the spirit of the border-第43节
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prosperity。 But this generation； if it survives； will never see prosperity and
happiness。 What does this border life engender in a pioneer who holds his own
in it？ Of all things； not Christianity。 He becomes a fighter； keen as the
redskin who steals through the coverts。〃
The serene days of the Village of Peace had passed into history。 Soon that
depraved vagabond； the French trader； with cheap trinkets and vile whisky；
made his appearance。 This was all that was needed to inflame the visitors。
Where they had been only bold and impudent； they became insulting and abusive。
They execrated the Christian indians for their neutrality； scorned them for
worshiping this unknown God； and denounced a religion which made women of
strong men。
The slaughtering of cattle commenced； the despoiling of maize fields； and
robbing of corn…cribs began with the drunkenness。
All this time it was seen that Girty and Elliott consulted often with Pipe and
Half King。 The latter was the only Huron chief opposed to neutrality toward
the Village of Peace； and he was； if possible； more fierce in his hatred than
Pipe。 The future of the Christian settlement rested with these two chiefs。
Girty and Elliott； evidently； were the designing schemers； and they worked
diligently on the passions of these simple…minded； but fierce； warlike chiefs。
Greatly to the relief of the distracted missionaries； Heckewelder returned to
the village。 Jaded and haggard； he presented a travel…worn appearance。 He
made the astonishing assertions that he had been thrice waylaid and assaulted
on his way to Goshocking； then detained by a roving band of Chippewas； and
soon after his arrival at their camping ground a renegade had run off with a
white woman captive； while the Indians west of the village were in an uproar。
Zeisberger； however； was safe in the Moravian town of Salem； some miles west
of Goshocking。 Heckewelder had expected to find the same condition of affairs
as existed in the Village of Peace； but he was bewildered by the great array
of hostile Indians。 Chiefs who had once extended friendly hands to him； now
drew back coldly； as they said：
〃Washington is dead。 The American armies are cut to pieces。 The few thousands
who had escaped the British are collecting at Fort Pitt to steal the Indian's
land。〃
Heckewelder vigorously denied all these assertions； knowing they had been
invented by Girty and Elliott。 He exhausted all his skill and patience in the
vain endeavor to show Pipe where he was wrong。 Half King had been so well
coached by the renegades that he refused to listen。 The other chiefs
maintained a cold reserve that was baffling and exasperating。 Wingenund took
no active part in the councils； but his presence apparently denoted that he
had sided with the others。 The outlook was altogether discouraging。
〃I'm completely fagged out；〃 declared Heckewelder； that night when he returned
to Edwards' cabin。 He dropped into a chair as one whose strength is entirely
spent； whose indomitable spirit has at last been broken。
〃Lie down to rest；〃 said Edwards。
〃Oh； I can't。 Matters look so black。〃
〃You're tired out and discouraged。 You'll feel better to…morrow。 The situation
is not； perhaps； so hopeless。 The presence of these frontiersmen should
encourage us。〃
〃What will they do？ What can they do？〃 cried Heckewelder； bitterly。 〃I tell
you never before have I encountered such gloomy； stony Indians。 It seems to me
that they are in no vacillating state。 They act like men whose course is
already decided upon； and who are only waiting。〃
〃For what？〃 asked Jim； after a long silence。
〃God only knows！ Perhaps for a time； possibly for a final decision； and； it
may be； for a reason； the very thought of which makes me faint。〃
〃Tell us；〃 said Edwards； speaking quietly； for he had ever been the calmest of
the missionaries。
〃Never mind。 Perhaps it's only my nerves。 I'm all unstrung； and could suspect
anything to…night。〃
〃Heckewelder； tell us？〃 Jim asked； earnestly。
〃My friends； I pray I am wrong。 God help us if my fears are correct。 I believe
the Indians are waiting for Jim Girty。
Chapter XXII。
Simon Girty lolled on a blanket in Half King's teepee。 He was alone； awaiting
his allies。 Rings of white smoke curled lazily from his lips as he puffed on a
long Indian pipe； and gazed out over the clearing that contained the Village
of Peace。
Still water has something in its placid surface significant of deep channels；
of hidden depths； the dim outline of the forest is dark with meaning；
suggestive of its wild internal character。 So Simon Girty's hard； bronzed face
betrayed the man。 His degenerate brother's features were revolting； but his
own were striking； and fell short of being handsome only because of their
craggy hardness。 Years of revolt； of bitterness； of consciousness of wasted
life； had graven their stern lines on that copper； masklike face。 Yet despite
the cruelty there； the forbidding shade on it； as if a reflection from a dark
soul； it was not wholly a bad countenance。 Traces still lingered； faintly； of
a man in whom kindlier feelings had once predominated。
In a moment of pique Girty had deserted his military post at Fort Pitt； and
become an outlaw of his own volition。 Previous to that time he had been an
able soldier； and a good fellow。 When he realized that his step was
irrevocable； that even his best friends condemned him； he plunged； with anger
and despair in his heart； into a war upon his own race。 Both of his brothers
had long been border ruffians； whose only protection from the outraged
pioneers lay in the faraway camps of hostile tribes。 George Girty had so sunk
his individuality into the savage's that he was no longer a white man。 Jim
Girty stalked over the borderland with a bloody tomahawk； his long arm
outstretched to clutch some unfortunate white woman； and with his hideous
smile of death。 Both of these men were far lower than the worst savages； and
it was almost wholly to their deeds of darkness that Simon Girty owed his
infamous name。
To…day White Chief； as Girty was called； awaited his men。 A slight tremor of
the ground caused him to turn his gaze。 The Huron chief； Half King；
resplendent in his magnificent array； had entered the teepee。 He squatted in
a corner； rested the bowl of his great pipe on his knee； and smoked in
silence。 The habitual frown of his black brow； like a shaded； overhanging
cliff； the fire flashing from his eyes； as a shining light is reflected from a
dark pool； his closely…shut； bulging jaw； all bespoke a nature； lofty in its
Indian pride and arrogance； but more cruel than death。
Another chief stalked into the teepee and seated himself。 It was Pipe。 His
countenance denoted none of the intelligence that made Wingenund's face so
noble； it was even coarser than Half King's； and his eyes； resembling live
coals in the dark； the long； cruel lines of his jaw； the thin； tightly…closed
lips； which looked as if they could relax only to utter a savage command；
expressed fierce cunning and brutality。
〃White Chief is idle to…day；〃 said Half King； speaking in the Indian tongue。
〃King； I am waiting。 Girty is slow； but sure；〃 answered the renegade。
〃The eagle sails slowly round and round； up and up；〃 replied Half King； with
majestic gestures； 〃until his eye sees all； until he knows his time； then he
folds his wings and swoops down from the blue sky like the forked fire。 So
does White Chief。 But Half King is impatient。〃
〃To…day decides the fate of the Village of Peace；〃 answered Girty；
imperturbably。
〃Ugh！〃 grunted Pipe。
Half King vented his approval in the same meaning exclamation。
An hour passed； the renegade smoked in silence； the chiefs did likewise。
A horseman rode up to the door of the teepee； dismounted； and came in。 It was
Elliott。 He had been absent twenty hours。 His buckskin suit showed the effect
of hard riding through the thickets。
〃Hullo； Bill； any sign of Jim？〃 was Girty's greeting to his lieutenant。
〃Nary。 He's not been seen near the Delaware camp。 He's after that chap who
married Winds。〃
〃I thought so。 Jim's roundin' up a tenderfoot who will be a bad man to handle
if he has half a chance。 I saw as much the day he took his horse away from
Silver。 He finally did fer the Shawnee； an' almost put Jim out。 My brother
oughtn't to give rein to personal revenge at a time like this。〃 Girty's face
did not change； but his tone was one of annoyance。
〃Jim said he'd be here to…day； didn't he？〃
〃To…day is as long as we allowed to wait。〃
〃He'll come。 Where's Jake and Mac？〃
〃They're here somewhere； drinkin' like fish； an' raisin' hell。〃
Two more renegades appeared at the door； and； entering the teepee； squatted
down in Indian fashion。 The little wiry man with the wizened face was McKee；
the other was the latest acquisition to the renegad
