第65章

Henry believed that the theory of returning toward the Wyoming Valley was sound.That region had been so thoroughly ravaged now that all the Indians would be going northward.If they could float down a day or so without molestation, they would probably be safe.The creek, or, rather, little river, broadened, flowing with a smooth, fairly swift current.The forest on either side was dense with oak, hickory, maple, and other splendid trees, often with a growth of underbrush.The three riflemen never ceased to watch intently.Henry always looked ahead.It would have been difficult for any ambushed marksman to have escaped his notice.But nothing occurred to disturb them.Once a deer came down to drink, and fled away at sight of the phantom boat gliding almost without noise on the still waters.Once the far scream of a panther came from the woods, but Mary Newton and her children, sleeping soundly, did not hear it.The five themselves knew the nature of the sound, and paid no attention.The boat went steadily on, the three riflemen never changing their position, and soon the day began to come.Little arrows of golden light pierced through the foliage of the trees, and sparkled on the surface of the water.In the cast the red sun was coming from his nightly trip.Henry looked down at the sleepers.They were overpowered by exhaustion, and would not awake of their own accord for a long time.

Shif'less Sol caught his look.

"Why not let 'em sleep on?" he said.

Then he and Jim Hart took the oars, and the shiftless one and Tom Ross resumed their rifles.The day was coming fast, and the whole forest was soon transfused with light.

No one of the five had slept during the night.They did not feel the need of sleep, and they were upborne, too, by a great exaltation.They had saved the prisoners thus far from a horrible fate, and they were firmly resolved to reach, with them, some strong settlement and safety.They felt, too, a sense of exultation over Brant, Sangerachte, Hiokatoo, the Butlers, the Johnsons, Wyatt, and all the crew that had committed such terrible devastation in the Wyoming Valley and elsewhere.

The full day clothed the earth in a light that turned from silver to gold, and the woman and the children still slept.The five chewed some strips of venison, and looked rather lugubriously at the pieces they were saving for Mary Newton and the children.

"We ought to hev more'n that," said Shif'less Sol.Ef the worst comes to the worst, we've got to land somewhar an' shoot a deer.""But not yet," said Henry in a whisper, lest he wake the sleepers."I think we'll come into the Susquehanna pretty soon, and its width will be a good thing for us.I wish we were there now.I don't like this narrow stream.Its narrowness affords too good an ambush.""Anyway, the creek is broadenin' out fast," said the shiftless one, "an' that is a good sign., What's that you see ahead, Henry-ain't it a river?""It surely is," replied Henry, who caught sight of a broad expanse of water, "and it's the Susquehanna.Pull hard, Sol! In five more minutes we'll be in the river."It was less than five when they turned into the current of the Susquehanna, and less than five more when they heard a shout behind them, and saw at least a dozen canoes following.The canoes were filled with Indians and Tories, and they had spied the fugitives.

"Keep the women and the children down, Paul," cried Henry.

All knew that Henry and Shif'less Sol were the best shots, and, without a word, Long Jim and Tom, both powerful and skilled watermen, swung heavily on the oars, while Henry and Shif'less Sol sat in the rear with their rifles ready.Mary Newton awoke with a cry at the sound of the shots, and started to rise, but Paul pushed her down.

"We're on the Susquehanna now, Mrs.Newton," he said, " and we are pursued.The Indians and Tories have just seen us, but don't be afraid.The two who are watching there are the best shots in the world."He looked significantly at Henry and Shif'less Sol, crouching in the stern of the boat like great warriors from some mighty past, kings of the forest whom no one could overcome, and her courage came back.The children, too, had awakened with frightened cries, but she and Paul quickly soothed them, and, obedient to commands, the four, and Mary Newton with them, lay flat upon the bottom of the boat, which was now being sent forward rapidly by Jim Hart and Tom.Paul took up his rifle and sat in a waiting attitude, either to relieve one of the men at the oars or to shoot if necessary.

The clear sun made forest and river vivid in its light.The Indians, after their first cry, made no sound, but so powerful were Long Jim and Tom that they were gaining but little, although some of the boats contained six or eight rowers.

As the light grew more intense Henry made out the two white faces in the first boat.One was that of Braxton Wyatt, and the other, he was quite sure, belonged to the infamous Walter Butler.Hot anger swept through all his veins, and the little pulses in his temples began to beat like trip hammers.Now the picture of Wyoming, the battle, the massacre, the torture, and Queen Esther wielding her great tomahawk on the bound captives, grew astonishingly vivid, and it was printed blood red on his brain.

The spirit of anger and defiance, of a desire to taunt those who had done such things, leaped up in his heart.

"Are you there, Braxton Wyatt?" he called clearly across the intervening water."Yes, I see that it is you, murderer of women and children, champion of the fire and stake, as savage as any of the savages.And it is you, too, Walter Butler, wickeder son of a wicked father.Come a little closer, won't you? We've messengers here for both of you!"He tapped lightly the barrel of his own rifle and that of Shif'less Sol, and repeated his request that they come a little closer.