the　courage　that　never　failed　him　burst　into　fire　again。

The　Iroquois　were　coming　toward　him；　shutting　him　out　from　retreat　to　either　right　or　left；　but　not　yet　closing　in　because　of　his　deadly　rifle。　　He　gave　them　a　single　look；　put　forth　his　voice　in　one　great　cry　of　defiance；　and；　rushing　toward　the　edge　of　the　mighty　cliff；　sprang　boldly　over。

As　Henry　plunged　downward　he　heard　behind　him　a　shout　of　amazement　and　chagrin　poured　forth　from　many　Iroquois　throats；　and；　taking　a　single　glance　backward；　he　caught　a　glimpse　of　dusky　faces　stamped　with　awe。　　But　the　bold　youth　had　not　made　a　leap　to　destruction。　　In　the　passage　of　a　second　he　had　calculated　rapidly　and　well。　　While　the　cliff　at　first　glance　seemed　perpendicular；　it　could　not　be　so。　　There　was　a　slope　coated　with　two　feet　of　snow；　and　swinging　far　back　on　the　heels　of　his　snow