登陆注册
15324000000068

第68章 IN THE DARK LAND(2)

"I reckon not," said Boone."Leastways if they have, he must ha' struck a new breed of redskin.Jim was better nor any redskin in Kaintuck', and they knowed it.I told ye, neighbours, of our doings before you come west through the Gap.The Shawnees cotched me and Jim in a cane-brake, and hit our trace back to camp, so that they cotched Finley too, and his three Yadkiners with him.Likewise they took our hosses, and guns and traps and the furs we had gotten from three months' hunting.Their chief made a speech saying we had no right in Kaintuckee and if they cotched us again our lives'ud pay for it.They'd ha' sculped us if it hadn't been for Jim, but you could see they knew him, and was feared of him.Wal, Finley reckoned the game was up, and started back with the Yadkiners.Cooley and Joe Holden and Mooneyiye mind them, Squire! But I was feeling kinder cross and wanted my property back, and old Jim--why, he wasn't going to be worsted by no redskins.So we trailed the Shawnees, us two, and come up with them one night encamped beside a salt-lick.Jim got into their camp while I was lying shivering in the cane, and blessed if he didn't snake back four of our hosses and our three best Deckards.Tha's craft for ye.By sunrise we was riding south on the Warriors' Path but the hosses was plumb tired, and afore midday them pizonous Shawnees had cotched up with us.Ican tell ye, neighbours, the hair riz on my head, for I expected nothing better than a bloody sculp and six feet of earth....But them redskins didn't hurt us.And why, says ye? 'Cos they was scared of Jim.It seemed they had a name for him in Shawnee which meant the 'old wolf that hunts by night.They started out to take us way north of the Ohio to their Scioto villages, whar they said we would be punished.Jim telled me to keep up my heart, for he reckoned we wasn't going north of no river.Then he started to make friends with them redskins, and in two days he was the most popilar fellow in that company.He was a quiet man and for general melancholious, but I guess he could be amusing when he wanted to.You know the way an Indian laughs grunts in his stomach and looks at the ground.Wal, Jim had them grunting all day, and, seeing he could speak all their tongues, he would talk serious too.Ye could see them savages listening, like he was their own sachem."Boone reached for another faggot and tossed it on the fire.The downpour was slacking, but the wind had risen high and was wailing in the sycamores.

"Consekince was," he went on, "for prisoners we wasn't proper guarded.By the fourth day we was sleeping round the fire among the Shawnees and marching with them as we pleased, though we wasn't allowed to go near the hosses.On the seventh night we saw the Ohio rolling in the hollow, and Jim says to me it was about time to get quit of the redskins.It was a wet night with a wind, which suited his plan, and about one in the morning, when Indians sleep soundest, I was woke by Jim's hand pressing my wrist.

Wal, I've trailed a bit in my day, but I never did such mighty careful hunting as that night.An inch at a time we crawled out of the circle--we was lying well back on purpose--and got into the canes.I lay there while Jim went back and fetched guns and powder.The Lord knows how he done it without startling the hosses.Then we quit like ghosts, and legged it for the hills.We was aiming for the Gap, but it took us thirteen days to make it, travelling mostly by night, and living on berries, for we durstn't risk a shot.Then we made up with you.I reckon we didn't look too pretty when ye see'd us first.""Ye looked," said his brother soberly, "Like two scare-crows that had took to walkin'.There was more naked skin than shirt about you Dan'l.But Lovelle wasn't complaining, except about his empty belly.""He was harder nor me, though twenty years older.He did the leading, too, for he had forgotten more about woodcraft than I ever know'd...."The man Neely, who was from Virginia, consumed tobacco as steadily as a dry soil takes in water.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 将军令:府中囚妻

    将军令:府中囚妻

    她是丑陋的女子但是她却拥有着最幸福的宠溺他就是钟无艳
  • 冰火奇侠传

    冰火奇侠传

    人妖结合,天理不容!就算天不容许,也要逆天而行,化身妖魔又何妨!
  • 种出美女英雄小农民

    种出美女英雄小农民

    我是小农民,种花种树种美女。有大胸的娑娜,大长腿迦娜,大屁股菲奥娜……而且这些美女英雄不仅可以种出,还可以中……靠,哪个女人打我?老婆们快来,我们中出了个叛徒!(交流群:472893963)
  • 末日修仙

    末日修仙

    丧尸病毒爆发,修真界所有的修仙者和妖兽……都感染成了丧尸,一个普通的少年,克服一切困难,在逆境中生活,在末日中崛起……
  • 绝世神王:异世崛起

    绝世神王:异世崛起

    穿越了?还是不能修炼的废物?你们眼是被屎糊了吗?本少到让你们看看什么叫真正的天才!
  • 云成殇

    云成殇

    她是他所遇见的美好,是黑暗的宫中生活的一点星光,是啊,终究是星星,终究要滑落。看痴情皇子的崛起,再看成就霸业后的寂寥,他,成为千古传奇,他有贤良淑德的皇后,也有佳丽三千作陪,可是,他的爱情像星陨滑落,在无边深渊,挣扎不起。
  • 青羽诗

    青羽诗

    皇城下,桃树旁,落英如雨,女子巧笑嫣然,定格成那人千年的回忆。大漠中,黄沙下,折戟沉沙,男子金戈铁马,换来了那人一世的柔情。这是一首生在金陵城下的诗,一只盘旋在青宫上的鸟,飞舞了千百载,只为和你说说那一个个被他铭记于心的故事。
  • 十元

    十元

    一旦接受了这样的设定,我们也就身处其中了。在另一个地球,同样的人类文明正飞速发展着。终于,有一天,他们准备来看看这里的我们。是和平,还是挑衅?数千年来,我们用自己的智谋赢了地球;但到最后,我们却因自己的欲望败给了自己。
  • 福妻驾到

    福妻驾到

    现代饭店彪悍老板娘魂穿古代。不分是非的极品婆婆?三年未归生死不明的丈夫?心狠手辣的阴毒亲戚?贪婪而好色的地主老财?吃上顿没下顿的贫困宭境?不怕不怕,神仙相助,一技在手,天下我有!且看现代张悦娘,如何身带福气玩转古代,开面馆、收小弟、左纳财富,右傍美男,共绘幸福生活大好蓝图!!!!快本新书《天媒地聘》已经上架开始销售,只要3.99元即可将整本书抱回家,你还等什么哪,赶紧点击下面的直通车,享受乐乐精心为您准备的美食盛宴吧!)
  • 红楼之近距离围观

    红楼之近距离围观

    现代普通女孩穿越成为红楼梦中林妹妹围观死宅到底的故事。有金手指,随身空间,没有七巧玲珑心,也不会做诗的林妹妹只有努力生活,争取寿终正寝的故事!【情节虚构,请勿模仿】