betty zane-第45节

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〃And；　little　girl；　you　want　me　to　shoot　fer　you；〃　said　Lewis。

〃Yes；　Lew；　please　come　and　shoot　for　me。〃

It　was　said　of　Wetzel　that　he　never　wasted　powder。　He　never　entered　into　the　races　and　shooting…matches　of　the　settlers；　yet　it　was　well　known　that　he　was　the　fleetest　runner　and　the　most　unerring　shot　on　the　frontier。　Therefore；　it　was　with　surprise　and　pleasure　that　Col。　Zane　heard　the　hunter　say　he　guessed　he　would　like　one　shot　anyway。

Miller　looked　on　with　a　grim　smile。　He　knew　that；　Wetzel　or　no　Wetzel；　it　would　take　a　remarkably　clever　shot　to　beat　his。

〃This　shot's　for　Betty；〃　said　Wetzel　as　he　stepped　to　the　mark。　He　fastened　his　keen　eyes　on　the　stake。　At　that　distance　the　head　of　the　nail　looked　like　a　tiny　black　speck。　Wetzel　took　one　of　the　locks　of　hair　that　waved　over　his　broad　shoulders　and　held　it　up　in　front　of　his　eyes　a　moment。　He　thus　ascertained　that　there　was　not　any　perceptible　breeze。　The　long　black　barrel　started　slowly　to　riseit　seemed　to　the　interested　onlookers　that　it　would　never　reach　a　level　and　when；　at　last。　it　became　rigid；　there　was　a　single　second　in　which　man　and　rifle　appeared　as　if　carved　out　of　stone。　Then　followed　a　burst　of　red　flame；　a　puff　of　white　smoke；　a　clear　ringing　report。

Many　thought　the　hunter　had　missed　altogether。　It　seemed　that　the　nail　had　not　changed　its　position；　there　was　no　bullet　hole　in　the　white　lime　wash　that　had　been　smeared　round　the　nail。　But　on　close　inspection　the　nail　was　found　to　have　been　driven　to　its　head　in　the　wood。

〃A　wonderful　shot！〃　exclaimed　Col。　Zane。　〃Lewis；　I　don't　remember　having　seen　the　like　more　than　once　or　twice　in　my　life。〃

Wetzel　made　no　answer。　He　moved　away　to　his　former　position　and　commenced　to　reload　his　rifle。　Betty　came　running　up　to　him；　holding　in　her　hand　the　prize　bullet　pouch。

〃Oh；　Lew；　if　I　dared　I　would　kiss　you。　It　pleases　me　more　for　you　to　have　won　my　prize　than　if　any　one　else　had　won　it。　And　it　was　the　finest；　straightest　shot　ever　made。〃

〃Betty；　it's　a　little　fancy　for　redskins；　but　it'll　be　a　keepsake；〃　answered　Lewis；　his　eyes　reflecting　the　bright　smile　on　her　face。

Friendly　rivalry　in　feats　that　called　for　strength；　speed　and　daring　was　the　diversion　of　the　youth　of　that　period；　and　the　pioneers　conducted　this　good…natured　but　spirited　sport　strictly　on　its　merits。　Each　contestant　strove　his　utmost　to　outdo　his　opponent。　It　was　hardly　to　be　expected　that　Alfred　would　carry　off　any　of　the　laurels。　Used　as　he　had　been　to　comparative　idleness　he　was　no　match　for　the　hardy　lads　who　had　been　brought　up　and　trained　to　a　life　of　action；　wherein　a　ten　mile　walk　behind　a　plow；　or　a　cord　of　wood　chopped　in　a　day；　were　trifles。　Alfred　lost　in　the　foot…race　and　the　sackrace；　but　by　dint　of　exerting　himself　to　the　limit　of　his　strength；　he　did　manage　to　take　one　fall　out　of　the　best　wrestler。　He　was　content　to　stop　here；　and；　throwing　himself　on　the　grass；　endeavored　to　recover　his　breath。　He　felt　happier　today　than　for　some　time　past。　Twice　during　the　afternoon　he　had　met　Betty's　eyes　and　the　look　he　encountered　there　made　his　heart　stir　with　a　strange　feeling　of　fear　and　hope。　While　he　was　ruminating　on　what　had　happened　between　Betty　and　himself　he　allowed　his　eyes　to　wander　from　one　person　to　another。　When　his　gaze　alighted　on　Wetzel　it　became　riveted　there。　The　hunter's　attitude　struck　him　as　singular。　Wetzel　had　his　face　half　turned　toward　the　boys　romping　near　him　and　he　leaned　carelessly　against　a　white　oak　tree。　But　a　close　observer　would　have　seen；　as　Alfred　did；　that　there　was　a　certain　alertness　in　that　rigid　and　motionless　figure。　Wetzel's　eyes　were　fixed　on　the　western　end　of　the　island。　Almost　involuntarily　Alfred's　eyes　sought　the　same　direction。　The　western　end　of　the　island　ran　out　into　a　long　low　point　covered　with　briars；　rushes　and　saw…grass。　As　Alfred　directed　his　gaze　along　the　water　line　of　this　point　he　distinctly　saw　a　dark　form　flit　from　one　bush　to　another。　He　was　positive　he　had　not　been　mistaken。　He　got　up　slowly　and　unconcernedly；　and　strolled　over　to　Wetzel。

〃Wetzel；　I　saw　an　object　just　now；〃　he　said　in　a　low　tone。　〃It　was　moving　behind　those　bushes　at　the　head　of　the　island。　I　am　not　sure　whether　it　was　an　animal　or　an　Indian。〃

〃Injuns。　Go　back　and　be　natur'l　like。　Don't　say　nothin'　and　watch　Miller；〃　whispered　Wetzel。

Much　perturbed　by　the　developments　of　the　last　few　moments；　and　wondering　what　was　going　to　happen；　Alfred　turned　away。　He　had　scarcely　reached　the　others　when　he　heard　Betty's　voice　raised　in　indignant　protest。

〃I　tell　you　I　did　swim　my　pony　across　the　river；〃　cried　Betty。　〃It　was　just　even　with　that　point　and　the　river　was　higher　than　it　is　now。〃

〃You　probably　overestimated　your　feat；〃　said　Miller；　with　his　disagreeable；　doubtful　smile。　〃I　have　seen　the　river　so　low　that　it　could　be　waded；　and　then　it　would　be　a　very　easy　matter　to　cross。　But　now　your　pony　could　not　swim　half　the　distance。〃

〃I'll　show　you；〃　answered　Betty；　her　black　eyes　flashing。　She　put　her　foot　in　the　stirrup　and　leaped　on　Madcap。

〃Now；　Betty；　don't　try　that　foolish　ride　again；〃　implored　Mrs。　Zane。　〃What　do　you　care　whether　strangers　believe　or　not？　Eb；　make　her　come　back。〃

Col。　Bane　only　laughed　and　made　no　attempt　to　detain　Betty。　He　rather　indulged　her　caprices。

〃Stop　her！〃　cried　Clarke。

〃Betty；　where　are　you　goin'？〃　said　Wetzel；　grabbing　at　Madcap's　bridle。　But　Betty　was　too　quick　for　him。　She　avoided　the　hunter；　and　with　a　saucy　laugh　she　wheeled　the　fiery　little　pony　and　urged　her　over　the　bank。　Almost　before　any　one　could　divine　her　purpose　she　had　Madcap　in　the　water　up　to　her　knees。

〃Betty；　stop！〃　cried　Wetzel。

She　paid　no　attention　to　his　call。　In　another　moment　the　pony　would　be　off　the　shoal　and　swimming。

〃Stop！　Turn　back；　Betty；　or　I'll　shoot　the　pony；〃　shouted　Wetzel；　and　this　time　there　was　a　ring　of　deadly　earnestness　in　his　voice。　With　the　words　he　had　cocked　and　thrown　forward　the　long　rifle。

Betty　heard；　and　in　alarm　she　turned　her　pony。　She　looked　up　with　great　surprise　and　concern；　for　she　knew　Wetzel　was　not　one　to　trifle。

〃For　God's　sake！〃　exclaimed　Colonel　Zane；　looking　in　amazement　at　the　hunter's　face；　which　was　now　white　and　stern。

〃Why；　Lew；　you　do　not　mean　you　would　shoot　Madcap？〃　said　Betty；　reproachfully；　as　she　reached　the　shore。

All　present　in　that　watching　crowd　were　silent；　awaiting　the　hunter's　answer。　They　felt　that　mysterious　power　which　portends　the　revelation　of　strange　events。　Col。　Zane　and　Jonathan　knew　the　instant　they　saw　Wetzel　that　something　extraordinary　was　coming。　His　face　had　grown　cold　and　gray；　his　lips　were　tightly　compressed；　his　eyes　dilated　and　shone　with　a　peculiar　lustre。

〃Where　were　you　headin'　your　pony？〃　asked　Wetzel。

〃I　wanted　to　reach　that　point　where　the　water　is　shallow；〃　answered　Betty。

〃That's　what　I　thought。　Well；　Betty；　hostile　Injuns　are　hidin'　and　waitin'　fer　you　in　them　high　rushes　right　where　you　were　makin'　fer；〃　said　Wetzel。　Then　he　shouldered　his　rifle　and　walked　rapidly　away。

〃Oh；　he　cannot　be　serious！〃　cried　Betty。　〃Oh；　how　foolish　am　I。〃

〃Get　back　up　from　the　river；　everybody；〃　commanded　Col。　Zane。

〃Col。　Zane；〃　said　Clarke；　walking　beside　the　Colonel　up　the　bank；　〃I　saw　Wetzel　watching　the　island　in　a　manner　that　I　thought　odd；　under　the　circumstances；　and　I　watched　too。　Presently　I　saw　a　dark　form　dart　behind　a　bush。　I　went　over　and　told　Wetzel；　and　he　said　there　were　Indians　on　the　island。〃

〃This　is　most　dn　strange；〃　said　Col。　Zane；　frowning　heavily。　〃Wetzel's　suspicions；　Miller　turns　up；　teases　Betty　attempting　that　foolhardy　trick；　and　thenIndians！　It　may　be　a　coincidence；　but　it　looks　bad。〃

〃Col。　Zane；　don't　you　think　Wetzel　may　be　mistaken？〃　said　Miller；　coming　up。　〃I　came　over　from　the　other　side　this　morning　and　I　did　not　see　any　Indian　sign。　Probably　Wetzel　has　caused　needless　excitement。〃

〃It　does　not　follow　that　because　you　came　from　over　the　river　there　are　no　Indians　there；〃　answered　Col。　Zane；　sharply。　〃Do　you　presume　to　criticise　Wetzel's　judgment？〃

〃I　saw　an　Indian！〃　cried　Clarke；　facing　Miller　with　blazing　eyes。　〃And　if　you　say　I　did　not；　you　lie！　What　is　more；　I　believe　you　know　more　than　any　one　else　about　it。　I　watched　you。　I　saw　you　were　uneasy　and　that　you　looked　across　the　river　from　time　to　time。　Perhaps　you　had　better　explain　to　Col。　Zane　the　reason　you　taunted　his　sister　into　attempting　that　ride。〃

With　a　snarl　more　like　that　of　a　tiger　than　of　a　human　being；　Miller　sprang　at　Clarke。　His　face　was　dark　with　malignant　hatred；　as　he　reached　for　and　drew　an　ugly　knife。　There　were　cries　of　fright　from　the　children　and　screams　from　the　women。　Alfred　stepped　aside　with　the　wonderful　quickness　of　the　trained　boxer　and　shot　out　his　right　arm。　His　fist　caught　Miller　a　hard　blow　on　the　head；　knocking　him　down　and　sending　the　knife　flying　in　the　air。

It　had　all　happened　so　quickly　that　everyone　was　as　if　paralyzed。　The　settlers　stood　still　and　watched　Miller　rise　slowly　to　his　feet。

〃Give　me　my　knife！〃　he　cried　hoarsely。　The　knife　had　fallen　at　the　feet　of　Major　McColloch；　who　had　concealed　it　with　his　foot。

〃Let　this　end　right　here；〃　ordered　Col。　Zane。　〃Clarke；　you　have　made　a　very　strong　statement。