betty zane-第40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！


　in　the　air。　Again　that　shrill　screeching　yell　came　floating　to　the　ears　of　the　astonished　Indians。

The　prisoner　had　seen　that　horse　and　rider　before；　he　had　heard　that　long　yell；　his　heart　bounded　with　hope。　The　Indians　knew　that　yell；　it　was　the　terrible　war…cry　of　the　Hurons。

A　horse　followed　closely　after　the　leader；　and　then　another　appeared　on　the　crest　of　the　hill。　Then　came　two　abreast；　and　then　four　abreast；　and　now　the　hill　was　black　with　plunging　horses。　They　galloped　swiftly　down　the　slope　and　into　the　narrow　street　of　the　village。　When　the　black　horse　entered　the　oval　the　train　of　racing　horses　extended　to　the　top　of　the　ridge。　The　plumes　of　the　riders　streamed　gracefully　on　the　breeze；　their　feathers　shone；　their　weapons　glittered　in　the　bright　sunlight。

Never　was　there　more　complete　surprise。　In　the　earlier　morning　the　Hurons　had　crept　up　to　within　a　rifle　shot　of　the　encampment；　and　at　an　opportune　moment　when　all　the　scouts　and　runners　were　round　the　torture…stake；　they　had　reached　the　hillside　from　which　they　rode　into　the　village　before　the　inhabitants　knew　what　had　happened。　Not　an　Indian　raised　a　weapon。　There　were　screams　from　the　women　and　children；　a　shouted　command　from　Big　Tree；　and　then　all　stood　still　and　waited。

Thundercloud；　the　war　chief　of　the　Wyandots；　pulled　his　black　stallion　back　on　his　haunches　not　twenty　feet　from　the　prisoner　at　the　stake。　His　band　of　painted　devils　closed　in　behind　him。　Full　two　hundred　strong　were　they　and　all　picked　warriors　tried　and　true。　They　were　naked　to　the　waist。　Across　their　brawny　chests　ran　a　broad　bar　of　flaming　red　paint；　hideous　designs　in　black　and　white　covered　their　faces。　Every　head　had　been　clean…shaven　except　where　the　scalp　lock　bristled　like　a　porcupine's　quills。　Each　warrior　carried　a　plumed　spear；　a　tomahawk；　and　a　rifle。　The　shining　heads；　with　the　little　tufts　of　hair　tied　tightly　close　to　the　scalp；　were　enough　to　show　that　these　Indians　were　on　the　war…path。

From　the　back　of　one　of　the　foremost　horses　a　slender　figure　dropped　and　darted　toward　the　prisoner　at　the　stake。　Surely　that　wildly　flying　hair　proved　this　was　not　a　warrior。　Swift　as　a　flash　of　light　this　figure　reached　the　stake；　the　blazing　fagots　scattered　right　and　left；　a　naked　blade　gleamed；　the　thongs　fell　from　the　prisoner's　wrists；　and　the　front　ranks　of　the　Hurons　opened　and　closed　on　the　freed　man。　The　deliverer　turned　to　the　gaping　Indians；　disclosing　to　their　gaze　the　pale　and　beautiful　face　of　Myeerah；　the　Wyandot　Princes。

〃Summon　your　chief；〃　she　commanded。

The　tall　form　of　the　Seneca　chief　moved　from　among　the　warriors　and　with　slow　and　measured　tread　approached　the　maiden。　His　bearing　fitted　the　leader　of　five　nations　of　Indians。　It　was　of　one　who　knew　that　he　was　the　wisest　of　chiefs；　the　hero　of　a　hundred　battles。　Who　dared　beard　him　in　his　den？　Who　dared　defy　the　greatest　power　in　all　Indian　tribes？　When　he　stood　before　the　maiden　he　folded　his　arms　and　waited　for　her　to　speak。

〃Myeerah　claims　the　White　Eagle；〃　she　said。

Cornplanter　did　not　answer　at　once。　He　had　never　seek　Myeerah；　though　he　had　heard　many　stories　of　her　loveliness。　Now　he　was　face　to　face　with　the　Indian　Princess　whose　fame　had　been　the　theme　of　many　an　Indian　romance；　and　whose　beauty　had　been　sung　of　in　many　an　Indian　song。　The　beautiful　girl　stood　erect　and　fearless。　Her　disordered　garments；　torn　and　bedraggled　and　stained　from　the　long　ride；　ill…concealed　the　grace　of　her　form。　Her　hair　rippled　from　the　uncovered　head　and　fell　in　dusky　splendor　over　her　shoulders；　her　dark　eyes　shone　with　a　stern　and　steady　fire：　her　bosom　swelled　with　each　deep　breath。　She　was　the　daughter　of　great　chiefs；　she　looked　the　embodiment　of　savage　love。

〃The　Huron　squaw　is　brave；〃　said　Cornplanter。　〃By　what　right　does　she　come　to　free　my　captive？〃

〃He　is　an　adopted　Wyandot。〃

〃Why　does　the　paleface　hide　like　a　fox　near　the　camp　of　Cornplanter？〃

〃He　ran　away。　He　lost　the　trail　to　the　Fort　on　the　river。〃

〃Cornplanter　takes　prisoners　to　kill；　not　to　free。〃

〃If　you　will　not　give　him　up　Myeerah　will　take　him；〃　she　answered；　pointing　to　the　long　line　of　mounted　warriors。　〃And　should　harm　befall　Tarhe's　daughter　it　will　be　avenged。〃

Cornplanter　looked　at　Thundercloud。　Well　he　knew　that　chief's　prowess　in　the　field。　He　ran　his　eyes　over　the　silent；　watching　Hurons；　and　then　back　to　the　sombre　face　of　their　leader。　Thundercloud　sat　rigid　upon　his　stallion；　his　head　held　high；　every　muscle　tense　and　strong　for　instant　action。　He　was　ready　and　eager　for　the　fray。　He；　and　every　one　of　his　warriors；　would　fight　like　a　thousand　tigers　for　their　Princessthe　pride　of　the　proud　race　of　Wyandots。　Cornplanter　saw　this　and　he　felt　that　on　the　eve　of　important　marches　he　dared　not　sacrifice　one　of　his　braves　for　any　reason；　much　less　a　worthless　pale　face；　and　yet　to　let　the　prisoner　go　galled　the　haughty　spirit　of　the　Seneca　chief。

〃The　Long　Knife　is　not　worth　the　life　of　one　of　my　dogs；〃　he　said；　with　scorn　in　his　deep　voice。　〃If　Cornplanter　willed　he　could　drive　the　Hurons　before　him　like　leaves　before　the　storm。　Let　Myeerah　take　the　pale　face　back　to　her　wigwam　and　there　feed　him　and　make　a　squaw　of　him。　When　he　stings　like　a　snake　in　the　grass　remember　the　chief's　words。　Cornplanter　turns　on　his　heel　from　the　Huron　maiden　who　forgets　her　blood。〃

　　　　*　*　*　*　*　*　*　*　*　*　*　*　*　*　*　*

When　the　sun　reached　its　zenith　it　shone　down　upon　a　long　line　of　mounted　Indians　riding　single　file　along　the　narrow　trail　and　like　a　huge　serpent　winding　through　the　forest　and　over　the　plain。

They　were　Wyandot　Indians；　and　Isaac　Zane　rode　among　them。　Freed　from　the　terrible　fate　which　had　menaced　him；　and　knowing　that　he　was　once　more　on　his　way　to　the　Huron　encampment；　he　had　accepted　his　destiny　and　quarreled　no　more　with　fate。　He　was　thankful　beyond　all　words　for　his　rescue　from　the　stake。

Coming　to　a　clear；　rapid　stream；　the　warriors　dismounted　and　rested　while　their　horses　drank　thirstily　of　the　cool　water。　An　Indian　touched　Isaac　on　the　arm　and　silently　pointed　toward　the　huge　maple　tree　under　which　Thundercloud　and　Myeerah　were　sitting。　Isaac　turned　his　horse　and　rode　the　short　distance　intervening。　When　he　got　near　he　saw　that　Myeerah　stood　with　one　arm　over　her　pony's　neck。　She　raised　eyes　that　were　weary　and　sad；　which　yet　held　a　lofty　and　noble　resolve。

〃White　Eagle；　this　stream　leads　straight　to　the　Fort　on　the　river；〃　she　said　briefly；　almost　coldly。　〃Follow　it；　and　when　the　sun　reaches　the　top　of　yonder　hill　you　will　be　with　your　people。　Go；　you　are　free。〃

She　turned　her　face　away。　Isaac's　head　whirled　in　his　amazement。　He　could　not　believe　his　ears。　He　looked　closely　at　her　and　saw　that　though　her　face　was　calm　her　throat　swelled；　and　the　hand　which　lay　over　the　neck　of　her　pony　clenched　the　bridle　in　a　fierce　grasp。　Isaac　glanced　at　Thundercloud　and　the　other　Indians　near　by。　They　sat　unconcerned　with　the　invariable　unreadable　expression。

〃Myeerah；　what　do　you　mean？〃　asked　Isaac。

〃The　words　of　Cornplanter　cut　deep　into　the　heart　of　Myeerah；〃　she　answered　bitterly。　〃They　were　true。　The　Eagle　does　not　care　for　Myeerah。　She　shall　no　longer　keep　him　in　a　cage。　He　is　free　to　fly　away。〃

〃The　Eagle　does　not　want　his　freedom。　I　love　you；　Myeerah。　You　have　saved　me　and　I　am　yours。　If　you　will　go　home　with　me　and　marry　me　there　as　my　people　are　married　I　will　go　back　to　the　Wyandot　village。〃

Myeerah's　eyes　softened　with　unutterable　love。　With　a　quick　cry　she　was　in　his　arms。　After　a　few　moments　of　forgetfulness　Myeerah　spoke　to　Thundercloud　and　waved　her　hand　toward　the　west。　The　chief　swung　himself　over　his　horse；　shouted　a　single　command；　and　rode　down　the　bank　into　the　water。　His　warriors　followed　him；　wading　their　horses　into　the　shallow　creek；　with　never　backward　look。　When　the　last　rider　had　disappeared　in　the　willows　the　lovers　turned　their　horses　eastward。



CHAPTER　X。

It　was　near　the　close　of　a　day　in　early　summer。　A　small　group　of　persons　surrounded　Col。　Zane　where　he　sat　on　his　doorstep。　From　time　to　time　he　took　the　long　Indian　pipe　from　his　mouth　and　blew　great　clouds　of　smoke　over　his　head。　Major　McColloch　and　Capt。　Boggs　were　there。　Silas　Zane　half　reclined　on　the　grass。　The　Colonel's　wife　stood　in　the　door…way；　and　Betty　sat　on　the　lower　step　with　her　head　leaning　against　her　brother's　knee。　They　all　had　grave　faces。　Jonathan　Zane　had　returned　that　day　after　an　absence　of　three　weeks；　and　was　now　answering　the　many　questions　with　which　he　was　plied。

〃Don't　ask　me　any　more　and　I'll　tell　you　the　whole　thing；〃　he　had　just　said；　while　wiping　the　perspiration　from　his　brow。　His　face　was　worn；　his　beard　ragged　and　unkempt；　his　appearance　suggestive　of　extreme　fatigue。　〃It　was　this　way：　Colonel　Crawford　had　four　hundred　and　eighty　men　under　him；　with　Slover　and　me　acting　as　guides。　This　was　a　large　force　of　men　and　comprised　soldiers　from　Pitt　and　the　other　forts　and　settlers　from　all　along　the　river。　You　see；　Crawford　wanted　to　crush　the　Shawnees　at　one　blow。　When　we　reached　the　Sandusky　River；　which　we　did　after　an　arduous　march；　not　one　Indian　did　we　see。　You　know　Crawford　expected　to　surprise　the　Shawnee　camp；　and　when　he　found　it　deserted　he　didn't　know　w