The Scouts of the ValleyAltsheler, Joseph A. (Joseph Alexander)
General
The Scouts of the Valley
Altsheler, Joseph A. (Joseph Alexander)
Chemung River Valley (N.Y. and Pa.) -- Fiction; Historical fiction; Wyoming Valley (Pa.) -- Fiction
“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.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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