betty zane-第46部分

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〃Let　this　end　right　here；〃　ordered　Col。　Zane。　〃Clarke；　you　have　made　a　very　strong　statement。　Have　you　anything　to　substantiate　your　words？〃

〃I　think　I　have；〃　said　Clarke。　He　was　standing　erect；　his　face　white　and　his　eyes　like　blue　steel。　〃I　knew　him　at　Ft。　Pitt。　He　was　a　liar　and　a　drunkard　there。　He　was　a　friend　of　the　Indians　and　of　the　British。　What　he　was　there　he　must　be　here。　It　was　Wetzel　who　told　me　to　watch　him。　Wetzel　and　I　both　think　he　knew　the　Indians　were　on　the　island。〃

〃Col。　Zane；　it　is　false；〃　said　Miller；　huskily。　〃He　is　trying　to　put　you　against　me。　He　hates　me　because　your　sister〃

〃You　cur！〃　cried　Clarke；　striking　at　Miller。　Col。　Zane　struck　up　the　infuriated　young　man's　arm。

〃Give　us　knives；　or　anything；〃　panted　Clarke。

〃Yes；　let　us　fight　it　out　now；〃　said　Miller。

〃Capt。　Boggs；　take　Clarke　to　the　block…house。　Make　him　stay　there　if　you　have　to　lock　him　up；〃　commanded　Col。　Zane。　〃Miller；　as　for　you；　I　cannot　condemn　you　without　proof。　If　I　knew　positively　that　there　were　Indians　on　the　island　and　that　you　were　aware　of　it；　you　would　be　a　dead　man　in　less　time　than　it　takes　to　say　it。　I　will　give　you　the　benefit　of　the　doubt　and　twenty…four　hours　to　leave　the　Fort。〃

The　villagers　dispersed　and　went　to　their　homes。　They　were　inclined　to　take　Clarke's　side。　Miller　had　become　disliked。　His　drinking　habits　and　his　arrogant　and　bold　manner　had　slowly　undermined　the　friendships　he　had　made　during　the　early　part　of　his　stay　at　Ft。　Henry；　while　Clarke's　good　humor　and　willingness　to　help　any　one；　his　gentleness　with　the　children；　and　his　several　acts　of　heroism　had　strengthened　their　regard。

〃Jonathan；　this　looks　like　some　of　Girty's　work。　I　wish　I　knew　the　truth；〃　said　Col。　Zane；　as　he；　his　brothers　and　Betty　and　Myeerah　entered　the　house。　〃Confound　it！　We　can't　have　even　one　afternoon　of　enjoyment。　I　must　see　Lewis。　I　cannot　be　sure　of　Clarke。　He　is　evidently　bitter　against　Miller。　That　would　have　been　a　terrible　fight。　Those　fellows　have　had　trouble　before；　and　I　am　afraid　we　have　not　seen　the　last　of　their　quarrel。〃

〃If　they　meet　againbut　how　can　you　keep　them　apart？〃　said　Silas。　〃If　Miller　leaves　the　Fort　without　killing　Clarke　he'll　hide　around　in　the　woods　and　wait　for　a　chance　to　shoot　him。〃

〃Not　with　Wetzel　here；〃　answered　Col。　Zane。　〃Betty；　do　you　see　what　your〃　he　began；　turning　to　his　sister；　but　when　he　saw　her　white　and　miserable　face　he　said　no　more。

〃Don't　mind；　Betts。　It　wasn't　any　fault　of　yours；〃　said　Isaac；　putting　his　arm　tenderly　round　the　trembling　girl。　〃I　for　another　believe　Clarke　was　right　when　he　said　Miller　knew　there　were　Indians　over　the　river。　It　looks　like　a　plot　to　abduct　you。　Have　no　fear　for　Alfred。　He　can　take　care　of　himself。　He　showed　that　pretty　well。〃

An　hour　later　Clarke　had　finished　his　supper　and　was　sitting　by　his　window　smoking　his　pipe。　His　anger　had　cooled　somewhat　and　his　reflections　were　not　of　the　pleasantest　kind。　He　regretted　that　he　lowered　himself　so　far　as　to　fight　with　a　man　little　better　than　an　outlaw。　Still　there　was　a　grim　satisfaction　in　the　thought　of　the　blow　he　had　given　Miller。　He　remembered　he　had　asked　for　a　knife　and　that　his　enemy　and　he　be　permitted　to　fight　to　the　death。　After　all　to　have　ended；　then　and　there；　the　feud　between　them　would　have　been　the　better　course；　for　he　well　knew　Miller's　desperate　character；　that　he　had　killed　more　than　one　white　man；　and　that　now　a　fair　fight　might　not　be　possible。　Well；　he　thoughts　what　did　it　matter？　He　was　not　going　to　worry　himself。　He　did　not　care　much；　one　way　or　another。　He　had　no　home；　he　could　not　make　one　without　the　woman　he　loved。　He　was　a　Soldier　of　Fortune；　he　was　at　the　mercy　of　Fate；　and　he　would　drift　along　and　let　what　came　be　welcome。　A　soft　footfall　on　the　stairs　and　a　knock　on　the　door　interrupted　his　thoughts。

〃Come　in；〃　he　said。

The　door　opened　and　Wetzel　strode　into　the　room。

〃I　come　over　to　say　somethin'　to　you；〃　said　the　hunter　taking　the　chair　by　the　window　and　placing　his　rifle　over　his　knee。

〃I　will　be　pleased　to　listen　or　talk；　as　you　desire；〃　said　Alfred。

〃I　don't　mind　tellin'　you　that　the　punch　you　give　Miller　was　what　he　deserved。　If　he　and　Girty　didn't　hatch　up　that　trick　to　ketch　Betty；　I　don't　know　nothin'。　But　we　can't　prove　nothin'　on　him　yet。　Mebbe　he　knew　about　the　redskins；　mebbe　he　didn't。　Personally；　I　think　he　did。　But　I　can't　kill　a　white　man　because　I　think　somethin'。　I'd　have　to　know　fer　sure。　What　I　want　to　say　is　to　put　you　on　your　guard　against　the　baddest　man　on　the　river。〃

〃I　am　aware　of　that；〃　answered　Alfred。　〃I　knew　his　record　at　Ft。　Pitt。　What　would　you　have　me　do？〃

〃Keep　close　till　he's　gone。〃

〃That　would　be　cowardly。〃

〃No；　it　wouldn't。　He'd　shoot　you　from　behind　some　tree　or　cabin。〃

〃Well；　I'm　much　obliged　to　you　for　your　kind　advice；　but　for　all　that　I　won't　stay　in　the　house；〃　said　Alfred；　beginning　to　wonder　at　the　hunter's　earnest　manner。

〃You're　in　love　with　Betty；　ain't　you？〃

The　question　came　with　Wetzel's　usual　bluntness　and　it　staggered　Alfred。　He　could　not　be　angry；　and　he　did　not　know　what　to　say。　The　hunter　went　on：

〃You　needn't　say　so；　because　I　know　it。　And　I　know　she　loves　you　and　that's　why　I　want　you　to　look　out　fer　Miller。〃

〃My　God！　man；　you're　crazy；〃　said　Alfred；　laughing　scornfully。　〃She　cares　nothing　for　me。〃

〃That's　your　great　failin'；　young　feller。　You　fly　off'en　the　handle　too　easy。　And　so　does　Betty。　You　both　care　fer　each　other　and　are　unhappy　about　it。　Now；　you　don't　know　Betty；　and　she　keeps　misunderstandin'　you。〃

〃For　Heaven's　sake！　Wetzel；　if　you　know　anything　tell　me。　Love　her？　Why；　the　words　are　weak！　I　love　her　so　well　that　an　hour　ago　I　would　have　welcomed　death　at　Miller's　hands　only　to　fall　and　die　at　her　feet　defending　her。　Your　words　set　me　on　fire。　What　right　have　you　to　say　that？　How　do　you　know？〃

The　hunter　leaned　forward　and　put　his　hand　on　Alfred's　shoulder。　On　his　pale　face　was　that　sublime　light　which　comes　to　great　souls　when　they　give　up　a　life　long　secret；　or　when　they　sacrifice　what　is　best　beloved。　His　broad　chest　heaved：　his　deep　voice　trembled。

〃Listen。　I'm　not　a　man　fer　words；　and　it's　hard　to　tell。　Betty　loves　you。　I've　carried　her　in　my　arms　when　she　was　a　baby。　I've　made　her　toys　and　played　with　her　when　she　was　a　little　girl。　I　know　all　her　moods。　I　can　read　her　like　I　do　the　moss；　and　the　leaves；　and　the　bark　of　the　forest。　I've　loved　her　all　my　life。　That's　why　I　know　she　loves　you。　I　can　feel　it。　Her　happiness　is　the　only　dear　thing　left　on　earth　fer　me。　And　that's　why　I'm　your　friend。〃

In　the　silence　that　followed　his　words　the　door　opened　and　closed　and　he　was　gone。

　　　　*　*　*　*　*　*　*　*　*　*　*　*　*　*　*　*

Betty　awoke　with　a　start。　She　was　wide　awake　in　a　second。　The　moonbeams　came　through　the　leaves　of　the　maple　tree　near　her　window　and　cast　fantastic　shadows　on　the　wall　of　her　room。　Betty　lay　quiet；　watching　the　fairy…like　figures　on　the　wall　and　listening　intently。　What　had　awakened　her？　The　night　was　still；　the　crow　of　a　cock　in　the　distance　proclaimed　that　the　hour　of　dawn　was　near　at　hand。　She　waited　for　Tige's　bark　under　her　window；　or　Sam's　voice；　or　the　kicking　and　trampling　of　horses　in　the　barnsounds　that　usually　broke　her　slumbers　in　the　morning。　But　no　such　noises　were　forthcoming。　Suddenly　she　heard　a　light；　quick　tap；　tap；　and　then　a　rattling　in　the　corner。　It　was　like　no　sound　but　that　made　by　a　pebble　striking　the　floor；　bounding　and　rolling　across　the　room。　There　it　was　again。　Some　one　was　tossing　stones　in　at　her　window。　She　slipped　out　of　bed；　ran；　and　leaned　on　the　window…sill　and　looked　out。　The　moon　was　going　down　behind　the　hill；　but　there　was　light　enough　for　her　to　distinguish　objects。　She　saw　a　dark　figure　crouching　by　the　fence。

〃Who　is　it？〃　said　Betty；　a　little　frightened；　but　more　curious。

〃Sh…h…h；　it's　Miller；〃　came　the　answer；　spoken　in　low　voice。

The　bent　form　straightened　and　stood　erect。　It　stepped　forward　under　Betty's　window。　The　light　was　dim；　but　Betty　recognized　the　dark　face　of　Miller。　He　carried　a　rifle　in　his　hand　and　a　pack　on　his　shoulder。

〃Go　away；　or　I'll　call　my　brother。　I　will　not　listen　to　you；〃　said　Betty；　making　a　move　to　leave　the　window。

〃Sh…h…h；　not　so　loud；〃　said　Miller；　in　a　quick；　hoarse　whisper。　〃You'd　better　listen。　I　am　going　across　the　border　to　join　Girty。　He　is　going　to　bring　the　Indians　and　the　British　here　to　burn　the　settlement。　If　you　will　go　away　with　me　I'll　save　the　lives　of　your　brothers　and　their　families。　I　have　aided　Girty　and　I　have　influence　with　him。　If　you　won't　go　you'll　be　taken　captive　and　you'll　see　all　your　friends　and　relatives　scalped　and　burned。　Quick；　your　answer。〃

〃Never；　traitor！　Monster！　I'd　be　burned　at　the　stake　before　I'd　go　a　step　with　you！〃　cried　Betty。

〃Then　remember　that　you've　crossed　a　desperate　man。　If　you　escape　the　massacre　you　will　beg　on　your　knees　to　me。　This　settlement　is　doomed。　Now；　go　to　your　white…faced　lover。　You'll　find　him　cold。　Ha！　Ha！　Ha！〃　and　with　a　taunting　laugh　he　leaped　the　fence　and　disappeared　in　the　gloom。

Betty　sank　to　the　floor　stunned；　horrified。　She　shuddered　at　the　malignity　expressed　in　Miller's　words。　How　had　she　ever　been　deceived　in　him？　He　was　in　l