betty zane-第44节

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〃Will　the　girls　have　a　chance　in　these　races？〃　asked　Isaac。　〃If　so；　I　should　like　to　see　Betty　and　Myeerah　run。〃

〃Betty　can　outrun　any　woman；　red　or　white；　on　the　border；〃　said　Wetzel。　〃And　she　could　make　some　of　the　men　run　their　level　best。〃

〃Well；　perhaps　we　shall　give　her　one　opportunity　to…morrow；〃　observed　the　Colonel。　〃She　used　to　be　good　at　running　but　it　seems　to　me　that　of　late　she　has　taken　to　books　and〃

〃Oh；　Eb！　that　is　untrue；〃　interrupted　Betty。

Col。　Zane　laughed　and　patted　his　sister's　cheek。　〃Never　mind；　Betty；〃　and　then；　rising；　he　continued；　〃Now　let　us　drink　to　the　bride　and　groom…to…be。　Capt。　Boggs；　I　call　on　you。〃

〃We　drink　to　the　bride's　fair　beauty；　we　drink　to　the　groom's　good　luck；〃　said　Capt。　Boggs；　raising　his　cup。

〃Do　not　forget　the　maid…of…honor；〃　said　Isaac。

〃Yes；　and　the　maid…of…honor。　Mr。　Clarke；　will　you　say　something　appropriate？〃　asked　Col。　Zane。

Rising；　Clarke　said：　〃I　would　be　glad　to　speak　fittingly　on　this　occasion；　but　I　do　not　think　I　can　do　it　justice。　I　believe　as　Col。　Zane　does；　that　this　Indian　Princess　is　the　first　link　in　that　chain　of　peace　which　will　some　day　unite　the　red　men　and　the　white　men。　Instead　of　the　White　Crane　she　should　be　called　the　White　Dove。　Gentlemen；　rise　and　drink　to　her　long　life　and　happiness。〃

The　toast　was　drunk。　Then　Clarke　refilled　his　cup　and　holding　it　high　over　his　head　he　looked　at　Betty。

〃Gentlemen；　to　the　maid…of…honor。　Miss　Zane；　your　health；　your　happiness；　in　this　good　old　wine。〃

〃I　thank　you；〃　murmured　Betty　with　downcast　eyes。　〃I　bid　you　all　good…night。　Come；　Myeerah。〃

Once　more　alone　with　Betty；　the　Indian　girl　turned　to　her　with　eyes　like　twin　stars。

〃My　sister　has　made　me　very　happy；〃　whispered　Myeerah　in　her　soft；　low　voice。　〃Myeerah's　heart　is　full。〃

〃I　believe　you　are　happy；　for　I　know　you　love　Isaac　dearly。〃

〃Myeerah　has　always　loved　him。　She　will　love　his　sister。〃

〃And　I　will　love　you；〃　said　Betty。　〃I　will　love　you　because　you　have　saved　him。　Ah！　Myeerah；　yours　has　been　wonderful；　wonderful　love。〃

〃My　sister　is　loved；〃　whispered　Myeerah。　〃Myeerah　saw　the　look　in　the　eyes　of　the　great　hunter。　It　was　the　sad　light　of　the　moon　on　the　water。　He　loves　you。　And　the　other　looked　at　my　sister　with　eyes　like　the　blue　of　northern　skies。　He；　too；　loves　you。〃

〃Hush！〃　whispered　Betty；　trembling　and　hiding　her　face。　〃Hush！　Myeerah；　do　not　speak　of　him。〃



CHAPTER　XI。

He　following　afternoon　the　sun　shone　fair　and　warm；　the　sweet　smell　of　the　tan…bark　pervaded　the　airs　and　the　birds　sang　their　gladsome　songs。　The　scene　before　the　grim　battle…scarred　old　fort　was　not　without　its　picturesqueness。　The　low　vine…covered　cabins　on　the　hill　side　looked　more　like　picture　houses　than　like　real　habitations　of　men；　the　mill　with　its　burned…out　roofa　reminder　of　the　Indiansand　its　great　wheel；　now　silent　and　still；　might　have　been　from　its　lonely　and　dilapidated　appearance　a　hundred　years　old。

On　a　little　knoll　carpeted　with　velvety　grass　sat　Isaac　and　his　Indian　bride。　He　had　selected　this　vantage　point　because　it　afforded　a　fine　view　of　the　green　square　where　the　races　and　the　matches　were　to　take　place。　Admiring　women　stood　around　him　and　gazed　at　his　wife。　They　gossiped　in　whispers　about　her　white　skin；　her　little　hands；　her　beauty。　The　girls　stared　with　wide　open　and　wondering　eyes。　The　youngsters　ran　round　and　round　the　little　group；　they　pushed　each　other　over；　and　rolled　in　the　long　grass；　and　screamed　with　delight

It　was　to　be　a　gala　occasion　and　every　man；　woman　and　child　in　the　settlement　had　assembled　on　the　green。　Col。　Zane　and　Sam　were　planting　a　post　in　the　center　of　the　square。　It　was　to　be　used　in　the　shooting　matches。　Capt。　Boggs　and　Major　McColloch　were　arranging　the　contestants　in　order。　Jonathan　Zane；　Will　Martin；　Alfred　Clarkeall　the　young　men　were　carefully　charging　and　priming　their　rifles。　Betty　was　sitting　on　the　black　stallion　which　Col。　Zane　had　generously　offered　as　first　prize。　She　was　in　the　gayest　of　moods　and　had　just　coaxed　Isaac　to　lift　her　on　the　tall　horse；　from　which　height　she　purposed　watching　the　sports。　Wetzel　alone　did　not　seem　infected　by　the　spirit　of　gladsomeness　which　pervaded。　He　stood　apart　leaning　on　his　long　rifle　and　taking　no　interest　in　the　proceedings　behind　him。　He　was　absorbed　in　contemplating　the　forest　on　the　opposite　shore　of　the　river。

〃Well；　boys；　I　guess　we　are　ready　for　the　fun；〃　called　Col。　Zane；　cheerily。　〃Only　one　shot　apiece；　mind　you；　except　in　case　of　a　tie。　Now；　everybody　shoot　his　best。〃

The　first　contest　was　a　shooting　match　known　as　〃driving　the　nail。〃　It　was　as　the　name　indicated；　nothing　less　than　shooting　at　the　head　of　a　nail。　In　the　absence　of　a　nailfor　nails　were　scarceone　was　usually　fashioned　from　a　knife　blade；　or　an　old　file；　or　even　a　piece　of　silver。　The　nail　was　driven　lightly　into　the　stake；　the　contestants　shot　at　it　from　a　distance　as　great　as　the　eyesight　permitted。　To　drive　the　nail　hard　and　fast　into　the　wood　at　one　hundred　yards　was　a　feat　seldom　accomplished。　By　many　hunters　it　was　deemed　more　difficult　than　〃snuffing　the　candle；〃　another　border　pastime；　which　consisted　of　placing　in　the　dark　at　any　distance　a　lighted　candle；　and　then　putting　out　the　flame　with　a　single　rifle　ball。　Many　settlers；　particularly　those　who　handled　the　plow　more　than　the　rifle；　sighted　from　a　rest；　and　placed　a　piece　of　moss　under　the　rife…barrel　to　prevent　its　spring　at　the　discharge。

The　match　began。　Of　the　first　six　shooters　Jonathan　Zane　and　Alfred　Clarke　scored　the　best　shots。　Each　placed　a　bullet　in　the　half…inch　circle　round　the　nail。

〃Alfred；　very　good；　indeed；〃　said　Col。　Zane。　〃You　have　made　a　decided　improvement　since　the　last　shooting…match。〃

Six　other　settlers　took　their　turns。　All　were　unsuccessful　in　getting　a　shot　inside　the　little　circle。　Thus　a　tie　between　Alfred　and　Jonathan　had　to　be　decided。

〃Shoot　close；　Alfred；〃　yelled　Isaac。　〃I　hope　you　beat　him。　He　always　won　from　me　and　then　crowed　over　it。〃

Alfred's　second　shot　went　wide　of　the　mark；　and　as　Jonathan　placed　another　bullet　in　the　circle；　this　time　nearer　the　center；　Alfred　had　to　acknowledge　defeat。

〃Here　comes　Miller；〃　said　Silas　Zane。　〃Perhaps　he　will　want　a　try。〃

Col。　Zane　looked　round。　Miller　had　joined　the　party。　He　carried　his　rifle　and　accoutrements；　and　evidently　had　just　returned　to　the　settlement。　He　nodded　pleasantly　to　all。

〃Miller；　will　you　take　a　shot　for　the　first　prize；　which　I　was　about　to　award　to　Jonathan？〃　said　Col。　Zane。

〃No。　I　am　a　little　late；　and　not　entitled　to　a　shot。　I　will　take　a　try　for　the　others；〃　answered　Miller。

At　the　arrival　of　Miller　on　the　scene　Wetzel　had　changed　his　position　to　one　nearer　the　crowd。　The　dog；　Tige；　trotted　closely　at　his　heels。　No　one　heard　Tige's　low　growl　or　Wetzel's　stern　word　to　silence　him。　Throwing　his　arm　over　Betty's　pony；　Wetzel　apparently　watched　the　shooters。　In　reality　he　studied　intently　Miller's　every　movement。

〃I　expect　some　good　shooting　for　this　prize；〃　said　Col。　Zane；　waving　a　beautifully　embroidered　buckskin　bullet　pouch；　which　was　one　of　Betty's　donations。

Jonathan　having　won　his　prize　was　out　of　the　lists　and　could　compete　no　more。　This　entitled　Alfred　to　the　first　shot　for　second　prize。　He　felt　he　would　give　anything　he　possessed　to　win　the　dainty　trifle　which　the　Colonel　had　waved　aloft。　Twice　he　raised　his　rifle　in　his　exceeding　earnestness　to　score　a　good　shot　and　each　time　lowered　the　barrel。　When　finally　he　did　shoot　the　bullet　embedded　itself　in　the　second　circle。　It　was　a　good　shot；　but　he　knew　it　would　never　win　that　prize。

〃A　little　nervous；　eh？〃　remarked　Miller；　with　a　half　sneer　on　his　swarthy　face。

Several　young　settlers　followed　in　succession；　but　their　aims　were　poor。　Then　little　Harry　Bennet　took　his　stand。　Harry　had　won　many　prizes　in　former　matches；　and　many　of　the　pioneers　considered　him　one　of　the　best　shots　in　the　country

〃Only　a　few　more　after　you；　Harry；〃　said　Col。　Zane。　〃You　have　a　good　chance。〃

〃All　right；　Colonel。　That's　Betty's　prize　and　somebody'll　have　to　do　some　mighty　tall　shootin'　to　beat　me；〃　said　the　lad；　his　blue　eyes　flashing　as　he　toed　the　mark。

Shouts　and　cheers　of　approval　greeted　his　attempt。　The　bullet　had　passed　into　the　wood　so　close　to　the　nail　that　a　knife　blade　could　not　have　been　inserted　between。

Miller's　turn　came　next。　He　was　a　fine　marksman　and　he　knew　it。　With　the　confidence　born　of　long　experience　and　knowledge　of　his　weapon；　he　took　a　careful　though　quick　aim　and　fired。　He　turned　away　satisfied　that　he　would　carry　off　the　coveted　prize。　He　had　nicked　the　nail。

But　Miller　reckoned　without　his　host。　Betty　had　seen　the　result　of　his　shot　and　the　self…satisfied　smile　on　his　face。　She　watched　several　of　the　settlers　make　poor　attempts　at　the　nail；　and　then；　convinced　that　not　one　of　the　other　contestants　could　do　so　well　as　Miller；　she　slipped　off　the　horse　and　ran　around　to　where　Wetzel　was　standing　by　her　pony。

〃Lew；　I　believe　Miller　will　win　my　prize；〃　she　whispered；　placing　her　hand　on　the　hunter's　arm。　〃He　has　scratched　the　nail；　and　I　am　sure　no　one　except　you　can　do　better。　I　do　not　want　Miller　to　have　anything　of　mine。〃

〃And；　little　girl；　you　want　me　to　shoot　fe