Chapter XXIV. Down the Ohio

The Scouts of the Valley

by Joseph A. Altsheler

"We didn't get Wyatt," said Henry, "but we did pretty well,
nevertheless."

"That's so," said Shif'less Sol. "Thar's nothin' left o' his
band but hisself, an' I ain't feelin' any sorrow 'cause I helped to
do it. I guess we've saved the lives of a good many innocent people
with this morning's work."

"Never a doubt of it," said Henry, "and here's the army now
finishing up the task."

The soldiers were setting fire to the town in many places, and
in two hours the great Seneca Castle was wholly destroyed. The five
took no part in this, but rested after their battles and labors. One
or two had been grazed by bullets, but the wounds were too trifling
to be noticed. As they rested, they watched the fire, which was an
immense one, fed by so much material. The blaze could be seen for
many miles, and the ashes drifted over all the forest beyond the
fields.

All the while the Iroquois were fleeing through the wilderness
to the British posts and the country beyond the lakes, whence their
allies had already preceded them. The coals of Little Beard's Town
smoldered for two or three days, and then the army turned back,
retracing its steps down the Genesee.

Henry and his comrades felt that their work in the East was
finished. Kentucky was calling to them. They had no doubt that
Braxton Wyatt, now that his band was destroyed, would return there,
and he would surely be plotting more danger. It was their part to
meet and defeat him. They wished, too, to see again the valley, the
river, and the village in which their people had made their home, and
they ,wished yet more to look upon the faces of these people.

They left the army, went southward with Heemskerk and some
others of the riflemen, but at the Susquehanna parted with the
gallant Dutchman and his comrades.

"It is good to me to have known you, my brave friends," said
Heemskerk, "and I say good-by with sorrow to you, Mynheer Henry; to
you, Mynheer Paul; to you, Mynheer Sol; to you, Mynheer Tom; and to
you, Mynheer Jim."

He wrung their hands one by one, and then revolved swiftly away
to hide his emotion.

The five, rifles on their shoulders, started through the forest.
When they looked back they saw Cornelius Heemskerk waving his hand to
them. They waved in return, and then disappeared in the forest. It
was a long journey to Pittsburgh, but they found it a pleasant one.
It was yet deep autumn on the Pennsylvania hills, and the forest was
glowing with scarlet and gold. The air was the very wine of life,
and when they needed game it was there to be shot. As the cold
weather hung off, they did not hurry, and they enjoyed the peace of
the forest. They realized now that after their vast labors,
hardships, and dangers, they needed a great rest, and they took it.
It was singular, and perhaps not so singular, how their minds turned
from battle, pursuit, and escape, to gentle things. A little brook
or fountain pleased them. They admired the magnificent colors of the
foliage, and lingered over the views from the low mountains. Doe and
fawn fled from them, but without cause. At night they built splendid
fires, and sat before them, while everyone in his turn told tales
according to his nature or experience.

They bought at Pittsburgh a strong boat partly covered, and at
the point where the Allegheny and the Monongahela unite they set sail
down the Ohio. It was winter now, but in their stout caravel they
did not care. They had ample supplies of all kinds, including
ammunition, and their hearts were light when they swung into the
middle of the Ohio and moved with its current.

"Now for a great voyage," said Paul, looking at the clear stream
with sparkling eyes.

"I wonder what it will bring to us," said Shif'less Sol.

"We shall see," said Henry.