betty zane-第16节

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port　of　the　weapon　he　staggered　and　fell。

Wetzel　sprang　up　and　knowing　that　his　only　escape　was　in　rapid　flight；　with　his　well　known　yell；　he　bounded　off　at　the　top　of　his　speed。　The　remaining　Indians　discharged　their　guns　at　the　fleeing；　dodging　figure；　but　without　effect。　So　rapidly　did　he　dart　in　and　out　among　the　trees　that　an　effectual　aim　was　impossible。　Then；　with　loud　yells；　the　Indians；　drawing　their　tomahawks；　started　in　pursuit；　expecting　soon　to　overtake　their　victim。

In　the　early　years　of　his　Indian　hunting；　Wetzel　had　perfected　himself　in　a　practice　which　had　saved　his　life　many　tunes；　and　had　added　much　to　his　fame。　He　could　reload　his　rifle　while　running　at　topmost　speed。　His　extraordinary　fleetness　enabled　him　to　keep　ahead　of　his　pursuers　until　his　rifle　was　reloaded。　This　trick　he　now　employed。　Keeping　up　his　uneven　pace　until　his　gun　was　ready；　he　turned　quickly　and　shot　the　nearest　Indian　dead　in　his　tracks。　The　next　Indian　had　by　this　time　nearly　come　up　with　him　and　close　enough　to　throw　his　tomahawk；　which　whizzed　dangerously　near　Wetzel's　head。　But　he　leaped　forward　again　and　soon　his　rifle　was　reloaded。　Every　time　he　looked　around　the　Indians　treed；　afraid　to　face　his　unerring　weapon。　After　running　a　mile　or　more　in　this　manner；　he　reached　an　open　space　in　the　woods　where　he　wheeled　suddenly　on　his　pursuers。　The　foremost　Indian　jumped　behind　a　tree；　but；　as　it　did　not　entirely　screen　his　body；　he；　too；　fell　a　victim　to　the　hunter's　aim。　The　Indian　must　have　been　desperately　wounded；　for　his　companion　now　abandoned　the　chase　and　went　to　his　assistance。　Together　they　disappeared　in　the　forest。

Wetzel；　seeing　that　he　was　no　longer　pursued；　slackened　his　pace　and　proceeded　thoughtfully　toward　the　settlement。

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That　same　day；　several　hours　after　Wetzel's　departure　in　quest　of　the　turkey；　Alfred　Clarke　strolled　over　from　the　fort　and　found　Colonel　Zane　in　the　yard。　The　Colonel　was　industriously　stirring　the　contents　of　a　huge　copper　kettle　which　swung　over　a　brisk　wood　fire。　The　honeyed　fragrance　of　apple…butter　mingled　with　the　pungent　odor　of　burning　hickory。

〃Morning；　Alfred；　you　see　they　have　me　at　it；〃　was　the　Colonel's　salute。

〃So　I　observe；〃　answered　Alfred；　as　he　seated　himself　on　the　wood…pile。　〃What　is　it　you　are　churning　so　vigorously？〃

〃Apple…butter；　my　boy；　apple…butter。　I　don't　allow　even　Bessie　to　help　when　I　am　making　apple…butter。〃

〃Colonel　Zane；　I　have　come　over　to　ask　a　favor。　Ever　since　you　notified　us　that　you　intended　sending　an　expedition　up　the　river　I　have　been　worried　about　my　horse　Roger。　He　is　too　light　for　a　pack　horse；　and　I　cannot　take　two　horses。〃

〃I'll　let　you　have　the　bay。　He　is　big　and　strong　enough。　That　black　horse　of　yours　is　a　beauty。　You　leave　Roger　with　me　and　if　you　never　come　back　I'll　be　in　a　fine　horse。　Ha；　Ha！　But；　seriously；　Clarke；　this　proposed　trip　is　a　hazardous　undertaking；　and　if　you　would　rather　stay〃

〃You　misunderstand　me；〃　quickly　replied　Alfred；　who　had　flushed。　〃I　do　not　care　about　myself。　I'll　go　and　take　my　medicine。　But　I　do　mind　about　my　horse。〃

〃That's　right。　Always　think　of　your　horses。　I'll　have　Sam　take　the　best　of　care　of　Roger。〃

〃What　is　the　nature　of　this　excursion；　and　how　long　shall　we　be　gone？〃

〃Jonathan　will　guide　the　party。　He　says　it　will　take　six　weeks　if　you　have　pleasant　weather。　You　are　to　go　by　way　of　Short　Creek；　where　you　will　help　put　up　a　blockhouse。　Then　you　go　to　Fort　Pitt。　There　you　will　embark　on　a　raft　with　the　supplies　I　need　and　make　the　return　journey　by　water。　You　will　probably　smell　gunpowder　before　you　get　back。〃

〃What　shall　we　do　with　the　horses？〃

〃Bring　them　along　with　you　on　the　raft；　of　course。〃

〃That　is　a　new　way　to　travel　with　horses；〃　said　Alfred；　looking　dubiously　at　the　swift　river。　〃Will　there　be　any　way　to　get　news　from　Fort　Henry　while　we　are　away？〃

〃Yes；　there　will　be　several　runners。〃

〃Mr。　Clarke；　I　am　going　to　feed　my　pets。　Would　you　like　to　see　them？〃　asked　a　voice　which　brought　Alfred　to　his　feet。　He　turned　and　saw　Betty。　Her　dog　followed　her；　carrying　a　basket。

〃I　shall　be　delighted；〃　answered　Alfred。　〃Have　you　more　pets　than　Tige　and　Madcap？〃

〃Oh；　yes；　indeed。　I　have　a　bear；　six　squirrels；　one　of　them　white；　and　some　pigeons。〃

Betty　led　the　way　to　an　enclosure　adjoining　Colonel　Zane's　barn。　It　was　about　twenty　feet　square；　made　of　pine　saplings　which　had　been　split　and　driven　firmly　into　the　ground。　As　Betty　took　down　a　bar　and　opened　the　small　gate　a　number　of　white　pigeons　fluttered　down　from　the　roof　of　the　barn；　several　of　them　alighting　on　her　shoulders。　A　half…grown　black　bear　came　out　of　a　kennel　and　shuffled　toward　her。　He　was　unmistakably　glad　to　see　her；　but　he　avoided　going　near　Tige；　and　looked　doubtfully　at　the　young　man。　But　after　Alfred　had　stroked　his　head　and　had　spoken　to　him　he　seemed　disposed　to　be　friendly；　for　he　sniffed　around　Alfred's　knees　and　then　stood　up　and　put　his　paws　against　the　young　man's　shoulders。

〃Here；　Caesar；　get　down；〃　said　Betty。　〃He　always　wants　to　wrestle；　especially　with　anyone　of　whom　he　is　not　suspicious。　He　is　very　tame　and　will　do　almost　anything。　Indeed；　you　would　marvel　at　his　intelligence。　He　never　forgets　an　injury。　If　anyone　plays　a　trick　on　him　you　may　be　sure　that　person　will　not　get　a　second　opportunity。　The　night　we　caught　him　Tige　chased　him　up　a　tree　and　Jonathan　climbed　the　tree　and　lassoed　him。　Ever　since　he　has　evinced　a　hatred　of　Jonathan；　and　if　I　should　leave　Tige　alone　with　him　there　would　be　a　terrible　fight。　But　for　that　I　could　allow　Caesar　to　run　free　about　the　yard。〃

〃He　looks　bright　and　sagacious；〃　remarked　Alfred。

〃He　is；　but　sometimes　he　gets　into　mischief。　I　nearly　died　laughing　one　day。　Bessie；　my　brother's　wife；　you　know；　had　the　big　kettle　on　the　fire；　just　as　you　saw　it　a　moment　ago；　only　this　time　she　was　boiling　down　maple　syrup。　Tige　was　out　with　some　of　the　men　and　I　let　Caesar　loose　awhile。　If　there　is　anything　he　loves　it　is　maple　sugar；　so　when　he　smelled　the　syrup　he　pulled　down　the　kettle　and　the　hot　syrup　went　all　over　his　nose。　Oh；　his　howls　were　dreadful　to　hear。　The　funniest　part　about　it　was　he　seemed　to　think　it　was　intentional；　for　he　remained　sulky　and　cross　with　me　for　two　weeks。〃

〃I　can　understand　your　love　for　animals；〃　said　Alfred。　〃I　think　there　are　many　interesting　things　about　wild　creatures。　There　are　comparatively　few　animals　down　in　Virginia　where　I　used　to　live；　and　my　opportunities　to　study　them　have　been　limited。〃

〃Here　are　my　squirrels；〃　said　Betty；　unfastening　the　door　of　a　cage。　A　number　of　squirrels　ran　out。　Several　jumped　to　the　ground。　One　perched　on　top　of　the　box。　Another　sprang　on　Betty's　shoulder。　〃I　fasten　them　up　every　night；　for　I'm　afraid　the　weasels　and　foxes　will　get　them。　The　white　squirrel　is　the　only　albino　we　have　seen　around　here。　It　took　Jonathan　weeks　to　trap　him；　but　once　captured　he　soon　grew　tame。　Is　he　not　pretty？〃

〃He　certainly　is。　I　never　saw　one　before；　in　fact；　I　did　not　know　such　a　beautiful　little　animal　existed；〃　answered　Alfred；　looking　in　admiration　at　the　graceful　creature；　as　he　leaped　from　the　shelf　to　Betty's　arm　and　ate　from　her　hand；　his　great；　bushy　white　tail　arching　over　his　back　and　his　small　pink　eyes　shining。

〃There！　Listen；〃　said　Betty。　〃Look　at　the　fox　squirrel；　the　big　brownish　red　one。　I　call　him　the　Captain；　because　he　always　wants　to　boss　the　others。　I　had　another　fox　squirrel；　older　than　this　fellow；　and　he　ran　things　to　suit　himself；　until　one　day　the　grays　united　their　forces　and　routed　him。　I　think　they　would　have　killed　him　had　I　not　freed　him。　Well；　this　one　is　commencing　the　same　way。　Do　you　hear　that　odd　clicking　noise？　That　comes　from　the　Captain's　teeth；　and　he　is　angry　and　jealous　because　I　show　so　much　attention　to　this　one。　He　always　does　that；　and　he　would　fight　too　if　I　were　not　careful。　It　is　a　singular　fact；　though；　that　the　white　squirrel　has　not　even　a　little　pugnacity。　He　either　cannot　fight；　or　he　is　too　well　behaved。　Here；　Mr。　Clarke；　show　Snowball　this　nut；　and　then　hide　it　in　your　pocket；　and　see　him　find　it。〃

Alfred　did　as　he　was　told；　except　that　while　he　pretended　to　put　the　nut　in　his　pocket　he　really　kept　it　concealed　in　his　hand。

The　pet　squirrel　leaped　lightly　on　Alfred's　shoulder；　ran　over　his　breast；　peeped　in　all　his　pockets；　and　even　pushed　his　cap　to　one　side　of　his　head。　Then　he　ran　down　Alfred's　arm；　sniffed　in　his　coat　sleeve；　and　finally　wedged　a　cold　little　nose　between　his　closed　fingers。

〃There；　he　has　found　it；　even　though　you　did　not　play　fair；〃　said　Betty；　laughing　gaily。

Alfred　never　forgot　the　picture　Betty　made　standing　there　with　the　red　cap　on　her　dusky　hair；　and　the　loving　smile　upon　her　face　as　she　talked　to　her　pets。　A　white　fan…tail　pigeon　had　alighted　on　her　shoulder　and　was　picking　daintily　at　the　piece　of　cracker　she　held　between　her　lips。　The　squirrels　were　all　sitting　up；　each　with　a　nut　in　his　little　paws；　and　each　with　an　alert　and　cunning　look　in　the　corner　of　his　eye；　to　prevent；　no　doubt；　being　surprised　out　of　a　portion　of　his　nut。　Caesar　was　lying　on　all　fours；　growling　and　tearing　at　his　breakfast；　while　the　dog　looked　on　with　a　superior　air；　as　if