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n 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。
Henry was noting with a careful eye the condition of the town。 He saw that no preparations for defense had been made； and there was no evidence that any would be made。 All was confusion and despair。 Already some of the squaws were fleeing； carrying heavy burdens。 The three coupled caution with boldness。 If they met a Tory they merely exchanged a word or two； and passed swiftly on。 Henry； although he had seen enough to know that the army could advance without hesitation； still pursued the quest。 Shif'less Sol was right。 At the bottom of Henry's heart was a desire to know whether Braxton Wyatt was in Little Beard's Town； a desire soon satisfied； as they reached the great Council House； turned a corner of it； and met the renegade face to face。
Wyatt was with his lieutenant； the squat Tory； Coleman； and he uttered a cry when he saw the tall figure of the great youth。 There was no light but that of the moon； but he knew his foe in an instant。
〃Henry Ware！〃 he cried； and snatched his pistol from his belt。
They were so close together that Henry did not have time to use a weapon。 Instinctively he struck out with his fist； catching Wyatt on the jaw； and sending him down as if he had been shot。 Shif'less Sol and Tom Ross ran bodily over Coleman； hurling him down； and leaping across his prostrate figure。 Then they ran their utmost； knowing that their lives depended on speed and skill。
They quickly put the Council House between them and their pursuers； and darted away among the houses。 Braxton Wyatt was stunned； but he speedily regained his wits and his feet。
〃It was the fellow Ware； spying among us again！ be cried to his lieutenant； who； half dazed； was also struggling up。 〃Come； men！ After them！ After them！〃
A dozen men came at his call； and； led by the renegade； they began a search among the houses。 But it was hard to find the fugitives。 The light was not good； many flitting figures were about； and the frantic search developed confusion。 Other Tories were often mistaken for the three scouts； and were overhauled； much to their disgust and that of the overhaulers。 Iroquois； drawn from the funeral ceremony； began to join in the hunt； but Wyatt could give them little information。 He had merely seen an enemy； and then the enemy had gone。 It was quite certain that this enemy； or； rather； three of them； was still in the town。
Henry and his comrades were crafty。 Trained by ambush and escape； flight and pursuit； they practiced many wiles to deceive their pursuers。 When Wyatt and Coleman were hurled down they ran around the Council House； a large and solid structure； and； finding a door on the opposite side and no one there or in sight from that point； they entered it； closing the door behind them。
They stood in almost complete darkness； although at length they made out the log wall of the great； single room which constituted the Council House。 After that； with more accustomed eyes； they saw on the wall arms； pipes； wampum； and hideous trophies； some with long hair and some with short。 The hair was usually blonde； and most of the scalps had been stretched tight over little hoops。 Henry clenched his fist in the darkness。
〃Mebbe we're walkin' into a trap here；〃 said Shif'less Sol。
〃I don't think so；〃 said Henry。 〃At any rate they'd find us if we were rushing about the village。 Here we at least have a chance。〃
At the far end of the Council House hung mats； woven of rushes； and the three sat down behind them in the very heart of the Iroquois sanctuary。 Should anyone casually enter the Council House they would still be hidden。 They sat in Turkish fashion on the floor； close together and with their rifles lying across their knees。 A thin light filtered through a window and threw pallid streaks on the floor； which they could see when they peeped around the edge of the mats。 But outside they heard very clearly the clamor of the hunt as it swung to and fro in the village。 Shif'less Sol chuckled。 It was very low； but it was a chuckle； nevertheless； and the others heard。
〃It's sorter takin' an advantage uv 'em；〃 said the shiftless one； 〃layin' here in thar own church； so to speak； while they're ragin' an' tearin' up the earth everywhar else lookin' fur us。 Gives me a mighty snug feelin'； though； like the one you have when you're safe in a big log house； an' the wind an' the hail an' the snow are beatin' outside。〃
〃You're shorely right； Sol；〃 said Tom Ross。
〃Seems to me；〃 continued the irrepressible Sol； 〃that you did git in a good lick at Braxton Wyatt； after all。 Ain't he unhappy now； bitin' his fingers an' pawin' the earth an' findin' nothin'？ I feel real sorry； I do； fur Braxton。 It's hard fur a nice young feller to have to suffer sech disappointments。〃
Shif'less Sol chuckled again； and Henry was forced to smile in the darkness。 Shif'less Sol was not wholly wrong。 It would be a bitter blow to Braxton Wyatt。 Moreover； it was pleasant where they sat。 A hard floor was soft to them； and as they leaned against the wall they could relax and rest。
〃What will our fellows out thar in the woods think？〃 asked Tom Ross。
〃They won't have to think；〃 replied Henry。 〃They'll sit quiet as we're doing and wait。〃
The noise of the hunt went on for a long time outside。 War whoops came from different points of the village。 There were shrill cries of women and children； and the sound of many running feet。 After a while it began to sink； and soon after that they heard no more noises than those of people preparing for flight。 Henry felt sure that the town would be abandoned on the morrow； but his desire to come to close quarters with Braxton Wyatt was as strong as ever。 It was certain that the army could not overtake Wyatt's band； but he might match his own against it。 He was thinking of making the attempt to steal from the place when； to their great amazement； they heard the door of the Council House open and shut； and then footsteps inside。
Henry looked under the edge of the hanging mat and saw two dusky figures near the window。
CHAPTER XXIII
THE FINAL FIGHT
Shif'less Sol and Tom Ross were also looking under the mats； and the three would have recognized those figures anywhere。 The taller was Timmendiquas； the other Thayendanegea。 The thin light from the window fell upon their faces； and Henry saw that both were sad。 Haughty and proud they were still； but each bore the look that comes only from continued defeat and great disappointment。 It is truth to say that the concealed three watched them with a curiosity so intense that all thought of their own risk was forgotten。 To Henry； as well as his comrades； these two were the greatest of all Indian chiefs。
The White Lightning of the Wyandots and the Joseph Brant of the Mohawks stood for a space side by side； gazing out of the window； taking a last look at the great Seneca Castle。 It was Thayendanegea who spoke first； using Wyandot； which Henry understood。
〃Farewell； my brother； great chief of the Wyandots；〃 he said。 〃You have come far with your warriors； and you have been by our side in battle。 The Six Nations owe you much。 You have helped us in victory； and you have not deserted us in defeat。 You are the greatest of warriors； the boldest in battle； and the most skillful。〃
Timmendiquas made a deprecatory gesture； but Thayendanegea went on：
〃I speak but the truth； great chief of the Wyandots。 We owe you much； and some day we may repay。 Here the Bostonians crowd us hard； and the Mohawks may yet fight by your side to save your own hunting grounds。〃
〃It is true；〃 said Timmendiquas。 〃There； too； we' must fight the Americans。〃
〃Victory was long with us here；〃 said Thayendanegea； 〃but the rebels have at last brought an army against us； and the king who persuaded us to make war upon the Americans adds nothing to the help that he has given us already。 Our white allies were the first to run at the Chemung； and now the Iroquois country； so large and so beautiful； is at the mercy of the invader。 We perish。 In all the valleys our towns lie in ashes。 The American army will come to…morrow； and this； the great Seneca Castle； the last of our strongholds； will also sink under the flames。 I know not how our people will live through the Winter that is yet to come。 Aieroski has turned his face from us。〃
But Timmendiquas spoke words of courage and hop