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the spirit of the border-µÚ1½Ú

С˵£º the spirit of the border ×ÖÊý£º ÿҳ4000×Ö

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THE¡¡SPIRIT¡¡OF¡¡THE¡¡BORDER

A¡¡ROMANCE¡¡OF¡¡THE¡¡EARLY¡¡SETTLERS¡¡IN¡¡THE¡¡OHIO¡¡VALLEY



BY¡¡ZANE¡¡GREY



1906







To¡¡my¡¡brother



With¡¡many¡¡fond¡¡recollections¡¡of¡¡days¡¡spent¡¡in¡¡the¡¡solitude¡¡of¡¡the¡¡forests

where¡¡only¡¡can¡¡be¡¡satisfied¡¡that¡¡wild¡¡fever¡¡of¡¡freedom¡¡of¡¡which¡¡this¡¡book

tells£»¡¡where¡¡to¡¡hear¡¡the¡¡whirr¡¡of¡¡a¡¡wild¡¡duck¡¡in¡¡his¡¡rapid¡¡flight¡¡is¡¡joy£»

where¡¡the¡¡quiet¡¡of¡¡an¡¡autumn¡¡afternoon¡¡swells¡¡the¡¡heart£»¡¡and¡¡where¡¡one¡¡may

watch¡¡the¡¡fragrant¡¡wood¡­smoke¡¡curl¡¡from¡¡the¡¡campfire£»¡¡and¡¡see¡¡the¡¡starspeep

over¡¡dark£»¡¡wooded¡¡hills¡¡as¡¡twilight¡¡deepens£»¡¡and¡¡know¡¡a¡¡happiness¡¡that¡¡dwells

in¡¡the¡¡wilderness¡¡alone¡£







Introduction



The¡¡author¡¡does¡¡not¡¡intend¡¡to¡¡apologize¡¡for¡¡what¡¡many¡¡readers¡¡may¡¡call¡¡the

¡¨brutality¡¨¡¡of¡¡the¡¡story£»¡¡but¡¡rather¡¡to¡¡explain¡¡that¡¡its¡¡wild¡¡spirit¡¡is¡¡true

to¡¡the¡¡life¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Western¡¡border¡¡as¡¡it¡¡was¡¡known¡¡only¡¡a¡¡little¡¡more¡¡than¡¡one

hundred¡¡years¡¡ago¡£



The¡¡writer¡¡is¡¡the¡¡fortunate¡¡possessor¡¡of¡¡historical¡¡material¡¡of¡¡undoubted

truth¡¡and¡¡interest¡£¡¡It¡¡is¡¡the¡¡long¡­lost¡¡journal¡¡of¡¡Colonel¡¡Ebenezer¡¡Zane£»¡¡one

of¡¡the¡¡most¡¡prominent¡¡of¡¡the¡¡hunter¡­pioneer£»¡¡who¡¡labored¡¡in¡¡the¡¡settlement¡¡of

the¡¡Western¡¡country¡£



The¡¡story¡¡of¡¡that¡¡tragic¡¡period¡¡deserves¡¡a¡¡higher¡¡place¡¡in¡¡historical

literature¡¡than¡¡it¡¡has¡¡thus¡¡far¡¡been¡¡given£»¡¡and¡¡this¡¡unquestionably¡¡because¡¡of

a¡¡lack¡¡of¡¡authentic¡¡data¡¡regarding¡¡the¡¡conquering¡¡of¡¡the¡¡wilderness¡£¡¡

Considering¡¡how¡¡many¡¡years¡¡the¡¡pioneers¡¡struggled¡¡on¡¡the¡¡border¡¡of¡¡this

country£»¡¡the¡¡history¡¡of¡¡their¡¡efforts¡¡is¡¡meager¡¡and¡¡obscure¡£



If¡¡the¡¡years¡¡at¡¡the¡¡close¡¡of¡¡the¡¡eighteenth¡¡and¡¡the¡¡beginning¡¡of¡¡the

nineteenth¡¡century¡¡were¡¡full¡¡of¡¡stirring¡¡adventure¡¡on¡¡the¡¡part¡¡of¡¡the

colonists¡¡along¡¡the¡¡Atlantic¡¡coast£»¡¡how¡¡crowded¡¡must¡¡they¡¡have¡¡been¡¡for¡¡the

almost¡¡forgotten¡¡pioneers¡¡who¡¡daringly¡¡invaded¡¡the¡¡trackless¡¡wilds£¡¡¡None¡¡there

was¡¡to¡¡chronicle¡¡the¡¡fight¡¡of¡¡these¡¡sturdy£»¡¡travelers¡¡toward¡¡the¡¡setting¡¡sun¡£

The¡¡story¡¡of¡¡their¡¡stormy¡¡lives£»¡¡of¡¡their¡¡heroism£»¡¡and¡¡of¡¡their¡¡sacrifice¡¡for

the¡¡benefit¡¡of¡¡future¡¡generations¡¡is¡¡too¡¡little¡¡known¡£



It¡¡is¡¡to¡¡a¡¡better¡¡understanding¡¡of¡¡those¡¡days¡¡that¡¡the¡¡author¡¡has¡¡labored¡¡to

draw¡¡from¡¡his¡¡ancestor's¡¡notes¡¡a¡¡new¡¡and¡¡striking¡¡portrayal¡¡of¡¡the¡¡frontier£»

one¡¡which¡¡shall¡¡paint¡¡the¡¡fever¡¡of¡¡freedom£»¡¡that¡¡powerful¡¡impulse¡¡which¡¡lured

so¡¡many¡¡to¡¡unmarked¡¡graves£»¡¡one¡¡which¡¡shall¡¡show¡¡his¡¡work£»¡¡his¡¡love£»¡¡the

effect¡¡of¡¡the¡¡causes¡¡which¡¡rendered¡¡his¡¡life¡¡so¡¡hard£»¡¡and¡¡surely¡¡one¡¡which

does¡¡not¡¡forget¡¡the¡¡wronged¡¡Indian¡£



The¡¡frontier¡¡in¡¡1777¡¡produced¡¡white¡¡men¡¡so¡¡savage¡¡as¡¡to¡¡be¡¡men¡¡in¡¡name¡¡only¡£

These¡¡outcasts¡¡and¡¡renegades¡¡lived¡¡among¡¡the¡¡savages£»¡¡and¡¡during¡¡thirty¡¡years

harassed¡¡the¡¡border£»¡¡perpetrating¡¡all¡¡manner¡¡of¡¡fiendish¡¡cruelties¡¡upon¡£¡¡the

settlers¡£¡¡They¡¡were¡¡no¡¡less¡¡cruel¡¡to¡¡the¡¡redmen¡¡whom¡¡they¡¡ruled£»¡¡and¡¡at¡¡the

height¡¡of¡¡their¡¡bloody¡¡careers¡¡made¡¡futile¡¡the¡¡Moravian¡¡missionaries'¡¡long

labors£»¡¡and¡¡destroyed¡¡the¡¡beautiful¡¡hamlet¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Christian¡¡Indians£»¡¡called

Gnaddenhutten£»¡¡or¡¡Village¡¡of¡¡Peace¡£



And¡¡while¡¡the¡¡border¡¡produced¡¡such¡¡outlaws¡¡so¡¡did¡¡it¡¡produce¡¡hunters¡¡Eke

Boone£»¡¡the¡¡Zanes£»¡¡the¡¡McCollochs£»¡¡and¡¡Wetzel£»¡¡that¡¡strange£»¡¡silent¡¡man¡¡whose

deeds¡¡are¡¡still¡¡whispered¡¡in¡¡the¡¡country¡¡where¡¡he¡¡once¡¡roamed¡¡in¡¡his¡¡insatiate

pursuit¡¡of¡¡savages¡¡and¡¡renegades£»¡¡and¡¡who¡¡was¡¡purely¡¡a¡¡product¡¡of¡¡the¡¡times¡£

Civilization¡¡could¡¡not¡¡have¡¡brought¡¡forth¡¡a¡¡man¡¡like¡¡Wetzel¡£¡¡¡¡Great

revolutions£»¡¡great¡¡crises£»¡¡great¡¡moments¡¡come£»¡¡and¡¡produce¡¡the¡¡men¡¡to¡¡deal

with¡¡them¡£



The¡¡border¡¡needed¡¡Wetzel¡£¡¡The¡¡settlers¡¡would¡¡have¡¡needed¡¡many¡¡more¡¡years¡¡in

which¡¡to¡¡make¡¡permanent¡¡homes¡¡had¡¡it¡¡not¡¡been¡¡for¡¡him¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡never¡¡a¡¡pioneer£»

but¡¡always¡¡a¡¡hunter¡¡after¡¡Indians¡£¡¡When¡¡not¡¡on¡¡the¡¡track¡¡of¡¡the¡¡savage¡¡foe£»¡¡he

was¡¡in¡¡the¡¡settlement£»¡¡with¡¡his¡¡keen¡¡eye¡¡and¡¡ear¡¡ever¡¡alert¡¡for¡¡signs¡¡of¡¡the

enemy¡£¡¡To¡¡the¡¡superstitious¡¡Indians¡¡he¡¡was¡¡a¡¡shadow£»¡¡a¡¡spirit¡¡of¡¡the¡¡border£»

which¡¡breathed¡¡menace¡¡from¡¡the¡¡dark¡¡forests¡£¡¡To¡¡the¡¡settlers¡¡he¡¡was¡¡the¡¡right

arm¡¡of¡¡defense£»¡¡a¡¡fitting¡¡leader¡¡for¡¡those¡¡few¡¡implacable¡¡and¡¡unerring

frontiersmen¡¡who¡¡made¡¡the¡¡settlement¡¡of¡¡the¡¡West¡¡a¡¡possibility¡£



And¡¡if¡¡this¡¡story¡¡of¡¡one¡¡of¡¡his¡¡relentless¡¡pursuits¡¡shows¡¡the¡¡man¡¡as¡¡he¡¡truly

was£»¡¡loved¡¡by¡¡pioneers£»¡¡respected¡¡and¡¡feared¡¡by¡¡redmen£»¡¡and¡¡hated¡¡by

renegades£»¡¡if¡¡it¡¡softens¡¡a¡¡little¡¡the¡¡ruthless¡¡name¡¡history¡¡accords¡¡him£»¡¡the

writer¡¡will¡¡have¡¡been¡¡well¡¡repaid¡£



Z¡£¡¡G¡£







The¡¡Spirit¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Border







Chapter¡¡I¡£



¡¨Nell£»¡¡I'm¡¡growing¡¡powerful¡¡fond¡¡of¡¡you¡£¡¨



¡¨So¡¡you¡¡must¡¡be£»¡¡Master¡¡Joe£»¡¡if¡¡often¡¡telling¡¡makes¡¡it¡¡true¡£¡¨



The¡¡girl¡¡spoke¡¡simply£»¡¡and¡¡with¡¡an¡¡absence¡¡of¡¡that¡¡roguishness¡¡which¡¡was

characteristic¡¡of¡¡her¡£¡¡Playful¡¡words£»¡¡arch¡¡smiles£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡touch¡¡of¡¡coquetry¡¡had

seemed¡¡natural¡¡to¡¡Nell£»¡¡but¡¡now¡¡her¡¡grave¡¡tone¡¡and¡¡her¡¡almost¡¡wistful¡¡glance

disconcerted¡¡Joe¡£



During¡¡all¡¡the¡¡long¡¡journey¡¡over¡¡the¡¡mountains¡¡she¡¡had¡¡been¡¡gay¡¡and¡¡bright£»

while¡¡now£»¡¡when¡¡they¡¡were¡¡about¡¡to¡¡part£»¡¡perhaps¡¡never¡¡to¡¡meet¡¡again£»¡¡she

showed¡¡him¡¡the¡¡deeper¡¡and¡¡more¡¡earnest¡¡side¡¡of¡¡her¡¡character¡£¡¡It¡¡checked¡¡his

boldness¡¡as¡¡nothing¡¡else¡¡had¡¡done¡£¡¡Suddenly¡¡there¡¡came¡¡to¡¡him¡¡the¡¡real¡¡meaning

of¡¡a¡¡woman's¡¡love¡¡when¡¡she¡¡bestows¡¡it¡¡without¡¡reservation¡£¡¡¡¡Silenced¡¡by¡¡the

thought¡¡that¡¡he¡¡had¡¡not¡¡understood¡¡her¡¡at¡¡all£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡knowledge¡¡that¡¡he¡¡had

been¡¡half¡¡in¡¡sport£»¡¡he¡¡gazed¡¡out¡¡over¡¡the¡¡wild¡¡country¡¡before¡¡them¡£



The¡¡scene¡¡impressed¡¡its¡¡quietness¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡young¡¡couple¡¡and¡¡brought¡¡more

forcibly¡¡to¡¡their¡¡minds¡¡the¡¡fact¡¡that¡¡they¡¡were¡¡at¡¡the¡¡gateway¡¡of¡¡the¡¡unknown

West£»¡¡that¡¡somewhere¡¡beyond¡¡this¡¡rude¡¡frontier¡¡settlement£»¡¡out¡¡there¡¡in¡¡those

unbroken¡¡forests¡¡stretching¡¡dark¡¡and¡¡silent¡¡before¡¡them£»¡¡was¡¡to¡¡be¡¡their

future¡¡home¡£



From¡¡the¡¡high¡¡bank¡¡where¡¡they¡¡stood¡¡the¡¡land¡¡sloped¡¡and¡¡narrowed¡¡gradually

until¡¡it¡¡ended¡¡in¡¡a¡¡sharp¡¡point¡¡which¡¡marked¡¡the¡¡last¡¡bit¡¡of¡¡land¡¡between¡¡the

Allegheny¡¡and¡¡Monongahela¡¡rivers¡£¡¡Here¡¡these¡¡swift¡¡streams¡¡merged¡¡and¡¡formed

the¡¡broad¡¡Ohio¡£¡¡The¡¡new¡­born¡¡river£»¡¡even¡¡here¡¡at¡¡its¡¡beginning¡¡proud¡¡and

swelling¡¡as¡¡if¡¡already¡¡certain¡¡of¡¡its¡¡far¡­away¡¡grandeur£»¡¡swept¡¡majestically

round¡¡a¡¡wide¡¡curve¡¡and¡¡apparently¡¡lost¡¡itself¡¡in¡¡the¡¡forest¡¡foliage¡£



On¡¡the¡¡narrow¡¡point¡¡of¡¡land¡¡commanding¡¡a¡¡view¡¡of¡¡the¡¡rivers¡¡stood¡¡a¡¡long£»¡¡low

structure¡¡enclosed¡¡by¡¡a¡¡stockade¡¡fence£»¡¡on¡¡the¡¡four¡¡corners¡¡of¡¡which¡¡were

little¡¡box¡­shaped¡¡houses¡¡that¡¡bulged¡¡out¡¡as¡¡if¡¡trying¡¡to¡¡see¡¡what¡¡was¡¡going¡¡on

beneath¡£¡¡The¡¡massive¡¡timbers¡¡used¡¡in¡¡the¡¡construction¡¡of¡¡this¡¡fort£»¡¡the

square£»¡¡compact¡¡form£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡small£»¡¡dark¡¡holes¡¡cut¡¡into¡¡the¡¡walls£»¡¡gave¡¡the

structure¡¡a¡¡threatening£»¡¡impregnable¡¡aspect¡£



Below¡¡Nell¡¡and¡¡Joe£»¡¡on¡¡the¡¡bank£»¡¡were¡¡many¡¡log¡¡cabins¡£¡¡The¡¡yellow¡¡clay¡¡which

filled¡¡the¡¡chinks¡¡between¡¡the¡¡logs¡¡gave¡¡these¡¡a¡¡peculiar¡¡striped¡¡appearance¡£

There¡¡was¡¡life¡¡and¡¡bustle¡¡in¡¡the¡¡vicinity¡¡of¡¡these¡¡dwellings£»¡¡in¡¡sharp

contrast¡¡with¡¡the¡¡still¡¡grandeur¡¡of¡¡the¡¡neighboring¡¡forests¡£¡¡There¡¡were

canvas¡­covered¡¡wagons¡¡around¡¡which¡¡curly¡­headed¡¡youngsters¡¡were¡¡playing¡£

Several¡¡horses¡¡were¡¡grazing¡¡on¡¡the¡¡short¡¡grass£»¡¡and¡¡six¡¡red¡¡and¡¡white¡¡oxen

munched¡¡at¡¡the¡¡hay¡¡that¡¡had¡¡been¡¡thrown¡¡to¡¡them¡£¡¡The¡¡smoke¡¡of¡¡many¡¡fires

curled¡¡upward£»¡¡and¡¡near¡¡the¡¡blaze¡¡hovered¡¡ruddy¡­faced¡¡women¡¡who¡¡stirred¡¡the

contents¡¡of¡¡steaming¡¡kettles¡£¡¡One¡¡man¡¡swung¡¡an¡¡axe¡¡with¡¡a¡¡vigorous¡¡sweep£»¡¡and

the¡¡clean£»¡¡sharp¡¡strokes¡¡rang¡¡on¡¡the¡¡air£»¡¡another¡¡hammered¡¡stakes¡¡into¡¡the

ground¡¡on¡¡which¡¡to¡¡hang¡¡a¡¡kettle¡£¡¡Before¡¡a¡¡large¡¡cabin¡¡a¡¡fur¡­trader¡¡was

exhibiting¡¡his¡¡wares¡¡to¡¡three¡¡Indians¡£¡¡A¡¡second¡¡redskin¡¡was¡¡carrying¡¡a¡¡pack¡¡of

pelts¡¡from¡¡a¡¡canoe¡¡drawn¡¡up¡¡on¡¡the¡¡river¡¡bank¡£¡¡A¡¡small¡¡group¡¡of¡¡persons¡¡stood

near£»¡¡some¡¡were¡¡indifferent£»¡¡and¡¡others¡¡gazed¡¡curiously¡¡at¡¡the¡¡savages¡£¡¡Two

children¡¡peeped¡¡from¡¡behind¡¡their¡¡mother's¡¡skirts¡¡as¡¡if¡¡half¡­curious£»

half¡­frightened¡£



From¡¡this¡¡scene£»¡¡the¡¡significance¡¡of¡¡which¡¡had¡¡just¡¡dawned¡¡on¡¡him£»¡¡Joe¡¡turned

his¡¡eyes¡¡again¡¡to¡¡his¡¡companion¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡a¡¡sweet¡¡face¡¡he¡¡saw£»¡¡one¡¡that¡¡was

sedate£»¡¡but¡¡had¡¡a¡¡promise¡¡of¡¡innumerable¡¡smiles¡£¡¡The¡¡blue¡¡eyes¡¡could¡¡not¡¡long

hide¡¡flashes¡¡of¡¡merriment¡£¡¡The¡¡girl¡¡turned£»¡¡and£»the¡¡two¡¡young¡¡people¡¡looked¡¡at

each¡¡other¡£¡¡Her¡¡eyes¡¡softened¡¡with¡¡a¡¡woman's¡¡gentleness¡¡as¡¡they¡¡rested¡¡upon

him£»¡¡for£»¡¡broad¡¡of¡¡shoulder£»¡¡and¡¡lithe¡¡and¡¡strong¡¡as¡¡a¡¡deer¡¡stalker£»¡¡he¡¡was

good¡¡to¡¡look¡¡at¡£



¡¨Listen£»¡¨¡¡she¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¨We¡¡have¡¡known¡¡each¡¡other¡¡only¡¡three¡¡weeks¡£¡¡Since¡¡you

joined¡¡our¡¡wagon¡­train£»¡¡and¡¡have¡¡been¡¡so¡¡kind¡¡to¡¡me¡¡and¡¡so¡¡helpful¡¡to¡¡make

that¡¡long£»¡¡rough¡¡ride¡¡endurable£»¡¡you¡¡have¡¡won¡¡my¡¡regard¡£¡¡II¡¡cannot¡¡say¡¡more£»

even¡¡if¡¡I¡¡would¡£¡¡You¡¡told¡¡me¡¡you¡¡ran¡¡away¡¡from¡¡your¡¡Virginian¡¡home¡¡to¡¡seek

adventure¡¡on¡¡the¡¡frontier£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡you¡¡knew¡¡no¡¡one¡¡in¡¡all¡¡this¡¡wild¡¡country¡£

You¡¡even¡¡said¡¡you¡¡could¡¡not£»¡¡or¡¡would¡¡not£»¡¡work¡¡at¡¡farming¡£¡¡¡¡Perhaps¡¡my¡¡sister

and¡¡I¡¡are¡¡as¡¡unfitted¡¡as¡¡you¡¡for¡¡this¡¡life£»¡¡but¡¡we¡¡must¡¡cling¡¡to¡¡our¡¡uncle

because¡¡he¡¡is¡¡the¡¡only¡¡relative¡¡we¡¡have¡£¡¡He¡¡has¡¡come¡¡out¡¡here¡¡to¡¡join¡¡the

Moravians£»¡¡and¡¡to¡¡preach¡¡the¡¡gospel¡¡to¡¡these¡¡Indians¡£¡¡¡¡We¡¡shall¡¡share¡¡his

life£»¡¡and¡¡help¡¡him¡¡all¡¡we¡¡can¡£¡¡You¡¡have¡¡been¡¡telling¡¡me¡¡youyou¡¡cared¡¡for¡¡me£»

and¡¡now¡¡that¡¡we¡¡are¡¡about¡¡to¡¡part¡¡II¡¡don't¡¡know¡¡what¡¡to¡¡say¡¡to¡¡youunless

it¡¡is£º¡¡Give¡¡up¡¡this¡¡intention

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