betty zane-第51节

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All　this　time　Alfred　Clarke　was　recovering　his　health　and　strength。　The　day　came　when　he　was　able　to　leave　his　bed　and　sit　by　the　window。　How　glad　it　made　him　feel　to　look　out　on　the　green　woods　and　the　broad；　winding　river；　how　sweet　to　his　ears　were　the　songs　of　the　birds；　how　soothing　was　the　drowsy　hum　of　the　bees　in　the　fragrant　honeysuckle　by　his　window。　His　hold　on　life　had　been　slight　and　life　was　good。　He　smiled　in　pitying　derision　as　he　remembered　his　recklessness。　He　had　not　been　in　love　with　life。　In　his　gloomy　moods　he　had　often　thought　life　was　hardly　worth　the　living。　What　sickly　sentiment！　He　had　been　on　the　brink　of　the　grave；　but　he　had　been　snatched　back　from　the　dark　river　of　Death。　It　needed　but　this　to　show　him　the　joy　of　breathing；　the　glory　of　loving；　the　sweetness　of　living。　He　resolved　that　for　him　there　would　be　no　more　drifting；　no　more　purposelessness。　If　what　Wetzel　had　told　him　was　true；　if　he　really　had　not　loved　in　vain；　then　his　cup　of　happiness　was　overflowing。　Like　a　far…off　and　almost　forgotten　strain　of　music　some　memory　struggled　to　take　definite　shape　in　his　mind；　but　it　was　so　hazy；　so　vague；　so　impalpable；　that　he　could　remember　nothing　clearly。

Isaac　Zane　and　his　Indian　bride　called　on　Alfred　that　afternoon。

〃Alfred；　I　can't　tell　you　how　glad　I　am　to　see　you　up　again；〃　said　Isaac；　earnestly；　as　he　wrung　Alfred's　hand。　〃Say；　but　it　was　a　tight　squeeze！　It　has　been　a　bad　time　for　you。〃

Nothing　could　have　been　more　pleasing　than　Myeerah's　shy　yet　eloquent　greeting。　She　gave　Alfred　her　little　hand　and　said　in　her　figurative　style　of　speaking；　〃Myeerah　is　happy　for　you　and　for　others。　You　are　strong　like　the　West　Wind　that　never　dies。〃

〃Myeerah　and　I　are　going　this　afternoon；　and　we　came　over　to　say　good…bye　to　you。　We　intend　riding　down　the　river　fifteen　miles　and　then　crossing；　to　avoid　running　into　any　band　of　Indians。〃

〃And　how　does　Myeerah　like　the　settlement　by　this　time？〃

〃Oh；　she　is　getting　on　famously。　Betty　and　she　have　fallen　in　love　with　each　other。　It　is　amusing　to　hear　Betty　try　to　talk　in　the　Wyandot　tongue；　and　to　see　Myeerah's　consternation　when　Betty　gives　her　a　lesson　in　deportment。〃

〃I　rather　fancy　it　would　be　interesting；　too。　Are　you　not　going　back　to　the　Wyandots　at　a　dangerous　time？〃

〃As　to　that　I　can't　say。　I　believe；　though；　it　is　better　that　I　get　back　to　Tarhe's　camp　before　we　have　any　trouble　with　the　Indians。　I　am　anxious　to　get　there　before　Girty　or　some　of　his　agents。〃

〃Well；　if　you　must　go；　good　luck　to　you；　and　may　we　meet　again。

〃It　will　not　be　long；　I　am　sure。　And；　old　man；〃　he　continued；　with　a　bright　smile；　〃when　Myeerah　and　I　come　again　to　Ft。　Henry　we　expect　to　find　all　well　with　you。　Cheer　up；　and　good…bye。〃

All　the　preparations　had　been　made　for　the　departure　of　Isaac　and　Myeerah　to　their　far…off　Indian　home。　They　were　to　ride　the　Indian　ponies　on　which　they　had　arrived　at　the　Fort。　Col。　Zane　had　given　Isaac　one　of　his　pack　horses。　This　animal　carried　blankets；　clothing；　and　food　which　insured　comparative　comfort　in　the　long　ride　through　the　wilderness。

〃We　will　follow　the　old　trail　until　we　reach　the　hickory　swale；〃　Isaac　was　saying　to　the　Colonel；　〃and　then　we　will　turn　off　and　make　for　the　river。　Once　across　the　Ohio　we　can　make　the　trip　in　two　days。〃

〃I　think　you'll　make　it　all　right；〃　said　Col。　Zane。

〃Even　if　I　do　meet　Indians　I　shall　have　no　fear；　for　I　have　a　protector　here；〃　answered　Isaac　as　he　led　Myeerah's　pony　to　the　step。

〃Good…bye；　Myeerah；　he　is　yours；　but　do　not　forget　he　is　dear　to　us；〃　said　Betty；　embracing　and　kissing　the　Indian　girl。

〃My　sister　does　not　know　Myeerah。　The　White　Eagle　will　return。〃

〃Good…bye；　Betts；　don't　cry。　I　shall　come　home　again。　And　when　I　do　I　hope　I　shall　be　in　time　to　celebrate　another　event；　this　time　with　you　as　the　heroine。　Good…bye。　Goodbye。〃

The　ponies　cantered　down　the　road。　At　the　bend　Isaac　and　Myeerah　turned　and　waved　their　hands　until　the　foliage　of　the　trees　hid　them　from　view。

〃Well；　these　things　happen　naturally　enough。　I　suppose　they　must　be。　But　I　should　much　have　preferred　Isaac　staying　here。　Hello！　What　the　deuce　is　that？　By　Lord！　It's　Tige！〃

The　exclamation　following　Col。　Zane's　remarks　had　been　called　forth　by　Betty's　dog。　He　came　limping　painfully　up　the　road　from　the　direction　of　the　river。　When　he　saw　Col。　Zane　he　whined　and　crawled　to　the　Colonel's　feet。　The　dog　was　wet　and　covered　with　burrs；　and　his　beautiful　glossy　coat；　which　had　been　Betty's　pride；　was　dripping　with　blood。

〃Silas；　Jonathan；　come　here；〃　cried　Col。　Zane。　〃Here's　Tige；　back　without　Wetzel；　and　the　poor　dog　has　been　shot　almost　to　pieces。　What　does　it　mean？〃

〃Indians；〃　said　Jonathan；　coming　out　of　the　house　with　Silas；　and　Mrs。　Zane　and　Betty；　who　had　heard　the　Colonel's　call。

〃He　has　come　a　long　way。　Look　at　his　feet。　They　are　torn　and　bruised；〃　continued　Jonathan。　〃And　he　has　been　near　Wingenund's　camp。　You　see　that　red　clay　on　his　paws。　There　is　no　red　clay　that　I　know　of　round　here；　and　there　are　miles　of　it　this　side　of　the　Delaware　camp。〃

〃What　is　the　matter　with　Tige？〃　asked　Betty。

〃He　is　done　for。　Shot　through；　poor　fellow。　How　did　he　ever　reach　home？〃　said　Silas。

〃Oh；　I　hope　not！　Dear　old　Tige；〃　said　Betty　as　she　knelt　and　tenderly　placed　the　head　of　the　dog　in　her　lap。　〃Why；　what　is　this？　I　never　put　that　there。　Eb；　Jack；　look　here。　There　is　a　string　around　his　neck；〃　and　Betty　pointed　excitedly　to　a　thin　cord　which　was　almost　concealed　in　the　thick　curly　hair。

〃Good　gracious！　Eb；　look！　It　is　the　string　off　the　prize　bullet　pouch　I　made；　and　that　Wetzel　won　on　Isaac's　wedding　day。　It　is　a　message　from　Lew；〃　said　Betty

〃Well；　by　Heavens！　This　is　strange。　So　it　is。　I　remember　that　string。　Cut　it　off；　Jack；〃　said　Col。　Zane。

When　Jonathan　had　cut　the　string　and　held　it　up　they　all　saw　the　lead　bullet。　Col。　Zane　examined　it　and　showed　them　what　had　been　rudely　scratched　on　it。

〃A　letter　W。　Does　that　mean　Wetzel？〃　asked　the　Colonel。

〃It　means　war。　It's　a　warning　from　Wetzelnot　the　slightest　doubt　of　that；〃　said　Jonathan。　〃Wetzel　sends　this　because　he　knows　we　are　to　be　attacked；　and　because　there　must　have　been　great　doubt　of　his　getting　back　to　tell　us。　And　Tige　has　been　shot　on　his　way　home。〃

This　called　the　attention　to　the　dog；　which　had　been　momentarily　forgotten。　His　head　rolled　from　Betty's　knee；　a　quiver　shook　his　frame；　he　struggled　to　rise　to　his　feet；　but　his　strength　was　too　far　spent；　he　crawled　close　to　Betty's　feet；　his　eyes　looked　up　at　her　with　almost　human　affection；　then　they　closed；　and　he　lay　still。　Tige　was　dead。

〃It　is　all　over；　Betty。　Tige　will　romp　no　more。　He　will　never　be　forgotten；　for　he　was　faithful　to　the　end。　Jonathan；　tell　the　Major　of　Wetzel's　warning；　and　both　of　you　go　back　to　your　posts　on　the　river。　Silas；　send　Capt。　Boggs　to　me。〃

An　hour　after　the　death　of　Tige　the　settlers　were　waiting　for　the　ring　of　the　meeting…house　bell　to　summon　them　to　the　Fort。

Supper　at　Col。　Zane's　that　night　was　not　the　occasion　of　good…humored　jest　and　pleasant　conversation。　Mrs。　Zane's　face　wore　a　distressed　and　troubled　look；　Betty　was　pale　and　quiet；　even　the　Colonel　was　gloomy；　and　the　children；　missing　the　usual　cheerfulness　of　the　evening　meal；　shrank　close　to　their　mother。

Darkness　slowly　settled　down；　and　with　it　came　a　feeling　of　relief；　at　least　for　the　night；　for　the　Indians　rarely　attacked　the　settlements　after　dark。　Capt。　Boggs　came　over　and　he　and　Col。　Zane　conversed　in　low　tones。

〃The　first　thing　in　the　morning　I　want　you　to　ride　over　to　Short　Creek　for　reinforcements。　I'll　send　the　Major　also　and　by　a　different　route。　I　expect　to　hear　tonight　from　Wetzel。　Twelve　times　has　he　crossed　that　threshold　with　the　information　which　made　an　Indian　surprise　impossible。　And　I　feel　sure　he　will　come　again。〃

〃What　was　that？〃　said　Betty；　who　was　sitting　on　the　doorstep。

〃Sh…h！〃　whispered　Col。　Zane；　holding　up　his　finger。

The　night　was　warm　and　still。　In　the　perfect　quiet　which　followed　the　Colonel's　whispered　exclamation　the　listeners　heard　the　beating　of　their　hearts。　Then　from　the　river　bank　came　the　cry　of　an　owl；　low　but　clear　it　came　floating　to　their　ears；　its　single　melancholy　note　thrilling　them。　Faint　and　far　off　in　the　direction　of　the　island　sounded　the　answer。

〃I　knew　it。　I　told　you。　We　shall　know　all　presently；〃　said　Col。　Zane。　〃The　first　call　was　Jonathan's；　and　it　was　answered。〃

The　moments　dragged　away。　The　children　had　fallen　asleep　on　the　bearskin　rug。　Mrs。　Zane　and　Betty　had　heard　the　Colonel's　voice；　and　sat　with　white　faces；　waiting；　waiting　for　they　knew　not　what。

A　familiar；　light…moccasined　tread　sounded　on　the　path；　a　tall　figure　loomed　up　from　the　darkness；　it　came　up　the　path；　passed　up　the　steps；　and　crossed　the　threshold。

〃Wetzel！〃　exclaimed　Col。　Zane　and　Capt。　Boggs。　It　was　indeed　the　hunter。　How　startling　was　his　appearance！　The　buckskin　hunting　coat　and　leggins　were　wet；　torn　and　bespattered　with　mud；　the　water　ran　and　dripped　from　him　to　form　little　muddy　pools　on　the　floor；　only　his　rifle　and　powder　horn　were　dry。　His　face　was　ghastly　white　except　where　a　bullet　wound　appeared　on　his　temple；　from　which　the　blood　had　oozed　down　over　his　chee