The game closed at sunset, with the Senecas and Onondagas triumphant, and richer by far than they were in the morning.The Mohawks and Cayugas retired, stripped of their goods and crestfallen.
Timmendiquas and Thayendanegea, acting as umpires watched the game closely to its finish, but not so the renegades Braxton Wyatt and Blackstaffe.They and Quarles had wandered eastward with some Delawares, and had afterward joined the band of Wyandots, though Timmendiquas gave them no very warm welcome.
Quarles had left on some errand a few days before.They had rejoiced greatly at the trapping of the four, one by one, in the deep bush.But they had felt anger and disappointment when the fifth was not taken, also.Now both were concerned and alarmed over the escape of Shif'less Sol in the night, and they drew apart from the Indians to discuss it.
"I think," said Wyatt, "that Hyde did not manage it himself, all alone.How could he? He was bound both hand and foot; and I've learned, too, Blackstaffe, that four of the best Iroquois rifles have been taken.That means one apiece for Hyde and the three prisoners that are left."The two exchanged looks of meaning and understanding.
"It must have been the boy Ware who helped Hyde to get away,"said Blackstaffe, "and their taking of the rifles means that he and Hyde expect to rescue the other three in the same way.You think so, too?""Of course," replied Wyatt."What makes the Indians, who are so wonderfully alert and watchful most of the time, become so careless when they have a great feast?"Blackstaffe shrugged his shoulders.
"It is their way," he replied."You cannot change it.Ware must have noticed what they were about, and he took advantage of it.But I don't think any of the others will go that way.""The boy Cotter is in here," said Braxton Wyatt, tapping the side of a small hut."Let's go in and see him.""Good enough," said Blackstaffe."But we mustn't let him know that Hyde has escaped."Paul, also bound hand and foot, was lying on an old wolfskin.
He, too, was pale and thin-the strict confinement had told upon him heavily-but Paul's spirit could never be daunted.He looked at the two renegades with hatred and contempt.
"Well, you're in a fine fix," said Wyatt sneeringly."We just came in to tell you that we took Henry Ware last night."Paul looked him straight and long in the eye, and he knew that the renegade was lying.
"I know better," he said.
"Then we will get him," said Wyatt, abandoning the lie, "and all of you will die at the stake.""You, will not get him," said Paul defiantly, "and as for the rest of us dying at the stake, that's to be seen.I know this:
Timmendiquas considers us of value, to be traded or exchanged, and he's too smart a man to destroy what be regards as his own property.Besides, we may escape.I don't want to boast, Braxton Wyatt, but you know that we're hard to hold."Then Paul managed to turn over with his face to the wall, as if he were through with them.They went out, and Braxton Wyatt said sulkily:
"Nothing to be got out of him."
"No," said Blackstaffe, "but we must urge that the strictest kind of guard be kept over the others."The Iroquois were to remain some time at the village, because all their forces were not yet gathered for the great foray they had in mind.The Onondaga runners were still carrying the wampum belts of purple shells, sign of war, to distant villages of the tribes, and parties of warriors were still coming in.A band of Cayugas arrived that night, and with them they brought a half starved and sick, Lenni-Lenape, whom they had picked up near the camp.The Lenni-Lenape, who looked as if he might have been when in health a strong and agile warrior, said that news had reached him through the Wyandots of the great war to be waged by the Iroquois on the white settlements, and the spirits would not let him rest unless he bore his part in it.He prayed therefore to be accepted among them.
