第26章

Henry bent down and pulled him by the shoulder.The captive yawned, stretched himself a little, and lay still again with closed eyes.Henry shook him a second time and more violently.

Shif'less Sol sat up quickly, and Henry knew that indignation prompted the movement.Sol held his arms and legs stiffly and seemed to be totally unconscious that they were unbound.He cast one glance upward, and in the dim light saw the tall warrior bending over him.

"I'll never do it, Timmendiquas or White Lightning, whichever name you like better!" he exclaimed."I won't show you how to surprise the white settlements.You can burn me at the stake or tear me in pieces first.Now go away and let me sleep."He sank back on the bark, and started to close his eyes again.

It was then that he noticed for the first time that his hands were unbound.He held them up before his face, as if they were strange objects wholly unattached to himself, and gazed at them in amazement.He moved his legs and saw that they, too, were unbound.Then he turned his startled gaze upward at the face of the tall warrior who was looking down at him.Shif'less Sol was wholly awake now.Every faculty in him was alive, and he pierced through the Shawnee disguise.He knew who it was.He knew who had come to save him, and he sprang to his feet, exclaiming the one word:

"Henry!"

The hands of the comrades met in the clasp of friendship which only many dangers endured together can give.

"How did you get here?" asked the shiftless one in a whisper.

"I met an Indian in the forest," replied Henry, "and well I am now he."Shif'less Sol laughed under his breath.

"I see," said he, "but how did you get through the camp? It's a big one, and the Iroquois are watchful.Timmendiquas is here, too, with his Wyandots.""They are having a great feast," replied Henry, "and I could go about almost unnoticed.Where are the others, Sol?""In the cabins close by."

"Then we'll get out of this place.Quick! Tie up your hair! In the darkness you can easily pass for an Indian."The shiftless one drew his hair into a scalp lock, and the two slipped from the cabin, closing the door behind them and deftly retying the thongs, in order that the discovery of the escape might occur as late as possible.Then they stood a few moments in the shadow of the hut and listened to the sounds of revelry, the monotone of the story-tellers, and the chant of the singers.

"You don't know which huts they are in, do you?" asked Henry, anxiously.

"No, I don't," replied tile shiftless one.

"Get back!" exclaimed Henry softly."Don't you see who's passing out there?""Braxton Wyatt," said Sol."I'd like to get my hands on that scoundrel.I've had to stand a lot from him.""The score must wait.But first we'll provide you with weapons.

See, the Iroquois have stacked some of their rifles here while they're at the feast."A dozen good rifles had been left leaning against a hut near by, and Henry, still watching lest he be observed, chose the best, with its ammunition, for his comrade, who, owing to his semi-civilized attire, still remained in the shadow of the other hut.

"Why not take four?" whispered the shiftless one."We'll need them for the other boys."Henry took four, giving two to his comrade, and then they hastily slipped back to the other side of the hut.A Wyandot and a Mohawk were passing, and they had eyes of hawks.Henry and Sol waited until the formidable pair were gone, and then began to examine the huts, trying to surmise in which their comrades lay.

"I haven't seen 'em a-tall, a-tall," said Sol, "but I reckon from the talk that they are here.I was s'prised in the woods, Henry.

A half dozen reds jumped on me so quick I didn't have time to draw a weepin.Timmendiquas was at the head uv 'em an' he just grinned.Well, he is a great chief, if he did truss me up like a fowl.I reckon the same thing happened to the others.""Come closer, Sol! Come closer!" whispered Henry.More warriors are walking this way.The feast is breaking up, and they'll spread all through the camp."A terrible problem was presented to the two.They could no longer search among the strong huts, for their comrades.The opportunity to save had lasted long enough for one only.But border training is stern, and these two had uncommon courage and decision.

"We must go now, Sol," said Henry, "but we'll come back.""Yes," said the shiftless one, "we'll come back."Darting between the huts, they gained the southern edge of the forest before the satiated banqueters could suspect the presence of an enemy.Here they felt themselves safe, but they did not pause.Henry led the way, and Shif'less Sol followed at a fair degree of speed.

"You'll have to be patient with me for a little while, Henry,"said Sol in a tone of humility."When I wuz layin' thar in the lodge with my hands an' feet tied I wuz about eighty years old, jest ez stiff ez could be from the long tyin'.When I reached the edge o' the woods the blood wuz flowin' lively enough to make me 'bout sixty.Now I reckon I'm fifty, an' ef things go well I'll be back to my own nateral age in two or three hours.""You shall have rest before morning," said Henry, "and it will be in a good place, too.I can promise that."Shif'less Sol looked at him inquiringly, but he did not say anything.Like the rest of the five, Sol had acquired the most implicit confidence in their bold young leader.He had every reason to feel good.That painful soreness was disappearing from his ankles.As they advanced through the woods, weeks dropped from him one by one.Then the months began to roll away, and at last time fell year by year.As they approached the deeps of the forest where the swamp lay, Solomon Hyde, the so called shiftless one, and wholly undeserving of the name, was young again.