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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 noble 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； 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。
〃Up； Paul！ Up！〃 he cried。 〃We know the enemy's position； and we will be in battle before another sun sets。〃
Paul was awake in an instant； and the second instant he was on his feet； rifle in hand； and heart thrilling for the great attack。 He； like all the others； had slept on such a night fully dressed。 Shif'less Sol； Long Jim； Silent Tom； Heemskerk； and the rest were by the side of him； and all about them rose the sounds of an army going into battle； commands sharp and short； the rolling of cannon wheels； the metallic rattle of bayonets； the clink of bullets poured into the pouches； and the hum of men talking in half…finished sentences。
It was to all the five a vast and stirring scene。 It was the first time that they bad ever beheld a large and regular army going into action； and they were a part of it； a part by no means unimportant。 It was Henry； with his consummate skill and daring； who had uncovered the position of the enemy； and now； without snatching a moment's sleep； he was ready to lead where the fray might be thickest。
The brief breakfast finished； the trumpet pealed forth again； and the army began to move through the thick forest。 A light wind； crisp with the air of early autumn； blew； and the leaves rustled。 The sun； swinging upward in the east； poured down a flood of brilliant rays that lighted up everything； the buff and blue uniforms； the cannon； the rifles； the bayonets； and the forest； still heavy with foliage。
〃Now！ now！〃 thought every one of the five； 〃we begin the vengeance for Wyoming！〃
The scouts were well in front； searching everywhere among the thickets for the Indian sharpshooters； who could scorch so terribly。 As Braxton Wyatt had truly said； these scouts were the best in the world。 Nothing could escape the trained eyes of Henry Ware and his comrades； and those of Murphy； Ellerson； and the others； while off on either flank of the army heavy detachments guarded against any surprise or turning movement。 They saw no Indian sign in the woods。 There was yet a deep silence in front of them； and the sun； rising higher； poured its golden light down upon the army in such an intense； vivid flood that rifle barrels and bayonets gave back a metallic gleam。 All around them the deep woods swayed and rustled before the light breeze； and now and then they caught glimpses of the river； its surface now gold； then silver； under the shining sun。
Henry's heart swelled as he advanced。 He was not revengeful； but he had seen so much of savage atrocity in the last year that he could not keep down the desire to see punishment。 It is only those in sheltered homes who can forgive the tomahawk and the stake。 Now he was the very first of the scouts； although his comrades and a dozen others were close behind him。
The scouts went so far forward that the army was hidden from them by the forest； although they could yet hear the clank of arms and the sound of commands。
Henry knew the ground thoroughly。 He knew where the embankment ran； and he knew； too； that the Iroquois had dug pits； marked by timber。 They were not far ahead； and the scouts now proceeded very slowly； examining every tree and clump of bushes to see whether a lurking enemy was hidden there。 The silence endured longer than he had thought。 Nothing could be seen in front save the