the spirit of the border-第33节
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whereupon he raged to and fro under the tree； cursing with foam…flecked lips；
and actually howling with baffled rage。 His fury was so great that he became
suddenly weak； and was compelled to sit down。
〃She's safe； you villainous renegade！〃 cried Joe。
〃Hush； Joe！ Do not anger him。 It can do no good；〃 interposed Jim。
〃Why not？ We couldn't be worse off；〃 answered Joe。
〃I'll git her； I'll git her agin；〃 panted Girty。 〃I'll keep her； an' she'll
love me。〃
The spectacle of this perverted wretch speaking as if he had been cheated out
of love was so remarkable； so pitiful； so monstrous； that for a moment Joe was
dumbfounded。
〃Bah！ You white…livered murderer！〃 Joe hissed。 He well knew it was not wise to
give way to his passion； but he could not help it。 This beast in human guise；
whining for love； maddened him。 〃Any white woman on earth would die a thousand
deaths and burn for a million years afterward rather than love you！〃
〃I'll see you killed at the stake； beggin' fer mercy； an' be feed fer
buzzards；〃 croaked the renegade。
〃Then kill me now； or you may slip up on one of your cherished
buzzard…feasts；〃 cried Joe； with glinting eye and taunting voice。 〃Then go
sneaking back to your hole like a hyena； and stay there。 Wetzel is on your
trail！ He missed you last night； but it was because of the girl。 He's after
you； Girty； he'll get you one of these days； and when he doesMy God！…〃
Nothing could be more revolting than that swarthy； evil face turned pale with
fear。 Girty's visage was a ghastly； livid white。 So earnest； so intense was
Joe's voice； that it seemed to all as if Wetzel was about to dart into the
glade； with his avenging tomahawk uplifted to wreak an awful vengeance on the
abductor。 The renegade's white； craven heart contained no such thing as
courage。 If he ever fought it was like a wolf； backed by numbers。 The
resemblance ceased here； for even a cornered wolf will show his teeth； and
Girty； driven to bay； would have cringed and cowered。 Even now at the mention
of Wetzel's enmity he trembled。
〃I'll shet yer wind；〃 he cried； catching up his tomahawk and making for Joe。
Silvertip intervened； and prevented the assault。 He led Girty back to his seat
and spoke low； evidently trying to soothe the renegade's feelings。
〃Silvertip； give me a tomahawk； and let me fight him；〃 implored Joe。
〃Paleface bravelike Injun chief。 Paleface Shawnee's prisonerno speak
more；〃 answered Silvertip； with respect in his voice。
〃Oh； where's Nellie？〃
A grief…stricken whisper caught Jim's ear。 He turned to see Kate's wide；
questioning eyes fixed upon him。
〃Nell was rescued。〃
〃Thank God！〃 murmured the girl。
〃Come along；〃 shouted Girty； in his harsh voice； as； grasping Kate's arm； he
pulled the girl violently to her feet。 Then； picking up his rifle； he led her
into the forest。 Silvertip followed with Joe； while the remaining Indian
guarded Jim。
The great council…lodge of the Delawares rang with savage and fiery eloquence。
Wingenund paced slowly before the orators。 Wise as he was； he wanted advice
before deciding what was to be done with the missionary。 The brothers had been
taken to the chief； who immediately called a council。 The Indians sat in a
half circle around the lodge。 The prisoners； with hands bound； guarded by two
brawny braves； stood in one corner gazing with curiosity and apprehension at
this formidable array。 Jim knew some of the braves； but the majority of those
who spoke bitterly against the palefaces had never frequented the Village of
Peace。 Nearly all were of the Wolf tribe of Delawares。 Jim whispered to Joe；
interpreting that part of the speeches bearing upon the disposal to be made of
them。 Two white men； dressed in Indian garb； held prominent positions before
Wingenund。 The boys saw a resemblance between one of these men and Jim Girty；
and accordingly concluded he was the famous renegade； or so…called white
Indian； Simon Girty。 The other man was probably Elliott； the Tory； with whom
Girty had deserted from Fort Pitt。 Jim Girty was not present。 Upon nearing
the encampment he had taken his captive and disappeared in a ravine。
Shingiss； seldom in favor of drastic measures with prisoners； eloquently urged
initiating the brothers into the tribe。 Several other chiefs were favorably
inclined； though not so positive as Shingiss。 Kotoxen was for the death
penalty； the implacable Pipe for nothing less than burning at the stake。 Not
one was for returning the missionary to his Christian Indians。 Girty and
Elliott； though requested to speak； maintained an ominous silence。
Wingenund strode with thoughtful mien before his council。 He had heard all his
wise chiefs and his fiery warriors。 Supreme was his power。 Freedom or death
for the captives awaited the wave of his hand。 His impassive face gave not the
slightest inkling of what to expect Therefore the prisoners were forced to
stand there with throbbing hearts while the chieftain waited the customary
dignified interval before addressing the council。
〃Wingenund has heard the Delaware wise men and warriors。 The white Indian
opens not his lips； his silence broods evil for the palefaces。 Pipe wants the
blood of the white men； the Shawnee chief demands the stake。 Wingenund says
free the white father who harms no Indian。 Wingenund hears no evil in the
music of his voice。 The white father's brother should die。 Kill the companion
of Deathwind！〃
A plaintive murmur； remarkable when coming from an assembly of stern…browed
chiefs； ran round the circle at the mention of the dread appellation。
〃The white father is free；〃 continued Wingenund。 〃Let one of my runners
conduct him to the Village of Peace。〃
A brave entered and touched Jim on the shoulder。
Jim shook his head and pointed to Joe。 The runner touched Joe。
〃No； no。 I am not the missionary；〃 cried Joe； staring aghast at his brother。
〃Jim； have you lost your senses？〃
Jim sadly shook his head； and turning to Wingenund made known in a broken
Indian dialect that his brother was the missionary； and would sacrifice
himself； taking this opportunity to practice the Christianity he had taught。
〃The white father is brave； but he is known；〃 broke in Wingenund's deep voice；
while he pointed to the door of the lodge。 〃Let him go back to his Christian
Indians。〃
The Indian runner cut Joe's bonds； and once more attempted to lead him from
the lodge。 Rage and misery shown in the lad's face。 He pushed the runner
aside。 He exhausted himself trying to explain； to think of Indian words enough
to show he was not the missionary。 He even implored Girty to speak for him。
When the renegade sat there stolidly silent Joe's rage burst out。
〃Curse you all for a lot of ignorant redskins。 I am not a missionary。 I am
Deathwind's friend。 I killed a Delaware。 I was the companion of Le Vent de la
Mort！〃
Joe's passionate vehemence； and the truth that spoke from his flashing eyes
compelled the respect； if not the absolute belief of the Indians。 The savages
slowly shook their heads。 They beheld the spectacle of two brothers； one a
friend； the other an enemy of all Indians； each willing to go to the stake； to
suffer an awful agony； for love of the other。 Chivalrous deeds always stir an
Indian's heart。 It was like a redman to die for his brother。 The indifference；
the contempt for death； won their admiration。
〃Let the white father stand forth；〃 sternly called Wingenund。
A hundred somber eyes turned on the prisoners。 Except that one wore a buckskin
coat； the other a linsey one； there was no difference。 The strong figures were
the same； the white faces alike； the stern resolve in the gray eyes
identicalthey were twin brothers。
Wingenund once more paced before his silent chiefs。 To deal rightly with this
situation perplexed him。 To kill both palefaces did not suit him。 Suddenly he
thought of a way to decide。
〃Let Wingenund's daughter come；〃 he ordered。
A slight； girlish figure entered。 It was Whispering Winds。 Her beautiful face
glowed while she listened to her father。
〃Wingenund's daughter has her mother's eyes； that were beautiful as a doe's；
keen as a hawk's； far…seeing as an eagle's。 Let the Delaware maiden show her
blood。 Let her point out the white father。〃
Shyly but unhesitatingly Whispering Winds laid her hand Jim's arm。
〃Missionary； begone！〃 came the chieftain's command。 〃Thank Wingenund's
daughter for your life； not the God of your Christians！〃
He waved his hand to the runner。 The brave grasped Jim's arm。
〃Good…by； Joe；〃 brokenly said Jim。
〃Old fellow； good…by；〃 came the answer。
They took one last； long look into each others' eyes。 Jim's glance betrayed
his fearhe would never see his brother again。 The light in Joe's eyes was
the old steely flash； the indomitable spiritwhile there was life there was
hope。
〃Let the Shawnee chief
