betty zane-第58节

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ht　before。　Every　shot　went　to　a　redskin's　heart；　impelled　by　the　powder　for　which　a　brave　girl　had　offered　her　life；　guided　by　hands　and　arms　of　iron；　and　aimed　by　eyes　as　fixed　and　stern　as　Fate；　every　bullet　shed　the　life…blood　of　a　warrior。

Slowly　and　sullenly　the　red　men　gave　way　before　that　fire。　Foot　by　foot　they　retired。　Girty　was　seen　no　more。　Fire；　the　Shawnee　chief；　lay　dead　in　the　road　almost　in　the　same　spot　where　two　days　before　his　brother　chief；　Red　Fox；　had　bit　the　dust。　The　British　had　long　since　retreated。

When　night　came　the　exhausted　and　almost　famished　besiegers　sought　rest　and　food。

The　moon　came　out　clear　and　beautiful；　as　if　ashamed　at　her　traitor's　part　of　the　night　before；　and　brightened　up　the　valley；　bathing　the　Fort；　the　river；　and　the　forest　in　her　silver　light。

Shortly　after　daybreak　the　next　morning　the　Indians；　despairing　of　success；　held　a　pow…wow。　While　they　were　grouped　in　plain　view　of　the　garrison；　and　probably　conferring　over　the　question　of　raising　the　siege；　the　long；　peculiar　whoop　of　an　Indian　spy；　who　had　been　sent　out　to　watch　for　the　approach　of　a　relief　party；　rang　out。　This　seemed　a　signal　for　retreat。　Scarcely　had　the　shrill　cry　ceased　to　echo　in　the　hills　when　the　Indians　and　the　British；　abandoning　their　dead；　moved　rapidly　across　the　river。

After　a　short　interval　a　mounted　force　was　seen　galloping　up　the　creek　road。　It　proved　to　be　Capt。　Boggs；　Swearengen；　and　Williamson　with　seventy　men。　Great　was　the　rejoicing。　Capt。　Boggs　had　expected　to　find　only　the　ashes　of　the　Forts。　And　the　gallant　little　garrison；　although　saddened　by　the　loss　of　half　its　original　number；　rejoiced　that　it　had　repulsed　the　united　forces　of　braves　and　British。



CHAPTER　XV。

Peace　and　quiet　reigned　ones　more　at　Ft。　Henry。　Before　the　glorious　autumn　days　had　waned；　the　settlers　had　repaired　the　damage　done　to　their　cabins；　and　many　of　them　were　now　occupied　with　the　fall　plowing。　Never　had　the　Fort　experienced　such　busy　days。　Many　new　faces　were　seen　in　the　little　meeting…house。　Pioneers　from　Virginia；　from　Ft。　Pitt；　and　eastward　had　learned　that　Fort　Henry　had　repulsed　the　biggest　force　of　Indians　and　soldiers　that　Governor　Hamilton　and　his　minions　could　muster。　Settlers　from　all　points　along　the　rivet　were　flocking　to　Col。　Zane's　settlement。　New　cabins　dotted　the　hillside；　cabins　and　barns　in　all　stages　of　construction　could　be　seen。　The　sounds　of　hammers；　the　ringing　stroke　of　the　axe；　and　the　crashing　down　of　mighty　pines　or　poplars　were　heard　all　day　long。

Col。　Zane　sat　oftener　and　longer　than　ever　before　in　his　favorite　seat　on　his　doorstep。　On　this　evening　he　had　just　returned　from　a　hard　day　in　the　fields；　and　sat　down　to　rest　a　moment　before　going　to　supper。　A　few　days　previous　Isaac　Zane　and　Myeerah　had　come　to　the　settlement。　Myeerah　brought　a　treaty　of　peace　signed　by　Tarhe　and　the　other　Wyandot　chieftains。　The　once　implacable　Huron　was　now　ready　to　be　friendly　with　the　white　people。　Col。　Zane　and　his　brothers　signed　the　treaty；　and　Betty；　by　dint　of　much　persuasion；　prevailed　on　Wetzel　to　bury　the　hatchet　with　the　Hurons。　So　Myeerah's　love；　like　the　love　of　many　other　women；　accomplished　more　than　years　of　war　and　bloodshed。

The　genial　and　happy　smile　never　left　Col。　Zane's　face；　and　as　he　saw　the　well…laden　rafts　coming　down　the　river；　and　the　air　of　liveliness　and　animation　about　the　growing　settlement；　his　smile　into　one　of　pride　and　satisfaction。　The　prophecy　that　he　had　made　twelve　years　before　was　fulfilled。　His　dream　was　realized。　The　wild；　beautiful　spot　where　he　had　once　built　a　bark　shack　and　camped　half　a　year　without　seeing　a　white　man　was　now　the　scene　of　a　bustling　settlement；　and　he　believed　he　would　live　to　see　that　settlement　grow　into　a　prosperous　city。　He　did　not　think　of　the　thousands　of　acres　which　would　one　day　make　him　a　wealthy　man。　He　was　a　pioneer　at　heart；　he　had　opened　up　that　rich　new　country；　he　had　conquered　all　obstacles；　and　that　was　enough　to　make　him　content。

〃Papa；　when　shall　I　be　big　enough　to　fight　bars　and　bufflers　and　Injuns？〃　asked　Noah；　stopping　in　his　play　and　straddling　his　father's　knee。

〃My　boy；　did　you　not　have　Indians　enough　a　short　time　ago？〃

〃But；　papa；　I　did　not　get　to　see　any。　I　heard　the　shooting　and　yelling。　Sammy　was　afraid；　but　I　wasn't。　I　wanted　to　look　out　of　the　little　holes；　but　they　locked　us　up　in　the　dark　room。〃

〃If　that　boy　ever　grows　up　to　be　like　Jonathan　or　Wetzel　it　will　be　the　death　of　me；〃　said　the　Colonel's　wife；　who　had　heard　the　lad's　chatter。

〃Don't　worry；　Bessie。　When　Noah　grows　to　be　a　man　the　Indians　will　be　gone。〃

Col。　Zane　heard　the　galloping　of　a　horse　and　looking　up　saw　Clarke　coming　down　the　road　on　his　black　thoroughbred。　The　Colonel　rose　and　walked　out　to　the　hitching…block；　where　Clarke　had　reined　in　his　fiery　steed。

〃Ah；　Alfred。　Been　out　for　a　ride？〃

〃Yes；　I　have　been　giving　Roger　a　little　exercise。〃

〃That's　a　magnificent　animal。　I　never　get　tired　watching　him　move。　He's　the　best　bit　of　horseflesh　on　the　river。　By　the　way；　we　have　not　seen　much　of　you　since　the　siege。　Of　course　you　have　been　busy。　Getting　ready　to　put　on　the　harness；　eh？　Well；　that's　what　we　want　the　young　men　to　do。　Come　over　and　see　us。〃

〃I　have　been　trying　to　come。　You　know　how　it　is　with　meabout　Betty；　I　mean。　Col。　Zane；　II　love　her。　That's　all。〃

〃Yes；　I　know；　Alfred；　and　I　don't　wonder　at　your　fears。　But　I　have　always　liked　you；　and　now　I　guess　it's　about　time　for　me　to　put　a　spoke　in　your　wheel　of　fortune。　If　Betty　cares　for　youand　I　have　a　sneaking　idea　she　doesI　will　give　her　to　you。〃

〃I　have　nothing。　I　gave　up　everything　when　I　left　home。〃

〃My　lad；　never　mind　about　that；〃　said　the　Colonel；　laying　his　hand　on　Clarke's　knee。　〃We　don't　need　riches。　I　have　so　often　said　that　we　need　nothing　out　here　on　the　border　but　honest　hearts　and　strong；　willing　hands。　These　you　have。　That　is　enough　for　me　and　for　my　people；　and　as　for　land；　why；　I　have　enough　for　an　army　of　young　men。　I　got　my　land　cheap。　That　whole　island　there　I　bought　from　Cornplanter。　You　can　have　that　island　or　any　tract　of　land　along　the　river。　Some　day　I　shall　put　you　at　the　head　of　my　men。　It　will　take　you　years　to　cut　that　road　through　to　Maysville。　Oh；　I　have　plenty　of　work　for　you。〃

〃Col。　Zane；　I　cannot　thank　you；〃　answered　Alfred；　with　emotion。　〃I　shall　try　to　merit　your　friendship　and　esteem。　Will　you　please　tell　your　sister　I　shall　come　over　in　the　morning　and　beg　to　see　her　alone。〃

〃That　I　will；　Alfred。　Goodnight。〃

Col。　Zane　strode　across　his　threshold　with　a　happy　smile　on　his　face。　He　loved　to　joke　and　tease；　and　never　lost　an　opportunity。

〃Things　seem　to　be　working　out　all　right。　Now　for　some　fun　with　Her　Highness；〃　he　said　to　himself。

As　the　Colonel　surveyed　the　pleasant　home　scene　he　felt　he　had　nothing　more　to　wish　for。　The　youngsters　were　playing　with　a　shaggy　little　pup　which　had　already　taken　Tige's　place　in　their　fickle　affections。　His　wife　was　crooning　a　lullaby　as　she　gently　rocked　the　cradle　to　and　fro。　A　wonderful　mite　of　humanity　peacefully　slumbered　in　that　old　cradle。　Annie　was　beginning　to　set　the　table　for　the　evening　meal。　Isaac　lay　with　a　contented　smile　on　his　face；　fast　asleep　on　the　couch；　where；　only　a　short　time　before；　he　had　been　laid　bleeding　and　almost　dead。　Betty　was　reading　to　Myeerah；　whose　eyes　were　rapturously　bright　as　she　leaned　her　head　against　her　sister　and　listened　to　the　low　voice。

〃Well；　Betty；　what　do　you　think？〃　said　Col。　Zane；　stopping　before　the　girls。

〃What　do　I　think？〃　retorted　Betty。　〃Why；　I　think　you　are　very　rude　to　interrupt　me。　I　am　reading　to　Myeerah　her　first　novel。〃

〃I　have　a　very　important　message　for　you。〃

〃For　me？　What！　From　whom？〃

〃Guess。〃

Betty　ran　through　a　list　of　most　of　her　acquaintances；　but　after　each　name　her　brother　shook　his　head。

〃Oh；　well；　I　don't　care；〃　she　finally　said。　The　color　in　her　cheeks　had　heightened　noticeably。

〃Very　well。　If　you　do　not　care；　I　will　say　nothing　more；〃　said　Col。　Zane。

At　this　juncture　Annie　called　them　to　supper。　Later；　when　Col。　Zane　sat　on　the　doorstep　smoking；　Betty　came　and　sat　beside　him　with　her　head　resting　against　his　shoulder。　The　Colonel　smoked　on　in　silence。　Presently　the　dusky　head　moved　restlessly。

〃Eb；　tell　me　the　message；〃　whispered　Betty。

〃Message？　What　message？〃　asked　Col。　Zone。　〃What　are　you　talking　about？〃

〃Do　not　teasenot　now。　Tell　me。〃　There　was　an　undercurrent　of　wistfulness　in　Betty's　voice　which　touched　the　kindhearted　brother。

〃Well；　to…day　a　certain　young　man　asked　me　if　he　could　relieve　me　of　the　responsibility　of　looking　after　a　certain　young　lady。〃

〃Oh。〃

〃Wait　a　moment。　I　told　him　I　would　be　delighted。〃

〃Eb；　that　was　unkind。〃

〃Then　he　asked　me　to　tell　her　he　was　coming　over　to…morrow　morning　to　fix　it　up　with　her。〃

〃Oh；　horrible！〃　cried　Betty。　〃Were　those　the　words　he　used？〃

〃Betts；　to　tell　the　honest　truth；　he　did　not　say　much　of　anything。　He　just　said：　'I　love　her；'　and　his　eyes　blazed。〃

Betty　uttered　a　half　articulate　cry　and　ran　to　her　room。　Her　heart　was　throbbing。　What　could　she　do？　She　felt　that　if　she　looked　once　into　her　lover's　eyes　she　would　have　no　strength。　How　dared　she　allow　herself　to　be　so　wea