betty zane-第57部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


Three　men　stepped　forward；　and　others　made　a　movement。

〃They'd　plug　a　man　full　of　lead　afore　he'd　get　ten　foot　from　the　gate；〃　said　Wetzel。　〃I'd　go　myself；　but　it　wouldn't　do　no　good。　Send　a　boy；　and　one　as　can　run　like　a　streak。〃

〃There　are　no　lads　big　enough　to　carry　a　keg　of　powder。　Harry　Bennett　might　go；〃　said　Silas。　〃How　is　he；　Bessie？〃

〃He　is　dead；〃　answered　Mrs。　Zane。

Wetzel　made　a　motion　with　his　hands　and　turned　away。　A　short；　intense　silence　followed　this　indication　of　hopelessness　from　him。　The　women　understood；　for　some　of　them　covered　their　faces；　while　others　sobbed。

〃I　will　go。〃

It　was　Betty's　voice；　and　it　rang　clear　and　vibrant　throughout　the　room。　The　miserable　women　raised　their　drooping　heads；　thrilled　by　that　fresh　young　voice。　The　men　looked　stupefied。　Clarke　seemed　turned　to　stone。　Wetzel　came　quickly　toward　her。

〃Impossible！〃　said　Sullivan。

Silas　Zane　shook　his　head　as　if　the　idea　were　absurd。

〃Let　me　go；　brother；　let　me　go？〃　pleaded　Betty　as　she　placed　her　little　hands　softly；　caressingly　on　her　brother's　bare　arm。　〃I　know　it　is　only　a　forlorn　chance；　but　still　it　is　a　chance。　Let　me　take　it。　I　would　rather　die　that　way　than　remain　here　and　wait　for　death。〃

〃Silas；　it　ain't　a　bad　plan；〃　broke　in　Wetzel。　〃Betty　can　run　like　a　deer。　And　bein'　a　woman　they　may　let　her　get　to　the　cabin　without　shootin'。〃

Silas　stood　with　arms　folded　across　his　broad　chest。　As　he　gazed　at　his　sister　great　tears　coursed　down　his　dark　cheeks　and　splashed　on　the　hands　which　so　tenderly　clasped　his　own。　Betty　stood　before　him　transformed；　all　signs　of　weariness　had　vanished；　her　eyes　shone　with　a　fateful　resolve；　her　white　and　eager　face　was　surpassingly　beautiful　with　its　light　of　hope；　of　prayer；　of　heroism。

〃Let　me　go；　brother。　You　know　I　can　run；　and　oh！　I　will　fly　today。　Every　moment　is　precious。　Who　knows？　Perhaps　Capt。　Boggs　is　already　near　at　hand　with　help。　You　cannot　spare　a　man。　Let　me　go。〃

〃Betty；　Heaven　bless　and　save　you；　you　shall　go；〃　said　Silas。

〃No！　No！　Do　not　let　her　go！〃　cried　Clarke；　throwing　himself　before　them。　He　was　trembling；　his　eyes　were　wild；　and　he　had　the　appearance　of　a　man　suddenly　gone　mad。

〃She　shall　not　go；〃　he　cried。

〃What　authority　have　you　here？〃　demanded　Silas　Zane；　sternly。　〃What　right　have　you　to　speak？〃

〃None；　unless　it　is　that　I　love　her　and　I　will　go　for　her；〃　answered　Alfred　desperately。

〃Stand　back！〃　cried　Wetzel；　placing　his　powerful　hard　on　Clarke's　breast　and　pushing　him　backward。　〃If　you　love　her　you　don't　want　to　have　her　wait　here　for　them　red　devils；〃　and　he　waved　his　hand　toward　the　river。　〃If　she　gets　back　she'll　save　the　Fort。　If　she　fails　she'll　at　least　escape　Girty。〃

Betty　gazed　into　the　hunter's　eyes　and　then　into　Alfred's。　She　understood　both　men。　One　was　sending　her　out　to　her　death　because　he　knew　it　would　be　a　thousand　times　more　merciful　than　the　fate　which　awaited　her　at　the　hands　of　the　Indians。　The　other　had　not　the　strength　to　watch　her　go　to　her　death。　He　had　offered　himself　rather　than　see　her　take　such　fearful　chances。

〃I　know。　If　it　were　possible　you　would　both　save　me；〃　said　Betty；　simply。　〃Now　you　can　do　nothing　but　pray　that　God　may　spare　my　life　long　enough　to　reach　the　gate。　Silas；　I　am　ready　〃

Downstairs　a　little　group　of　white…faced　men　were　standing　before　the　gateway。　Silas　Zane　had　withdrawn　the　iron　bar。　Sullivan　stood　ready　to　swing　in　the　ponderous　gate。　Wetzel　was　speaking　with　a　clearness　and　a　rapidity　which　were　wonderful　under　the　circumstances。

〃When　we　let　you　out　you'll　have　a　clear　path。　Run；　but　not　very　fast。　Save　your　speed。　Tell　the　Colonel　to　empty　a　keg　of　powder　in　a　table　cloth。　Throw　it　over　your　shoulder　and　start　back。　Run　like　you　was　racin'　with　me；　and　keep　on　comin'　if　you　do　get　hit。　Now　go！〃

The　huge　gate　creaked　and　swung　in。　Betty　ran　out；　looking　straight　before　her。　She　had　covered　half　the　distance　between　the　Fort　and　the　Colonel's　house　when　long　taunting　yells　filled　the　air。

〃Squaw！　Waugh！　Squaw！　Waugh！〃　yelled　the　Indians　in　contempt。

Not　a　shot　did　they　fire。　The　yells　ran　all　along　the　river　front；　showing　that　hundreds　of　Indians　had　seen　the　slight　figure　running　up　the　gentle　slope　toward　the　cabin。

Betty　obeyed　Wetzel's　instructions　to　the　letter。　She　ran　easily　and　not　at　all　hurriedly；　and　was　as　cool　as　it　there　had　not　been　an　Indian　within　miles。

Col。　Zane　had　seen　the　gate　open　and　Betty　come　forth。　When　she　bounded　up　the　steps　he　flung　open　that　door　and　she　ran　into　his　arms。

〃Betts；　for　God's　sake！　What's　this？〃　he　cried；

〃We　are　out　of　powder。　Empty　a　keg　of　powder　into　a　table　cloth。　Quick！　I've　not　a　second　to　lose；〃　she　answered；　at　the　same　time　slipping　off　her　outer　skirt。　She　wanted　nothing　to　hinder　that　run　for　the　block…house。

Jonathan　Zane　heard　Betty's　first　words　and　disappeared　into　the　magazine…room。　He　came　out　with　a　keg　in　his　arms。　With　one　blow　of　an　axe　he　smashed　in　the　top　of　the　keg。　In　a　twinkling　a　long　black　stream　of　the　precious　stuff　was　piling　up　in　a　little　hill　in　the　center　of　the　table。　Then　the　corners　of　the　table　cloth　were　caught　up；　turned　and　heisted；　and　the　bag　of　powder　was　thrown　over　Betty's　shoulder。

〃Brave　girl；　so　help　me　God；　you　are　going　to　do　it！〃　cried　Col。　Zane；　throwing　open　the　door。　〃I　know　you　can。　Run　as　you　never　ran　in　all　your　life。〃

Like　an　arrow　sprung　from　a　bow　Betty　flashed　past　the　Colonel　and　out　on　the　green。　Scarcely　ten　of　the　long　hundred　yards　had　been　covered　by　her　flying　feet　when　a　roar　of　angry　shouts　and　yells　warned　Betty　that　the　keen…eyed　savages　saw　the　bag　of　powder　and　now　knew　they　had　been　deceived　by　a　girl。　The　cracking　of　rifles　began　at　a　point　on　the　blur　nearest　Col。　Zane's　house；　and　extended　in　a　half　circle　to　the　eastern　end　of　the　clearing。　The　leaden　messengers　of　Death　whistled　past　Betty。　They　sped　before　her　and　behind　her；　scattering　pebbles　in　her　path；　striking　up　the　dust；　and　ploughing　little　furrows　in　the　ground。　A　quarter　of　the　distance　covered！　Betty　had　passed　the　top　of　the　knoll　now　and　she　was　going　down　the　gentle　slope　like　the　wind。　None　but　a　fine　marksman　could　have　hit　that　small；　flitting　figure。　The　yelling　and　screeching　had　become　deafening。　The　reports　of　the　rifles　blended　in　a　roar。　Yet　above　it　all　Betty　heard　Wetzel's　stentorian　yell。　It　lent　wings　to　her　feet。　Half　the　distance　covered！　A　hot；　stinging　pain　shot　through　Betty's　arm；　but　she　heeded　it　not。　The　bullets　were　raining　about　her。　They　sang　over　her　head；　hissed　close　to　her　ears；　and　cut　the　grass　in　front　of　her；　they　pattered　like　hail　on　the　stockade…fence；　but　still　untouched；　unharmed；　the　slender　brown　figure　sped　toward　the　gate。　Three…fourths　of　the　distance　covered！　A　tug　at　the　flying　hair；　and　a　long；　black　tress　cut　of　by　a　bullet；　floated　away　on　the　breeze。　Betty　saw　the　big　gate　swing；　she　saw　the　tall　figure　of　the　hunter；　she　saw　her　brother。　Only　a　few　more　yards！　On！　On！　On！　A　blinding　red　mist　obscured　her　sight。　She　lost　the　opening　in　the　fence；　but　unheeding　she　rushed　on。　Another　second　and　she　stumbled；　she　felt　herself　grasped　by　eager　arms；　she　heard　the　gate　slam　and　the　iron　bar　shoot　into　place；　then　she　felt　and　heard　no　more。

Silas　Zane　bounded　up　the　stairs　with　a　doubly　precious　burden　in　his　arms。　A　mighty　cheer　greeted　his　entrance。　It　aroused　Alfred　Clarke；　who　had　bowed　his　head　on　the　bench　and　had　lost　all　sense　of　time　and　place。　What　were　the　women　sobbing　and　crying　over？　To　whom　belonged　that　white　face？　Of　course；　it　was　the　face　of　the　girl　he　loved。　The　face　of　the　girl　who　had　gone　to　her　death。　And　he　writhed　in　his　agony。

Then　something　wonderful　happened。　A　warm；　living　flush　swept　over　that　pale　face。　The　eyelids　fluttered；　they　opened；　and　the　dark　eyes；　radiant；　beautiful；　gazed　straight　into　Alfred's。

Still　Alfred　could　not　believe　his　eyes。　That　pale　face　and　the　wonderful　eyes　belonged　to　the　ghost　of　his　sweetheart。　They　had　come　back　to　haunt　him。　Then　he　heard　a　voice。

〃O…h！　but　that　brown　place　burns！〃

Alfred　saw　a　bare　and　shapely　arm。　Its　beauty　was　marred　by　a　cruel　red　welt　He　heard　that　same　sweet　voice　laugh　and　cry　together。　Then　he　came　back　to　life　and　hope。　With　one　bound　he　sprang　to　a　porthole。

〃God；　what　a　woman！〃　he　said　between　his　teeth；　as　hi　thrust　the　rifle　forward。

It　was　indeed　not　a　time　for　inaction。　The　Indians；　realizing　they　had　been　tricked　and　had　lost　a　golden　opportunity；　rushed　at　the　Fort　with　renewed　energy。　They　attacked　from　all　sides　and　with　the　persistent　fury　of　savages　long　disappointed　in　their　hopes。　They　were　received　with　a　scathing；　deadly　fire。　Bang！　roared　the　cannon；　and　the　detachment　of　savages　dropped　their　ladders　and　fled。　The　little　〃bull　dog〃　was　turned　on　its　swivel　and　directed　at　another　rush　of　Indians。　Bang！　and　the　bullets；　chainlinks；　and　bits　of　iron　ploughed　through　the　ranks　of　the　enemy。　The　Indians　never　lived　who　could　stand　in　the　face　of　well…aimed　cannon…shot。　They　fell　back。　The　settlers；　inspired；　carried　beyond　themselves　by　the　heroism　of　a　girl；　fought　as　they　had　never　fought　before。　Every　shot　went　to　a　redskin's　heart；　impelled　by　the　powder　for　which　a　b