to　come。　　Aieroski　has　turned　his　face　from　us。〃
  But　Timmendiquas　spoke　words　of　courage　and　hope。
  〃The　Six　Nations　will　regain　their　country；〃　he　said。　　〃The　great　League　of　the　Ho…de…no…sau…nee；　which　has　been　victorious　for　so　many　generations；　cannot　be　destroyed。　　All　the　tribes　from　here　to　the　Mississippi　will　help；　and　will　press　down　upon　the　settlements。　　I　will　return　to　stir　them　anew；　and　the　British　posts　will　give　us　arms　and　ammunition。〃
  The　light　of　defiance　shone　once　more　in　the　eyes　of　Thayendanegea。
  〃You　raise　my　spirits　again；〃　he　said。　　〃We　flee　now；　but　we　shall　come　back　again。　　The　Ho…de…no…saunee　can　never　submit。　　We　will　ravage　all　their　settlements；　and　burn　and　destroy。　　We　will　make　a　wilderness　where　they　have　been。　　The　king　and　his　men　will　yet　give　us　more　help。〃
  Part　of　his　words　came　true；　and　the　name　of　the　raiding　Thayendanegea　was　long　a　terror；　but　the　Iroquois；　who　had　refused　the　requested　neutrality；　had　lost　their　Country　forever；　save　such　portions　as　the　victor　in　the　end　chose　to　offer　to　them。
  〃And　now；　as　you　and　your　Wyandots　depart　within　the　half　hour；　I　give　you　a　last　farewell；〃　said　Thayendanegea。
  The　hands　of　the　two　great　chiefs　met　in　a　clasp　like　that　of　the　white　man；　and　then　Timmendiquas　abruptly　left　the　Council　House；　shutting　the　door　behind　him。　　Thayendanegea　lingered　a　while　at　the　window；　and　the　look　of　sadness　returned　to　his　face。　　Henry　could　read　many　of　the　thoughts　that　were　passing　through　the　Mohawk's　proud　mind。
  Thayendanegea　was　thinking　of　his　great　journey　to　London；　of　the　power　and　magnificence　that　he　had　seen；　of　the　pride　and　glory　of　the　Iroquois；　of　the　strong　and　numerous　Tory　faction　led　by　Sir　John　Johnson；　the　half　brother　of　the　children　of　Molly　Brant；　Thayendanegea's　own　sister；　of　the　Butlers　and　all　the　others　who　had　said　that　the　rebels　would　be　easy　to　conquer。　　He　knew　better　now；　he　had　long　known　better；　ever　since　that　dreadful　battle　in　the　dark　defile　of　the　Oriskany；　when　the　Palatine　Germans；　with　old　Herkimer　at　their　head；　beat　the　Tories；　the　English；　and　the　Iroquois；　and　made　the　taking　of　Burgoyne　possible。　　The　Indian　chieftain　was　a　statesman；　and　it　may　be　that　from　this　moment　he　saw　that　the　cause　of　both　the　Iroquois　and　their　white　allies　was　doomed。　　　　Presently　Thayendanegea　left　the　window；　walking　　slowly　toward　the　door。　　He　paused　there　a　moment　or　two；　and　then　went　out；　closing　it　behind　him；　as　Timmendiquas　had　done。　　The　three　did　not　speak　until　several　minutes　after　he　had　gone。
  〃I　don't　believe；〃　said　Henry；　〃that　either　of　them　thinks；　despite　their　brave　words；　that　the　Iroquois　can　ever　win　back　again。〃
  〃Serves　'em　right；〃　said　Tom　Ross。　　〃I　remember　what　I　saw　at　Wyoming。〃
  〃Whether　they　kin　do　it　or　not；〃　said　the　practical　Sol；　〃it's　time　for　us　to　git　out　o'　here；　an'　go　back　to　our　men。〃
  〃True　words；　Sol；〃　said　Henry；　〃and　we'll　go。〃
  Examining　first　at　the　window　and　then　through　the　door；　opened　slightly；　they　saw　that　the　Iroquois　village　bad　become　quiet。　　The　preparations　for　departure　had　probably　ceased　until　morning。　　Forth　stole　the　three；　passing　swiftly　among　the　houses；　going；　with　silent　foot　toward　the　orchard。　　An　old　squaw；　carrying　a　bundle　from　a　house；　saw　them；　looked　sharply　into　their　faces；　and　knew　them　to　be　white。　　She　threw　down　her　bundle　with　a　fierce；　shrill　scream；　and　ran；　repeating　the　scream　as　she　ran。
  Indians　rushed　out；　and　with　them　Braxton　Wyatt　and　his　band。　　Wyatt　caught　a　glimpse　of　a　tall　figure；　with　two　others；　one　on　each　side；　running　toward　the　orchard；　and　he　knew　it。　　Hate　and　the　hope　to　capture　or　kill　swelled　afresh。　　He　put　a　whistle　to　his　lip　and　blew　shrilly。　　It　was　a　signal　to　his　band；　and　they　came　from　every　point；　leading　the　pursuit。
  Henry　heard　the　whistle；　and　he　was　quite　sure　that　it　was　Wyatt　who　had　made　the　sound。　　A　single　glance　backward　confirmed　him。　　He　knew　Wyatt's　figure　as　well　as　Wyatt　knew　his；　and　the　dark　mass　with　him　was　certainly　composed　of　his　own　men。　　The　other　Indians　and　Tories；　in　all　likelihood；　would　turn　back　soon；　and　that　fact　would　give　him　the　chance　he　wished。
  They　were　clear　of　the　town　now；　running　lightly　through　the　orchard；　and　Shif'less　Sol　suggested　that　they　enter　the　woods　at　once。
  〃We　can　soon　dodge　'em　thar　in　the　dark；〃　he　said。
  〃We　don't　want　to　dodge　'em；〃　said　Henry。
  The　shiftless　one　was　surprised；　but　when　he　glanced　at　Henry's　face　he　understood。
  〃You　want　to　lead　'em　on　an'　to　a　fight？〃　he　said。
  Henry　nodded。
  〃Glad　you　thought　uv　it；〃　said　Shif'less　Sol。
  They　crossed　the　very　corn　field　through　which　they　had　come；　Braxton　Wyatt　and　his　band　in　full　cry　after　them。　　Several　shots　were　fired；　but　the　three　kept　too　far　ahead　for　any　sort　of　marksmanship；　and　they　were　not　touched。　　When　they　finally　entered　the　woods　they　curved　a　little；　and　then；　keeping　just　far　enough　ahead　to　be　within　sight；　but　not　close　enough　for　the　bullets；　Henry　led　them　straight　toward　the　camp　of　the　riflemen。　　As　he　approached；　he　fired　his　own　rifle；　and　uttered　the　long　shout　of　the　forest　runner。　　He　shouted　a　second　time；　and　now　Shif'less　Sol　and　Tom　Ross　joined　in　the　chorus；　their　great　cry　penetrating　far　through　the　woods。
  Whether　Braxton　Wyatt　or　any　of　his　mixed　band　of　Indians　and　Tories　suspected　the　meaning　of　those　great　shouts　Henry　never　knew；　but　the　pursuit　came　on　with　undiminished　speed。　　There　was　a　good　silver　moon　now；　shedding　much　light；　and　he　saw　Wyatt　still　in　the　van；　with　his　Tory　lieutenant　close　behind；　and　after　them　red　men　and　white；　spreading　out　like　a　fan　to　inclose　the　fugitives　in　a　trap。　　The　blood　leaped　in　his　veins。　　It　was　a　tide　of　fierce　joy。　　He　had　achieved　both　of　the　purposes　for　which　he　had　come。　　He　had　thoroughly　scouted　the　Seneca　Castle；　and　he　was　about　to　come　to　close　quarters　with　Braxton　Wyatt　and　the　band　which　he　had　made　such　a　terror　through　the　valleys。
  Shif'less　Sol　saw　the　face　of　his　young　comrade；　and　he　was　startled。　　He　had　never　before　beheld　it　so　stern；　so　resolute；　and　so　pitiless。　　He　seemed　to　remember　as　one　single；　fearful　picture　all　the　ruthless　and　terrible　scenes　of　the　last　year。　　Henry　uttered　again　that　cry　which　was　at　once　a　defiance　and　a　signal；　and　from　the　forest　ahead　of　him　it　was　answered；　signal　for　signal。　　The　riflemen　were　coming；　Paul；　Long　Jim；　and　Heemskerk　at　their　head。　　They　uttered　a　mighty　cheer　as　they　saw　the　flying　three；　and　their　ranks　opened　to　receive　them。　　From　the　Indians　and　Tories　came　the　long　whoop　of　challenge；　and　every　one　in　either　band　knew　that　the　issue　was　now　about　to　be　settled　by　battle；　and　by　battle　alone。　　They　used　all　the　tactics　of　the　forest。　　Both　sides　instantly　dropped　down　among　the　trees　and　undergrowth；　three　or　four　hundred　yards　apart；　and　for　a　few　moments　there　was　no　sound　save　heavy　breathing；　heard　only　by　those　who　lay　close　by。　　Not　a　single　human　being　would　have　been　visible　to　an　ordinary　eye　there　in　the　moonlight；　which　tipped　boughs　and　bushes　with　ghostly　silver。　　Yet　no　area　so　small　ever　held　a　greater　store　of　resolution　and　deadly　animosity。　　On　one　side　were　the　riflemen；　nearly　every　one　of　whom　had　slaughtered　kin　to　mourn；　often　wives　and　little　children；　and　on　the　other　the　Tories　and　Iroquois；　about　to　lose　their　country；　and　swayed　by　the　utmost　passions　of　hate　and　revenge。
  〃Spread　out；〃　whispered　Henry。　　〃Don't　give　them　a　chance　to　flank　us。　　You；　Sol；　take　ten　men　and　go　to　the　right；　and　you；　Heemskerk；　take　ten　and　go　to　the　left。〃
  〃It　is　well；〃　whispered　Heemskerk。　　〃You　have　a　great　head；　Mynheer　Henry。〃
  Each　promptly　obeyed；　but　the　larger　number　of　the　riflemen　remained　in　the　center；　where　Henry　knelt；　with　Paul　and　Long　Jim　on　one　side　of　him；　and　Silent　Tom　on　the　other。　　When　he　thought　that　the　two　flanking　parties　had　reached　the　right　position；　he　uttered　a　low　whistle；　and　back　came　two　low　whistles；　signals　that　all　was　ready。　　Then　the　line　began　its　slow　advance；　creeping　forward　from　tree　to　tree　and　from　bush　to　bush。　　Henry　raised　himself　up　a　little；　but　he　could　not　yet　see　anything　where　the　hostile　force　lay　hidden。　　They　went　a　little　farther；　and　then　all　lay　down　again　to　look。
  Tom　Ross　had　not　spoken　a　word；　but　none　was　more　eager　than　he。　　He　was　almost　flat　upon　the　ground；　and　he　had　been　pulling　himself　along　by　a　sort　of　muscular　action　of　his　whole　body。　　Now　he　was　so　still　that　he　did　not　seem　to　breathe。　　Yet　his　eyes；　uncommonly　eager　now；　were　searching　the　thickets　ahead。　　They　rested　at　last　on　a　spot　of　brown　showing　through　some　bushes；　and；　raising　his　rifle；　he　fired　with　sure　aim。　　The　Iroquois　uttered　his　death　cry；　sprang　up　convulsively；　and　then　fell　back　prone。　　Shots　were　fired　in　return；　and　a　dozen　riflemen　replied　to　them。　　The　battle　was　joined。
  They　heard　Braxton　Wyatt's　whistle；　the　challenging　war　cry　of　the　Iroquois；　and　then　they　fought　in　silence；　save　for　the　crack　of　the　rifles。　　The　riflemen　continued　to　advance　in　slow；　creeping　fashion；　always　pressing　the　enemy。　　Every　time　they　caught　sight　of　a　hostile　face　or　body　they　sent　a　bullet　at　it；　and　Wyatt's　men　did　the