第94章

It was now the waning summer.The leaves were lightly touched with brown, and the grass had begun to wither.Berries were ripening on the vines, and the quantity of game had increased, the wild animals returning to the land from which civilized man had disappeared.The desolation seemed even more complete than in the autumn before.In the winter and spring the Iroquois and Tories had destroyed the few remnants of houses that were left.

Braxton Wyatt and his band had been particularly active in this work, and many tales had come of his cruelty and that of his swart Tory lieutenant, Coleman.Henry was sure, too, that Wyatt's band, which numbered perhaps fifty Indians and Tories, was now in front of them.

He, his comrades, Heemskerk, Elerson, Murphy, and four others, twelve brave forest runners all told, went into camp one night about ten miles ahead of the army.They lighted no fire, and, even had it been cold, they would not have done so, as the region was far too dangerous for any light.Yet the little band felt no fear.They were only twelve, it is true, but such a twelve! No chance would either Indians or Tories have to surprise them.

They merely lay down in the thick brushwood, three intending to keep watch while the others slept.Henry, Shif'less Sol, and Heemskerk were the sentinels.It was very late, nearly midnight;the sky was clear, and presently they saw smoke rings ascending from high hills to their right, to be answered soon by other rings of smoke to their left.The three watched them with but little comment, and read every signal in turn.They said: "The enemy is still advancing," "He is too strong for us......We must retreat and await our brethren.""It means that there will be no battle to-morrow, at least,"whispered Heemskerk." Brant is probably ahead of us in command, and he will avoid us until he receives the fresh forces from Canada.""I take it that you're right," Henry whispered back.

"Timmendiquas also is with him, and the two great chiefs are too cunning to fight until they can bring their last man into action.""An' then," said the shiftless one, "we'll see what happens.""Yes," said Henry very gravely, "we'll see what happens.The Iroquois are a powerful confederacy.They've ruled in these woods for hundreds of years.They're led by great chiefs, and they're helped by our white enemies.You can't tell what would happen even to an army like ours in an ambush."Shif'less Sol nodded, and they said no more until an hour later, when they heard footsteps.They awakened the others, and the twelve, crawling to the edge of the brushwood, lay almost flat upon their faces, with their hands upon the triggers of their rifles.

Braxton Wyatt and his band of nearly threescore, Indians and Tories in about equal numbers, were passing.Wyatt walked at the head.Despite his youth, he had acquired an air of command, and he seemed a fit leader for such a crew.He wore a faded royal uniform, and, while a small sword hung at his side, he also carried a rifle on his shoulder.Close behind him was the swart and squat Tory, Coleman, and then came Indians and Tories together.

The watchful eyes of Henry saw three fresh scalps hanging from as many belts, and the finger that lay upon the trigger of his rifle fairly ached to press it.What an opportunity this would be if the twelve were only forty, or even thirty! With the advantage of surprise they might hope to annihilate this band which had won such hate for itself on the border.But twelve were not enough and twelve such lives could not be spared at a time when the army needed them most.

Henry pressed his teeth firmly together in order to keep down his disappointment by a mere physical act if possible.He happened to look at Shif'less Sol, and saw that his teeth were pressed together in the same manner.It is probable that like feelings swayed every one of the twelve, but they were so still in the brushwood that no Iroquois heard grass or leaf rustle.Thus the twelve watched the sixty pass, and after they were gone, Henry, Shif'less Sol, and Tim Murphy followed for several miles.They saw Wyatt proceed toward the Chemung River, and as they approached the stream they beheld signs of fortifications.It was now nearly daylight, and, as Indians were everywhere, they turned back.But they were convinced that the enemy meant to fight on the Chemung.