登陆注册
5142800000110

第110章

"We're bound to do something!" exclaimed Wyatt."Here you, Jones, stick up the edge of your cap, and when they fire at it I'll put a bullet in the man who pulls the trigger."Jones thrust up his cap, but they knew too much out there to be taken in by an old trick.The cap remained unhurt, but when Jones in his eagerness thrust it higher until he exposed his arm, his wrist was smashed in an instant by a bullet, and he fell back with a howl of pain.Wyatt swore and bit his lips savagely.He and all of them began to fear that they were in another and tighter trap, one from which there was no escape unless the Iroquois outside drove off the riflemen, and of that they could as yet see no sign.The sharpshooters held their place behind the embankment and the little outhouse, and so little as a finger, even, at the windows became a sure mark for their terrible bullets.A Seneca, seeking a new trial for a shot, received a bullet through the shoulder, and a Tory who followed him in the effort was slain outright.

The light hitherto had been from the fires, but now the dawn was coming.Pale gray beams fell over the town, and then deepened into red and yellow.The beams reached the room where the beleaguered remains of Wyatt's band fought, but, mingling with the smoke, they gave a new and more ghastly tint to the desperate faces.

"We've got to fight!" exclaimed Wyatt."We can't sit here and be taken like beasts in a trap! Suppose we unbar the doors below and make a rush for it?"Coleman shook his head."Every one of us would be killed within twenty yards," he said.

"Then the Iroquois must come back," cried Wyatt."Where is Joe Brant? Where is Timmendiquas, and where is that coward, Sir John Johnson? Will they come?""They won't come," said Coleman.

They lay still awhile, listening to the firing in the town, which swayed hither and thither.The smoke in the room thinned somewhat, and the daylight broadened and deepened.As a desperate resort they resumed fire from the windows, but three more of their number were slain, and, bitter with chagrin, they crouched once more on the floor out of range.Wyatt looked at the figures of the living and the dead.Savage despair tore at his heart again, and his hatred of those who bad done this increased.It was being served out to him and his band as they had served it out to many a defenseless family in the beautiful valleys of the border.Despite the sharpshooters, he took another look at the window, but kept so far back that there was no chance for a shot.

"Two of them are slipping away," he exclaimed."They are Ross and the one they call Long Jim! I wish I dared a shot! Now they're gone!"They lay again in silence for a time.There was still firing in the town, and now and then they heard shouts.Wyatt looked at his lieutenant, and his lieutenant looked at him.

"Yours is the ugliest face I ever saw," said Wyatt.

"I can say the same of yours-as I can't see mine," said Coleman.

The two gazed once more at the hideous, streaked, and grimed faces of each other, and then laughed wildly.A wounded Seneca sitting with his back against the wall began to chant a low, wailing death song.

"Shut up! Stop that infernal noise!" exclaimed Wyatt savagely.

The Seneca stared at him with fixed, glassy eyes and continued his chant.Wyatt turned away, but that song was upon his nerves.

He knew that everything was lost.The main force of the Iroquois would not come back to his help, and Henry Ware would triumph.

He sat down on the floor, and muttered fierce words under his breath.

"Hark!" suddenly exclaimed Coleman."What is that?"A low crackling sound came to their ears, and both recognized it instantly.It was the sound of flames eating rapidly into wood, and of that wood was built the house they now held.Even as they listened they could hear the flames leap and roar into new and larger life.

"This is, what those two, Ross and Hart, were up to!" exclaimed Wyatt."We're not only trapped, but we're to be burned alive in our trap!""Not I," said Coleman, "I'm goin' to make a rush for it.""It's the only thing to be done," said Wyatt."Come, all of you that are left!"The scanty survivors gathered around him, all but the wounded Seneca, who sat unmoved against the wall and continued to chant his death chant.Wyatt glanced at him, but said nothing.Then he and the others rushed down the stairs.

The lower room was filled with smoke, and outside the flames were roaring.They unbarred the door and sprang into the open air.Ashower of bullets met them.The Tory, Coleman, uttered a choking cry, threw up his arms, and fell back in the doorway.Braxton Wyatt seized one of the smaller men, and, holding him a moment or two before him to receive the fire of his foe, dashed for the corner of the blazing building.The man whom he held was slain, and his own shoulder was grazed twice, but he made the corner.

In an instant he put the burning building between him and his pursuers, and ran as he had never run before in all his life, deadly fear putting wings on his heels.As he ran he heard the dull boom of a cannon, and he knew that tile American army was entering the Seneca Castle.Ahead of him he saw the last of the Indians fleeing for the woods, and behind him the burning house crashed and fell in amid leaping flames and sparks in myriads.

He alone had escaped from the house.

同类推荐
  • 童蒙养正诗选

    童蒙养正诗选

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 云林石谱

    云林石谱

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • The Illustrious Prince

    The Illustrious Prince

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 太上玄司灭罪紫府消灾法忏

    太上玄司灭罪紫府消灾法忏

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 慢法经

    慢法经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 赠卢大夫将军

    赠卢大夫将军

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 妙木山的塔姆仙人

    妙木山的塔姆仙人

    【这是火影同人】主角人设:LOL英雄河流之王塔姆。这是一个物种不明的假蛤蟆混入忍界最大雇佣兵公司妙木山,又顺利拿到千年豪门日向家族offer,从此成为雏田大小姐贴身保镖、最终走向人生巅峰的职场励志故事。好吧...这其实是一个大挂比在忍界培养各种小挂比,用外挂打败拼爹的毒鸡汤故事。【新书】《李青的奇妙冒险》求各位书友老爷支持!
  • 七宙之乱

    七宙之乱

    平静的第七平行宇宙中突然闯入其它力量妄图控制这个宇宙,一个在普通人中较为耀眼的人却与这个宇宙有着一些渊源。
  • 糊涂女巫绑架记

    糊涂女巫绑架记

    已成功熬退休好几任导师的传奇存在巫朵朵!据说今年终于准备要毕业了!都已经毕业好几年的侄女们在她背后大喊:雄起!颤巍巍的校长挥着小手帕送走巫朵朵大喊:不要再回来了!看着只能毕业才能拥有的漂亮尖帽子,巫朵朵泪流满面哆哆嗦嗦绑架了一个公主,只等骑士来解救。新文《江湖防骗手册》《落河三千星》
  • 村官杜中全

    村官杜中全

    杜中全蹲在桌子下面哇哇地呕吐着,把一肚子的酒水吐出来还没有完,还要把苦胆汁吐出来,还要把心肝五脏都吐出来。杜中全一边吐一边骂着自己,我杜中全是头猪啊,是只狗啊,不过就是想他张太安去县里给我要点钱来把倒冲那条隧道打通吗;不就是想让倒冲两个村民小组的人出山有一脚好路走吗,出山不要爬那又窄又陡的石壁小路吗?他张太安要我喝几杯我就喝几杯,醉了还要喝,吐了还要喝,他张太安酒桌上说出的话还不是放屁,酒醒了,就什么都不承认了,说没答应给我去弄钱,我拿石头打天去呀。手指头在喉咙里抠着,肚子里还在翻江倒海,格外的闹心。
  • Gone With The Wind

    Gone With The Wind

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 邻家有女名貂蝉

    邻家有女名貂蝉

    邻家有女初长成,回眸一笑百媚生。群雄割据风云变,气吞山河入我坑……
  • 呆侠成神记

    呆侠成神记

    人生如梦,昏昏沉沉。多少年蹉跎云烟。秋叶凋零不是昨日那青春少年。梦醒,问花开是否依然芬芳美艳?却涌流满腹深仇念。
  • 雷武神帝

    雷武神帝

    【全网最火写雷小说】地球特种兵魂穿神武大陆,身怀绝世体质,却被认为是怪胎,受尽屈辱。偶获《九天雷帝诀》相助,从此踏上惊天逆袭之路。以雷炼丹,以雷修武,以雷杀人。人若不服,五雷轰顶!天若不服,雷破苍穹!
  • 快乐生活一本通

    快乐生活一本通

    本书内容包括:服饰巧搭配、美容小技巧、烹饪小窍门、养生小秘方、居家巧安排、理财有高招等。