Part 36 (2/2)

”But afterwards?” said Thayendanegea.

The man was silent.

”It is these two places that have so aroused the Bostonians against us,”

continued Thayendanegea. ”It is because of them that the commander of the Bostonians has sent a great army, and the Long House is threatened with destruction.”

”My son and I have fought for our common cause,” said ”Indian” Butler, the blood flus.h.i.+ng through his swarthy face.

Sir John Johnson interfered.

”We have admitted, Joseph, the danger to the Iroquois,” he said, calling the chieftain familiarly by his first Christian name, ”but I and my brother-in-law and Colonel Butler and Captain Butler have already lost though we may regain. And with this strong position and the aid of ambush it is likely that we can defeat the rebels.”

The eyes of Thayendanegea brightened as he looked at the long embankment, the trees, and the dark forms of the warriors scattered numerously here and there.

”You may be right, Sir John,” he said; ”yes, I think you are right, and by all the G.o.ds, red and white, we shall see. I wish to fight here, because this is the best place in which to meet the Bostonians. What say you, Timmendiquas, sworn brother of mine, great warrior and great chief of the Wyandots, the bravest of all the western nations?”

The eye of Timmendiquas expressed little, but his voice was sonorous, and his words were such as Thayendanegea wished to hear.

”If we fight--and we must fight--this is the place in which to meet the white army,” he said. ”The Wyandots are here to help the Iroquois, as the Iroquois would go to help them. The Manitou of the Wyandots, the Aieroski of the Iroquois, alone knows the end.”

He spoke with the utmost gravity, and after his brief reply he said no more. All regarded him with respect and admiration. Even Braxton Wyatt felt that it was a n.o.ble deed to remain and face destruction for the sake of tribes not his own.

Sir John Johnson turned to Braxton Wyatt, who had sat all the while in silence.

”You have examined the evening's advance, Wyatt,” he said. ”What further information can you give us?”

”We shall certainly be attacked to-morrow,” replied Wyatt, ”and the American army is advancing cautiously. It has out strong flanking parties, and it is preceded by the scouts, those Kentuckians whom I know and have met often, Murphy, Elerson, Heemskerk, and the others.”

”If we could only lead them into an ambush,” said Sir John. ”Any kind of troops, even the best of regulars, will give way before an unseen foe pouring a deadly fire upon them from the deep woods. Then they magnify the enemy tenfold.”

”It is so,” said the fierce old Seneca chief, Hiokatoo. ”When we killed Braddock and all his men, they thought that ten warriors stood in the moccasins of only one.”

Sir John frowned. He did not like this allusion to the time when the Iroquois fought against the English, and inflicted on them a great defeat. But he feared to rebuke the old chief. Hiokatoo and the Senecas were too important.

”There ought to be a chance yet for an ambuscade,” he said. ”The foliage is still thick and heavy, and Sullivan, their general, is not used to forest warfare. What say you to this, Wyatt?”

Wyatt shook his head. He knew the caliber of the five from Kentucky, and he had little hope of such good fortune.

”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, pa.s.sing 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 n.o.bility. 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.

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