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
Scalps we have taken from all who hated us;
None, but feared us in the days of our glory.
But the cannon and bayonet have taken our country;
Fallen is the League of the Ho-de-no-sau-nee!
She chanted many verses, but these were all that Tom Ross could ever
remember or translate. But every verse ended with the melancholy
refrain: “Fallen is the League of the Ho-de-no-sau-nee!” which the
others also repeated in chorus. Then the warriors lifted up the bodies,
and they moved in procession toward the town. The three watched them,
but they did not rise until the funeral train had reached the fruit
trees. Then they stood up, looked at one another, and breathed sighs of
relief.
“I don't care ef I never see that woman ag'in,” said Shif'less Sol. “She
gives me the creeps. She must be a witch huntin' for blood. She is shore
to stir up the Iroquois in this town.”
“That's true,” said Henry, “but I mean to go nearer.”
“Wa'al,” said Tom Ross, “I reckon that if you mean it we mean it, too.”
“There are certainly Tories in the town,” said Henry, “and if we are seen
we can probably pass for them. I'm bound to find out what's here.”
“Still huntin' fur Braxton Wyatt,” said Shif'less Sol.
“I mean to know if he's here,” said Henry.
“Lead on,” said the shiftless one.
They followed in the path of the procession, which was now out of sight,
and entered the orchard. From that point they saw the houses and great
numbers of Indians, including squaws and children, gathered in the open
spaces, where the funeral train was passing. Queen Esther still stalked
at its head, but her chant was now taken up by many scores of voices,
and the volume of sound penetrated far in the night. Henry yet relied
upon the absorption of the Iroquois in this ceremonial to give him
a chance for a good look through the town, and he and his comrades
advanced with boldness.
They passed by many of the houses, all empty, as their occupants had
gone to join in the funeral lament, but they soon saw white men-a few
of the Royal Greens, and some of the Rangers, and other Tories, who were
dressed much like Henry and his comrades. One of them spoke to Shif'less
Sol, who nodded carelessly and passed by. The Tory seemed satisfied and
went his way.
“Takes us fur some o' the crowd that's come runnin' in here ahead o' the
army,” said the shiftless one.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account