betty zane-第19节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



〃I　did　not　ask　that；〃　answered　Betty；　flushing　slightly。　〃But　I　shall　remember　it　as　a　promise　and　some　day　I　may　ask　it　of　you。〃

He　looked　wonderingly　at　the　girl　beside　him。　He　had　spent　most　of　his　life　among　educated　and　cultured　people。　He　had　passed　several　years　in　the　backwoods。　But　with　all　his　experience　with　people　he　had　to　confess　that　this　young　woman　was　as　a　revelation　to　him。　She　could　ride　like　an　Indian　and　shoot　like　a　hunter。　He　had　heard　that　she　could　run　almost　as　swiftly　as　her　brothers。　Evidently　she　feared　nothing；　for　he　had　just　seen　an　example　of　her　courage　in　a　deed　that　had　tried　even　his　own　nerve；　and；　withal；　she　was　a　bright；　happy　girl；　earnest　and　true；　possessing　all　the　softer　graces　of　his　sisters；　and　that　exquisite　touch　of　feminine　delicacy　and　refinement　which　appeals　more　to　men　than　any　other　virtue。

〃Have　you　not　met　Mr。　Miller　before　he　came　here　from　Fort　Pitt？〃　asked　Betty。

〃Why　do　you　ask？〃

〃I　think　he　mentioned　something　of　the　kind。〃

〃What　else　did　he　say？〃

〃WhyMr。　Clarke；　I　hardly　remember。〃

〃I　see；〃　said　Alfred；　his　face　darkening。　〃He　has　talked　about　me。　I　do　not　care　what　he　said。　I　knew　him　at　Fort　Pitt；　and　we　had　trouble　there。　I　venture　to　say　he　has　told　no　one　about　it。　He　certainly　would　not　shine　in　the　story。　But　I　am　not　a　tattler。〃

〃It　is　not　very　difficult　to　see　that　you　do　not　like　him。　Jonathan　does　not；　either。　He　says　Mr。　Miller　was　friendly　with　McKee；　and　the　notorious　Simon　Girty；　the　soldiers　who　deserted　from　Fort　Pitt　and　went　to　the　Indians。　The　girls　like　him　however。〃

〃Usually　if　a　man　is　good　looking　and　pleasant　that　is　enough　for　the　girls。　I　noticed　that　he　paid　you　a　great　deal　of　attention　at　the　dance。　He　danced　three　times　with　you。〃

〃Did　he？　How　observing　you　are；〃　said　Betty；　giving　him　a　little　sidelong　glance。　〃Well；　he　is　very　agreeable；　and　he　dances　better　than　many　of　the　young　men。〃

〃I　wonder　if　Wetzel　got　the　turkey。　I　have　heard　no　more　shots；〃　said　Alfred；　showing　plainly　that　he　wished　to　change　the　subject。

〃Oh；　look　there！　Quick！〃　exclaimed　Betty；　pointing　toward　the　hillside。

He　looked　in　the　direction　indicated　and　saw　a　doe　and　a　spotted　fawn　wading　into　the　shallow　water。　The　mother　stood　motionless　a　moment；　with　head　erect　and　long　ears　extended。　Then　she　drooped　her　graceful　head　and　drank　thirstily　of　the　cool　water。　The　fawn　splashed　playfully　round　while　its　mother　was　drinking。　It　would　dash　a　few　paces　into　the　stream　and　then　look　back　to　see　if　its　mother　approved。　Evidently　she　did　not；　for　she　would　stop　her　drinking　and　call　the　fawn　back　to　her　side　with　a　soft；　crooning　noise。　Suddenly　she　raised　her　head；　the　long　ears　shot　up；　and　she　seemed　to　sniff　the　air。　She　waded　through　the　deeper　water　to　get　round　a　rocky　bluff　which　ran　out　into　the　creek。　Then　she　turned　and　called　the　little　one。　The　fawn　waded　until　the　water　reached　its　knees；　then　stopped　and　uttered　piteous　little　bleats。　Encouraged　by　the　soft　crooning　it　plunged　into　the　deep　water　and　with　great　splashing　and　floundering　managed　to　swim　the　short　distance。　Its　slender　legs　shook　as　it　staggered　up　the　bank。　Exhausted　or　frightened；　it　shrank　close　to　its　mother。　Together　they　disappeared　in　the　willows　which　fringed　the　side　of　the　hill。

〃Was　not　that　little　fellow　cute？　I　have　had　several　fawns；　but　have　never　had　the　heart　to　keep　them；〃　said　Betty。　Then；　as　Alfred　made　no　motion　to　speak；　she　continued：

〃You　do　not　seem　very　talkative。〃

〃I　have　nothing　to　say。　You　will　think　me　dull。　The　fact　is　when　I　feel　deepest　I　am　least　able　to　express　myself。〃

〃I　will　read　to　you。〃　said　Betty　taking　up　the　book。　He　lay　back　against　the　grassy　bank　and　gazed　dreamily　at　the　many　hued　trees　on　the　little　hillside；　at　the　bare　rugged　sides　of　McColloch's　Rock　which　frowned　down　upon　them。　A　silver…breasted　eagle　sailed　slowly　round　and　round　in　the　blue　sky；　far　above　the　bluff。　Alfred　wondered　what　mysterious　power　sustained　that　solitary　bird　as　he　floated　high　in　the　air　without　perceptible　movement　of　his　broad　wings。　He　envied　the　king　of　birds　his　reign　over　that　illimitable　space；　his　far…reaching　vision；　and　his　freedom。　Round　and　round　the　eagle　soared；　higher　and　higher；　with　each　perfect　circle；　and　at　last；　for　an　instant　poising　as　lightly　as　if　he　were　about　to　perch　on　his　lonely　crag；　he　arched　his　wings　and　swooped　down　through　the　air　with　the　swiftness　of　a　falling　arrow。

Betty's　low　voice；　the　water　rushing　so　musically　over　the　falls；　the　great　yellow　leaves　falling　into　the　pool；　the　gentle　breeze　stirring　the　clusters　of　goldenrodall　came　softly　to　Alfred　as　he　lay　there　with　half　closed　eyes。

The　time　slipped　swiftly　by　as　only　such　time　can。

〃I　fear　the　melancholy　spirit　of　the　day　has　prevailed　upon　you；〃　said　Betty；　half　wistfully。　〃You　did　not　know　I　had　stopped　reading；　and　I　do　not　believe　you　heard　my　favorite　poem。　I　have　tried　to　give　you　a　pleasant　afternoon　and　have　failed。〃

〃No；　no；〃　said　Alfred；　looking　at　her　with　a　blue　flame　in　his　eyes。　〃The　afternoon　has　been　perfect。　I　have　forgotten　my　role；　and　have　allowed　you　to　see　my　real　self；　something　I　have　tried　to　hide　from　all。〃

〃And　are　you　always　sad　when　you　are　sincere？〃

〃Not　always。　But　I　am　often　sad。　Is　it　any　wonder？　Is　not　all　nature　sad？　Listen！　There　is　the　song　of　the　oriole。　Breaking　in　on　the　stillness　it　is　mournful。　The　breeze　is　sad；　the　brook　is　sad；　this　dying　Indian　summer　day　is　sad。　Life　itself　is　sad。〃

〃Oh；　no。　Life　is　beautiful。〃

〃You　are　a　child；〃　said　he；　with　a　thrill　in　his　deep　voice　〃I　hope　you　may　always　be　as　you　are　to…day；　in　heart；　at　least。〃

〃It　grows　late。　See；　the　shadows　are　falling。　We　must　go。〃

〃You　know　I　am　going　away　to…morrow。　I　don't　want　to　go。　Perhaps　that　is　why　I　have　been　such　poor　company　today。　I　have　a　presentiment　of　evil　I　am　afraid　I　may　never　come　back。〃

〃I　am　sorry　you　must　go。〃

〃Do　you　really　mean　that？〃　asked　Alfred；　earnestly；　bending　toward　her　〃You　know　it　is　a　very　dangerous　undertaking。　Would　you　care　if　I　never　returned？〃

She　looked　up　and　their　eyes　met。　She　had　raised　her　head　haughtily；　as　if　questioning　his　right　to　speak　to　her　in　that　manner；　but　as　she　saw　the　unspoken　appeal　in　his　eyes　her　own　wavered　and　fell　while　a　warm　color　crept　into　her　cheek。

〃Yes；　I　would　be　sorry；〃　she　said；　gravely。　Then；　after　a　moment：　〃You　must　portage　the　canoe　round　the　falls；　and　from　there　we　can　paddle　back　to　the　path。〃

The　return　trip　made；　they　approached　the　house。　As　they　turned　the　corner　they　saw　Colonel　Zane　standing　at　the　door　talking　to　Wetzel。

They　saw　that　the　Colonel　looked　pale　and　distressed；　and　the　face　of　the　hunter　was　dark　and　gloomy。

〃Lew；　did　you　get　my　turkey？〃　said　Betty；　after　a　moment　of　hesitation。　A　nameless　fear　filled　her　breast。

For　answer　Wetzel　threw　back　the　flaps　of　his　coat　and　there　at　his　belt　hung　a　small　tuft　of　black　hair。　Betty　knew　at　once　it　was　the　scalp…lock　of　an　Indian。　Her　face　turned　white　and　she　placed　a　hand　on　the　hunter's　arm。

〃What　do　you　mean？　That　is　an　Indian's　scalp。　Lew；　you　look　so　strange。　Tell　me；　is　it　because　we　went　off　in　the　canoe　and　have　been　in　danger？〃

〃Betty；　Isaac　has　been　captured　again；〃　said　the　Colonel。

〃Oh；　no；　no；　no；〃　cried　Betty　in　agonized　tones；　and　wringing　her　hands。　Then；　excitedly；　〃Something　can　be　done；　you　must　pursue　them。　Oh；　Lew；　Mr。　Clarke；　cannot　you　rescue　him？　They　have　not　had　time　to　go　far。〃

〃Isaac　went　to　the　chestnut　grove　this　morning。　If　he　had　stayed　there　he　would　not　have　been　captured。　But　he　went　far　into　the　Black　Forest。　The　turkey　call　we　heard　across　the　creek　was　made　by　a　Wyandot　concealed　in　the　cave。　Lewis　tells　me　that　a　number　of　Indians　have　camped　there　for　days。　He　shot　the　one　who　was　calling　and　followed　the　others　until　he　found　where　they　had　taken　Isaac's　trail。〃

Betty　turned　to　the　younger　man　with　tearful　eyes；　and　with　beseeching　voice　implored　them　to　save　her　brother。

〃I　am　ready　to　follow　you；〃　said　Clarke　to　Wetzel。

The　hunter　shook　his　head；　but　did　not　answer。

〃It　is　that　hateful　White　Crane；〃　passionately　burst　out　Betty；　as　the　Colonel's　wife　led　her　weeping　into　the　house。

〃Did　you　get　more　than　one　shot　at　them？〃　asked　Clarke。

The　hunter　nodded；　and　the　slight；　inscrutable　smile　flitted　across　his　stern　features。　He　never　spoke　of　his　deeds。　For　this　reason　many　of　the　thrilling　adventures　which　he　must　have　had　will　forever　remain　unrevealed。　That　evening　there　was　sadness　at　Colonel　Zane's　supper　table。　They　felt　the　absence　of　the　Colonel's　usual　spirits；　his　teasing　of　Betty；　and　his　cheerful　conversation。　He　had　nothing　to　say。　Betty　sat　at　the　table　a　little　while；　and　then　got　up　and　left　the　room　saying　she　could　not　eat。　Jonathan；　on　hearing　of　his　brother's　recapture；　did　not　speak；　but　retired　in　gloomy　silence。　Silas　was　the　only　one　of　the　family　who　was　not　utterly　depressed。　He　said　it　could　have　been　a　great　deal　worse；　that　they　must　make　the　best　of　it；　and　that　the　sooner　Isaac　married　his　Indian　Princess　the　better　for　his　scalp　and　for　the　happiness　of　all　concerned。

〃I　remember　Myeerah　very　well；〃　he　said