the spirit of the border-第16节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
had gone through the turtle； and it was quite dead。 Joe carried it to the
waiting group。
〃I allowed so；〃 declared Jonathan。
Wetzel examined the turtle； and turning to the old missionary； said：
〃Your brother spoke the truth； an' I thank you fer the rifle。〃
Chapter VIII。
〃So you want to know all about Wetzel？〃 inquired Colonel Zane of Joe； when；
having left Jim and Mr。 Wells； they returned to the cabin。
〃I am immensely interested in him；〃 replied Joe。
〃Well； I don't think there's anything singular in that。 I know Wetzel better；
perhaps； than any man living； but have seldom talked about him。 He doesn't
like it。 He is by birth a Virginian； I should say； forty years old。 We were
boys together； and and I am a little beyond that age。 He was like any of the
lads； except that he excelled us all in strength and agility。 When he was
nearly eighteen years old a band if IndiansDelawares； I thinkcrossed the
border on a marauding expedition far into Virginia。 They burned the old Wetzel
homestead and murdered the father； mother； two sisters； and a baby brother。
The terrible shock nearly killed Lewis； who for a time was very ill。 When he
recovered he went in search of his brothers； Martin and John Wetzel； who were
hunting； and brought them back to their desolated home。 Over the ashes of the
home and the graves of the loved ones the brothers swore sleepless and eternal
vengeance。 The elder brothers have been devoted all these twenty years and
more to the killing of Indians； but Lewis has been the great foe of the
redman。 You have already seen an example of his deeds； and will hear of more。
His name is a household word on the border。 Scores of times he has saved；
actually saved； this fort and settlement。 His knowledge of savage ways
surpasses by far Boone's； Major McColloch's； Jonathan's； or any of the
hunters'。〃
〃Then hunting Indians is his sole occupation？〃
〃He lives for that purpose alone。 He is very seldom in the settlement。
Sometimes he stays here a few days； especially if he is needed； but usually he
roams the forests。〃
〃What did Jeff Lynn mean when he said that some people think Wetzel is crazy？〃
〃There are many who think the man mad； but I do not。 When the passion for
Indian hunting comes upon him he is fierce； almost frenzied； yet perfectly
sane。 While here he is quiet； seldom speaks except when spoken to； and is
taciturn with strangers。 He often comes to my cabin and sits beside the fire
for hours。 I think he finds pleasure in the conversation and laughter of
friends。 He is fond of the children； and would do anything for my sister
Betty。〃
〃His life must be lonely and sad；〃 remarked Joe。
〃The life of any borderman is that； but Wetzel's is particularly so。〃
〃What is he called by the Indians？〃
〃They call him Atelang； or； in English； Deathwind。〃
〃By George！ That's what Silvertip said in French'Le Vent de la Mort。'〃
〃Yes； you have it right。 A French fur trader gave Wetzel that name years ago；
and it has clung to him。 The Indians say the Deathwind blows through the
forest whenever Wetzel stalks on their trail。〃
〃Colonel Zane； don't you think me superstitious；〃 whispered Joe； leaning
toward the colonel； 〃but I heard that wind blow through the forest。〃
〃What！〃 ejaculated Colonel Zane。 He saw that Joe was in earnest； for the
remembrance of the moan had more than once paled his cheek and caused beads of
perspiration to collect on his brow。
Joe related the circumstances of that night； and at the end of his narrative
Colonel Zane sat silent and thoughtful。
〃You don't really think it was Wetzel who moaned？〃 he asked； at length。
〃No； I don't；〃 replied Joe quickly； 〃but； Colonel Zane； I heard that moan as
plainly as I can hear your voice。 I heard it twice。 Now； what was it？〃
〃Jonathan said the same thing to me once。 He had been out hunting with Wetzel；
they separated； and during the night Jonathan heard the wind。 The next day he
ran across a dead Indian。 He believes Wetzel makes the noise； and so do the
hunters； but I think it is simply the moan of the night wind through the
trees。 I have heard it at times； when my very blood seemingly ran cold。〃
〃I tried to think it was the wind soughing through the pines； but am afraid I
didn't succeed very well。 Anyhow； I knew Wetzel instantly； just as Jeff Lynn
said I would。 He killed those Indians in an instant； and he must have an iron
arm。〃
〃Wetzel excels in strength and speed any man； red or white； on the frontier。
He can run away from Jonathan； who is as swift as an Indian。 He's stronger
than any of the other men。 I remember one day old Hugh Bennet's wagon wheels
stuck in a bog down by the creek。 Hugh tried； as several others did； to move
the wheels； but they couldn't be made to budge。 Along came Wetzel； pushed
away the men； and lifted the wagon unaided。 It would take hours to tell you
about him。 In brief； among all the border scouts and hunters Wetzel stands
alone。 No wonder the Indians fear him。 He is as swift as an eagle； strong as
mountain…ash； keen as a fox； and absolutely tireless and implacable。〃
〃How long have you been here； Colonel Zane？〃
〃More than twelve years； and it has been one long fight。〃
〃I'm afraid I'm too late for the fun；〃 said Joe； with his quiet laugh。
〃Not by about twelve more years；〃 answered Colonel Zane； studying the
expression on Joe's face。 〃When I came out here years ago I had the same
adventurous spirit which I see in you。 It has been considerably quelled；
however。 I have seen many a daring young fellow get the border fever； and with
it his death。 Let me advise you to learn the ways of the hunters； to watch
some one skilled in woodcraft。 Perhaps Wetzel himself will take you in hand。 I
don't mind saying that he spoke of you to me in a tone I never heard Lew use
before。〃
〃He did？〃 questioned Joe； eagerly； flushing with pleasure。 〃Do you think he'd
take me out？ Dare I ask him？〃
〃Don't be impatient。 Perhaps I can arrange it。 Come over here now to Metzar's
place。 I want to make you acquainted with him。 These boys have all been
cutting timber； they've just come in for dinner。 Be easy and quiet with them；
then you'll get on。〃
Colonel Zane introduced Joe to five sturdy boys and left him in their company。
Joe sat down on a log outside a cabin and leisurely surveyed the young men。
They all looked about the same： strong without being heavy； light…haired and
bronze…faced。 In their turn they carefully judged Joe。 A newcomer from the
East was always regarded with some doubt。 If they expected to hear Joe talk
much they were mistaken。 He appeared good…natured； but not too friendly。
〃Fine weather we're havin'；〃 said Dick Metzar。
〃Fine；〃 agreed Joe； laconically。
〃Like frontier life？〃
〃Sure。〃
A silence ensued after this breaking of the ice。 The boys were awaiting their
turn at a little wooden bench upon which stood a bucket of water and a basin。
〃Hear ye got ketched by some Shawnees？〃 remarked another youth； as he rolled
up his shirt…sleeves。 They all looked at Joe now。 It was not improbably their
estimate of him would be greatly influenced by the way he answered this
question。
〃Yes； was captive for three days。〃
〃Did ye knock any redskins over？〃 This question was artfully put to draw Joe
out。 Above all things； the bordermen detested boastfulness； tried on Joe the
ruse failed signally。
〃I was scared speechless most of the time；〃 answered Joe； with his pleasant
smile。
〃By gosh； I don't blame ye！〃 burst out Will Metzar。 〃I hed that experience
onct； an' onct's enough。〃
The boys laughed and looked in a more friendly manner at Joe。 Though he said
he had been frightened； his cool and careless manner belied his words。 In
Joe's low voice and clear； gray eye there was something potent and magnetic；
which subtly influence those with whom he came in contact。
While his new friends were at dinner Joe strolled over to where Colonel Zane
sat on the doorstep of his home。
〃How did you get on with the boys？〃 inquired the colonel。
〃All right； I hope。 Say； Colonel Zane； I'd like to talk to your Indian guide。〃
Colonel Zane spoke a few words in the Indian language to the guide； who left
his post and came over to them。 The colonel then had a short conversation with
him； at the conclusion of which he pointed toward Joe。
〃How doshake；〃 said Tome； extending his hand。
Joe smiled； and returned the friendly hand…pressure。
〃Shawneeketch'um？〃 asked the Indian； in his fairly intelligible English。
Joe nodded his head； while Colonel Zane spoke once more in Shawnee； explaining
the cause of Silvertip's emnity。
〃ShawneechiefonebadInjun；〃 replied Tome； seriously。
〃Silvertipmadthunder…mad。 Ketch'um palefacescalp'um sure。〃
After giving this warning the chief returned to his former position near the
corner of the cabin。
