the spirit of the border-第4节
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had an opportunity of studying Indian nature and believe the race inherently
noble。 He has been driven to make war； and I want to help him into other
paths。〃
Joe left the two ministers talking earnestly and turned toward Mrs。 Wentz。
The fur…trader's wife was glowing with pleasure。 She held in her hand several
rude trinkets； and was explaining to her listener； a young woman； that the
toys were for the children； having been brought all the way from Williamsburg。
〃Kate； where's Nell？〃 Joe asked of the girl。
〃She went on an errand for Mrs。 Wentz。〃
Kate Wells was the opposite of her sister。 Her motions were slow； easy and
consistent with her large； full； form。 Her brown eyes and hair contrasted
sharply with Nell's。 The greatest difference in the sisters lay in that Nell's
face was sparkling and full of the fire of her eager young life； while Kate's
was calm； like the unruffled surface of a deep lake。
〃That's Jim； my brother。 We're going with you；〃 said Joe。
〃Are you？ I'm glad；〃 answered the girl； looking at the handsome earnest face
of the young minister。
〃Your brother's like you for all the world；〃 whispered Mrs。 Wentz。
〃He does look like you；〃 said Kate； with her slow smile。
〃Which means you think； or hope； that that is all；〃 retorted Joe laughingly。
〃Well； Kate； there the resemblance ends； thank God for Jim！〃
He spoke in a sad； bitter tone which caused both women to look at him
wonderingly。 Joe had to them ever been full of surprises； never until then had
they seen evidences of sadness in his face。 A moment's silence ensued。 Mrs。
Wentz gazed lovingly at the children who were playing with the trinkets； while
Kate mused over the young man's remark； and began studying his； half…averted
face。 She felt warmly drawn to him by the strange expression in the glance he
had given his brother。 The tenderness in his eyes did not harmonize with much
of this wild and reckless boy's behavior。 To Kate he had always seemed so
bold； so cold； so different from other men； and yet here was proof that Master
Joe loved his brother。
The murmured conversation of the two ministers was interrupted by a low cry
from outside the cabin。 A loud； coarse laugh followed； and then a husky voice；
〃Hol' on； my purty lass。〃'
Joe took two long strides； and was on the door…step。 He saw Nell struggling
violently in the grasp of the half…drunken teamster。
〃I'll jes' hev' to kiss this lassie fer luck；〃 he said in a tone of good
humor。
At the same instant Joe saw three loungers laughing； and a fourth； the
grizzled frontiersman； starting forward with a yell。
〃Let me go！〃 cried Nell。
Just when the teamster had pulled her close to him； and was bending his red；
moist face to hers； two brown； sinewy hands grasped his neck with an angry
clutch。 Deprived thus of breath； his mouth opened； his tongue protruded； his
eyes seemed starting from their sockets； and his arms beat the air。 Then he
was lifted and flung with a crash against the cabin wall。 Falling； he lay in
a heap on the grass； while the blood flowed from a cut on his temple。
〃What's this？〃 cried a man； authoritatively。 He had come swiftly up； and
arrived at the scene where stood the grizzled frontiersman。
〃It was purty handy； Wentz。 I couldn't hev' did better myself； and I was
comin' for that purpose；〃 said the frontiersman。 〃Leffler was tryin' to kiss
the lass。 He's been drunk fer two days。 That little girl's sweetheart kin
handle himself some； now you take my word on it。〃
〃I'll agree Leff's bad when he's drinkin'；〃 answered the fur…trader； and to
Joe he added； 〃He's liable to look you up when he comes around。〃
〃Tell him if I am here when he gets sober； I'll kill him；〃 Joe cried in a
sharp voice。 His gaze rested once more on the fallen teamster； and again an
odd contraction of his eyes was noticeable。 The glance was cutting； as if with
the flash of cold gray steel。 〃Nell； I'm sorry I wasn't round sooner；〃 he
said； apologetically； as if it was owing to his neglect the affair had
happened。
As they entered the cabin Nell stole a glance at him。 This was the third time
he had injured a man because of her。 She had on several occasions seen that
cold； steely glare in his eyes； and it had always frightened her。 It was gone；
however； before they were inside the building。 He said something which she did
not hear distinctly； and his calm voice allayed her excitement。 She had been
angry with him； but now she realized that her resentment had disappeared。 He
had spoken so kindly after the outburst。 Had he not shown that he considered
himself her protector and lover？ A strange emotion； sweet and subtle as the
taste of wine； thrilled her； while a sense of fear because of his strength was
mingled with her pride in it。 Any other girl would have been only too glad to
have such a champion； she would； too； hereafter； for he was a man of whom to
be proud。
〃Look here； Nell； you haven't spoken to me；〃 Joe cried suddenly； seeming to
understand that she had not even heard what he said； so engrossed had she been
with her reflections。 〃Are you mad with me yet？〃 he continued。 〃Why； Nell； I'm
inI love you！〃
Evidently Joe thought such fact a sufficient reason for any act on his part。
His tender tone conquered Nell； and she turned to him with flushed cheeks and
glad eyes。
〃I wasn't angry at all；〃 she whispered； and then； eluding the arm he extended；
she ran into the other room。
Chapter III。
Joe lounged in the doorway of the cabin； thoughtfully contemplating two quiet
figures that were lying in the shade of a maple tree。 One he recognized as the
Indian with whom Jim had spent an earnest hour that morning； the red son of
the woods was wrapped in slumber。 He had placed under his head a many…hued
homespun shirt which the young preacher had given him； but while asleep his
head had rolled off this improvised pillow； and the bright garment lay free；
attracting the eye。 Certainly it had led to the train of thought which had
found lodgment in Joe's fertile brain。
The other sleeper was a short； stout man whom Joe had seen several times
before。 This last fellow did not appear to be well…balanced in his mind； and
was the butt of the settlers' jokes； while the children called him 〃Loorey。〃
He； like the Indian； was sleeping off the effects of the previous night's
dissipation。
During a few moments Joe regarded the recumbent figures with an expression on
his face which told that he thought in them were great possibilities for
sport。 With one quick glance around he disappeared within the cabin； and when
he showed himself at the door； surveying the village square with mirthful
eyes； he held in his hand a small basket of Indian design。 It was made of
twisted grass； and simply contained several bits of soft； chalky stone such as
the Indians used for painting； which collection Joe had discovered among the
fur…trader's wares。
He glanced around once more； and saw that all those in sight were busy with
their work。 He gave the short man a push； and chuckled when there was no
response other than a lazy grunt。 Joe took the Indians' gaudy shirt； and；
lifting Loorey； slipped it around him； shoved the latter's arms through the
sleeves； and buttoned it in front。 He streaked the round face with red and
white paint； and then； dexterously extracting the eagle plume from the
Indian's head…dress； stuck it in Loorey's thick shock of hair。 It was all done
in a moment； after which Joe replaced the basket； and went down to the river。
Several times that morning he had visited the rude wharf where Jeff Lynn； the
grizzled old frontiersman； busied himself with preparations for the
raft…journey down the Ohio。 Lynn had been employed to guide the missionary's
party to Fort Henry； and； as the brothers had acquainted him with their
intention of accompanying the travelers； he had constructed a raft for them
and their horses。
Joe laughed when he saw the dozen two…foot logs fastened together； upon which
a rude shack had been erected for shelter。 This slight protection from sun and
storm was all the brothers would have on their long journey。
Joe noted； however； that the larger raft had been prepared with some thought
for the comfort of the girls。 The floor of the little hut was raised so that
the waves which broke over the logs could not reach it。 Taking a peep into
the structure； Joe was pleased to see that Nell and Kate would be comfortable；
even during a storm。 A buffalo robe and two red blankets gave to the interior
a cozy； warm look。 He observed that some of the girls' luggage was already on
board。
〃When'll we be off？〃 he inquired。
〃Sun…up；〃 answered Lynn； briefly。
〃I'm glad of that。 I like to be on the go in the early morning；〃 said Joe；
cheerfully。
〃Most folks from over Eastways ain't in a hurry to tackle the river；〃 replied
Lynn； eyeing Joe sharply。
