betty zane-第42部分

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an；〃　said　Col。　Zane。

Jonathan　darted　into　the　house。　When　he　reappeared　second　later　he　had　three　rifles。

〃I　see　horses；　Lew。　What　do　you　make　out？〃　said　Jonathan。　〃It's　a　bold　manoeuvre　for　Indians　unless　they　have　a　strong　force。〃

〃Hostile　Injuns　wouldn't　show　themselves　like　that。　Maybe　they　ain't　redskins　at　all。　We'll　go　down　to　the　bluff。〃

〃Oh；　yes；　let　us　go；〃　cried　Betty；　walking　down　the　path　toward　Wetzel。

Col。　Zane　followed　her；　and　presently　the　whole　party　were　on　their　way　to　the　river。　When　they　reached　the　bluff　they　saw　two　horses　come　down　the　opposite　bank　and　enter　the　water。　Then　they　seemed　to　fade　from　view。　The　tall　trees　east　a　dark　shadow　over　the　water　and　the　horses　had　become　lost　in　this　obscurity。　Col。　Zane　and　Jonathan　walked　up　and　down　the　bank　seeking　to　find　a　place　which　afforded　a　clearer　view　of　the　river。

〃There　they　come；〃　shouted　Silas。

〃Yes；　I　see　them　just　swimming　out　of　the　shadow；〃　said　Col。　Zane。　〃Both　horses　have　riders。　Lewis；　what　can　you　make　out？〃

〃It's　Isaac　and　an　Indian　girl；〃　answered　Wetzel。

This　startling　announcement　created　a　commotion　in　the　little　group。　It　was　followed　by　a　chorus　of　exclamations。

〃Heavens！　Wetzel；　you　have　wonderful　eyes。　I　hope　to　God　you　are　right。　There；　I　see　the　foremost　rider　waving　his　hand；〃　cried　Col。　Zane。

〃Oh；　Bessie；　Bessie！　I　believe　Lew　is　right。　Look　at　Tige；〃　said　Betty　excitedly。

Everybody　had　forgotten　the　dog。　He　had　come　down　the　path　with　Betty　and　had　pressed　close　to　her。　First　he　trembled；　then　whined；　then　with　a　loud　bark　he　ran　down　the　bank　and　dashed　into　the　water。

〃Hel…lo；　Betts；〃　came　the　cry　across　the　water。　There　was　no　mistaking　that　clear　voice。　It　was　Isaac's。

Although　the　sun　had　long　gone　down　behind　the　hills　daylight　lingered。　It　was　bright　enough　for　the　watchers　to　recognize　Isaac　Zane。　He　sat　high　on　his　horse　and　in　his　hand　he　held　the　bridle　of　a　pony　that　was　swimming　beside　him。　The　pony　bore　the　slender　figure　of　a　girl。　She　was　bending　forward　and　her　hands　were　twisted　in　the　pony's　mane。

By　this　time　the　Colonel　and　Jonathan　were　standing　in　the　shallow　water　waiting　to　grasp　the　reins　and　lead　the　horses　up　the　steep　bank。　Attracted　by　the　unusual　sight　of　a　wildly　gesticulating　group　on　the　river　bluff；　the　settlers　from　the　Fort　hurried　down　to　the　scene　of　action。　Capt。　Boggs　and　Alfred　Clarke　joined　the　crowd。　Old　Sam　came　running　down　from　the　barn。　All　were　intensely　excited　and　Col。　Zane　and　Jonathan　reached　for　the　bridles　and　led　the　horses　up　the　slippery　incline。

〃Eb；　Jack；　Silas；　here　I　am　alive　and　well；〃　cried　Isaac　as　he　leaped　from　his　horse。　〃Betty；　you　darling；　it's　Isaac。　Don't　stand　staring　as　if　I　were　a　ghost。〃

Whereupon　Betty　ran　to　him；　flung　her　arms　around　his　neck　and　clung　to　him。　Isaac　kissed　her　tenderly　and　disengaged　himself　from　her　arms。

〃You'll　get　all　wet。　Glad　to　see　me？　Well；　I　never　had　such　a　happy　moment　in　my　life。　Betty；　I　have　brought　you　home　one　whom　you　must　love　This　is　Myeerah；　your　sister。　She　is　wet　and　cold。　Take　her　home　and　make　her　warm　and　comfortable。　You　must　forget　all　the　past；　for　Myeerah　has　saved　me　from　the　stake。〃

Betty　had　forgotten　the　other。　At　her　brother's　words　she　turned　and　saw　a　slender　form。　Even　the　wet；　mud…stained　and　ragged　Indian　costume　failed　to　hide　the　grace　of　that　figure。　She　saw　a　beautiful　face；　as　white　as　her　own；　and　dark　eyes　full　of　unshed　tears。

〃The　Eagle　is　free；〃　said　the　Indian　girl　in　her　low；　musical　voice。

〃You　have　brought　him　home　to　us。　Come；〃　said　Betty　taking　the　hand　of　the　trembling　maiden。

The　settlers　crowded　round　Isaac　and　greeted　him　warms　while　they　plied　him　with　innumerable　questions。　Was　he　free？　Who　was　the　Indian　girl？　Had　he　run　off　with　her？　Were　the　Indians　preparing　for　war？

On　the　way　to　the　Colonel's　house　Isaac　told　briefly　of　his　escape　from　the　Wyandots；　of　his　capture　by　Cornplanter；　and　of　his　rescue。　He　also　mentioned　the　preparations　for　war　he　had　seen　in　Cornplanter's　camp；　and　Girty's　story　of　Col。　Crawford's　death。

〃How　does　it　come　that　you　have　the　Indian　girl　with　you？〃　asked　Col。　Zane　as　they　left　the　curious　settlers　and　entered　the　house。

〃I　am　going　to　marry　Myeerah　and　I　brought　her　with　me　for　that　purpose。　When　we　are　married　I　will　go　back　to　the　Wyandots　and　live　with　them　until　peace　is　declared。〃

〃Humph！　Will　it　be　declared？〃

〃Myeerah　has　promised　it；　and　I　believe　she　can　bring　it　about；　especially　if　I　marry　her。　Peace　with　the　Hurons　may　help　to　bring　about　peace　with　the　Shawnees。　I　shall　never　cease　to　work　for　that　end；　but　even　if　peace　cannot　be　secured；　my　duty　still　is　to　Myeerah。　She　saved　me　from　a　most　horrible　death。〃

〃If　your　marriage　with　this　Indian　girl　will　secure　the　friendly　offices　of　that　grim　old　warrior　Tarhe；　it　is　far　more　than　fighting　will　ever　do。　I　do　not　want　you　to　go　back。　Would　we　ever　see　you　again？〃

〃Oh；　yes；　often　I　hope。　You　see；　if　I　marry　Myeerah　the　Hurons　will　allow　me　every　liberty。〃

〃Well；　that　puts　a　different　light　on　the　subject。〃

〃Oh；　how　I　wish　you　and　Jonathan　could　have　seen　Thundercloud　and　his　two　hundred　warriors　ride　into　Cornplanter's　camp。　It　was　magnificent！　The　braves　were　all　crowded　near　the　stake　where　I　was　bound。　The　fire　had　been　lighted。　Suddenly　the　silence　was　shattered　by　an　awful　yell。　It　was　Thundercloud's　yell。　I　knew　it　because　I　had　heard　it　before；　and　anyone　who　had　once　heard　that　yell　could　never　forget　it。　In　what　seemed　an　incredibly　short　time　Thundercloud's　warriors　were　lined　up　in　the　middle　of　the　camp。　The　surprise　was　so　complete　that；　had　it　been　necessary；　they　could　have　ridden　Cornplanter's　braves　down；　killed　many；　routed　the　others；　and　burned　the　village。　Cornplanter　will　not　get　over　that　surprise　in　many　a　moon。〃

Betty　had　always　hated　the　very　mention　of　the　Indian　girl　who　had　been　the　cause　of　her　brother's　long　absence　from　home。　But　she　was　so　happy　in　the　knowledge　of　his　return　that　she　felt　that　it　was　in　her　power　to　forgive　much；　more　over；　the　white；　weary　face　of　the　Indian　maiden　touched　Betty's　warm　heart。　With　her　quick　intuition　she　had　divined　that　this　was　even　a　greater　trial　for　Myeerah。　Undoubtedly　the　Indian　girl　feared　the　scorn　of　her　lover's　people。　She　showed　it　in　her　trembling　hands；　in　her　fearful　glances。

Finding　that　Myeerah　could　speak　and　understand　English；　Betty　became　more　interested　in　her　charge　every　moment。　She　set　about　to　make　Myeerah　comfortable；　and　while　she　removed　the　wet　and　stained　garments　she　talked　all　the　time。　She　told　her　how　happy　she　was　that　Isaac　was　alive　and　well。　She　said　Myeerah's　heroism　in　saving　him　should　atone　for　all　the　past；　and　that　Isaac's　family　would　welcome　her　in　his　home。

Gradually　Myeerah's　agitation　subsided　under　Betty's　sweet　graciousness；　and　by　the　time　Betty　had　dressed　her　in　a　white　gown；　had　brushed　the　dark　hair　and　added　a　bright　ribbon　to　the　simple　toilet；　Myeerah　had　so　far　forgotten　her　fears　as　to　take　a　shy　pleasure　in　the　picture　of　herself　in　the　mirror。　As　for　Betty；　she　gave　vent　to　a　little　cry　of　delight。　〃Oh；　you　are　perfectly　lovely；〃　cried　Betty。　〃In　that　gown　no　one　would　know　you　as　a　Wyandot　princess。〃

〃Myeerah's　mother　was　a　white　woman。〃

〃I　have　heard　your　story；　Myeerah；　and　it　is　wonderful。　You　must　tell　me　all　about　your　life　with　the　Indians。　You　speak　my　language　almost　as　well　as　I　do。　Who　taught　you？〃

〃Myeerah　learned　to　talk　with　the　White　Eagle。　She　can　speak　French　with　the　Coureurs…des…bois。〃

〃That's　more　than　I　can　do；　Myeerah。　And　I　had　French　teacher；〃　said　Betty；　laughing。

〃Hello；　up　there；〃　came　Isaac's　voice　from　below。

〃Come　up；　Isaac；〃　called　Betty。

〃Is　this　my　Indian　sweetheart？〃　exclaimed　Isaac；　stopping　at　the　door。　〃Betty；　isn't　she〃

〃Yes；〃　answered　Betty；　〃she　is　simply　beautiful。〃

〃Come；　Myeerah；　we　must　go　down　to　supper；〃　said　Isaac；　taking　her　in　his　arms　and　kissing　her。　〃Now　you　must　not　be　afraid；　nor　mind　being　looked　at。〃

〃Everyone　will　be　kind　to　you；〃　said　Betty；　taking　her　hand。　Myeerah　had　slipped　from　Isaac's　arm　and　hesitated　and　hung　back。　〃Come；〃　continued　Betty；　〃I　will　stay　with　you；　and　you　need　not　talk　if　you　do　not　wish。〃

Thus　reassured　Myeerah　allowed　Betty　to　lead　her　down　stairs。　Isaac　had　gone　ahead　and　was　waiting　at　the　door。

The　big　room　was　brilliantly　lighted　with　pine　knots。　Mrs。　Zane　was　arranging　the　dishes　on　the　table。　Old　Sam　and　Annie　were　hurrying　to　and　fro　from　the　kitchen。　Col。　Zane　had　just　come　up　the　cellar　stairs　carrying　a　mouldy　looking　cask。　From　its　appearance　it　might　have　been　a　powder　keg；　but　the　merry　twinkle　in　the　Colonel's　eyes　showed　that　the　cask　contained　something　as　precious；　perhaps；　as　powder；　but　not　quite　so　dangerous。　It　was　a　cask　of　wine　over　thirty　years　old。　With　Col。　Zane's　other　effects　it　had　stood　the　test　of　the　long　wagon…train　journey　over　the　Virginia　mountains；　and　of　the　raft…ride　down　the　Ohio。　Col。　Zane　thought　the　feast　he　had　arranged　for　Isaac　would　be　a　fitting　occasion　for　the　breaking　of　the　cask。

Major　McCullough；　Capt。　Boggs　and　Hugh　Bennet　had　been　invited。　Wetzel　had　been　persuaded　to　come。　Betty's