betty zane-第9部分

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　through　the　lines　and　made　off　for　Short　Creek。　He　returned　next　morning　with　forty　mounted　men。　They　marched　boldly　up　to　the　gate；　and　all　succeeded　in　getting　inside　save　the　gallant　Major；　who　had　waited　to　be　the　last　man　to　go　in。　Finding　it　impossible　to　make　the　short　distance　without　going　under　the　fire　of　the　Indians；　who　had　rushed　up　to　prevent　the　relief　party　from　entering　the　fort；　he　wheeled　his　big　stallion；　and；　followed　by　the　yelling　band　of　savages；　he　took　the　road　leading　around　back　of　the　fort　to　the　top　of　the　bluff。　The　road　lay　along　the　edge　of　the　cliff　and　I　saw　the　Major　turn　and　wave　his　rifle　at　us；　evidently　with　the　desire　of　assuring　us　that　he　was　safe。　Suddenly；　on　the　very　summit　of　the　hill；　he　reined　in　his　horse　as　if　undecided。　I　knew　in　an　instant　what　had　happened。　The　Major　had　run　right　into　the　returning　party　of　Indians；　which　had　been　sent　out　to　intercept　our　reinforcements。　In　a　moment　more　we　heard　the　exultant　yells　of　the　savages；　and　saw　them　gliding　from　tree　to　tree；　slowly　lengthening　out　their　line　and　surrounding　the　unfortunate　Major。　They　did　not　fire　a　shot。　We　in　the　fort　were　stupefied　with　horror；　and　stood　helplessly　with　our　useless　guns；　watching　and　waiting　for　the　seemingly　inevitable　doom　of　our　comrade。　Not　so　with　the　Major！　Knowing　that　he　was　a　marked　man　by　the　Indians　and　feeling　that　any　death　was　preferable　to　the　gauntlet；　the　knife；　the　stake　and　torch　of　the　merciless　savage；　he　had　grasped　at　a　desperate　chance。　He　saw　his　enemies　stealthily　darting　from　rock　to　tree；　and　tree　to　bush；　creeping　through　the　brush；　and　slipping　closer　and　closer　every　moment。　On　three　sides　were　his　hated　foes　and　on　the　remaining　sidethe　abyss。　Without　a　moment's　hesitation　the　intrepid　Major　spurred　his　horse　at　the　precipice。　Never　shall　I　forget　that　thrilling　moment。　The　three　hundred　savages　were　silent　as　they　realized　the　Major's　intention。　Those　in　the　fort　watched　with　staring　eyes。　A　few　bounds　and　the　noble　steed　reared　high　on　his　hind　legs。　Outlined　by　the　clear　blue　sky　the　magnificent　animal　stood　for　one　brief　instant；　his　black　mane　flying　in　the　wind；　his　head　thrown　up　and　his　front　hoofs　pawing　the　air　like　Marcus　Curtius'　mailed　steed　of　old；　and　then　down　with　a　crash；　a　cloud　of　dust；　and　the　crackling　of　pine　limbs。　A　long　yell　went　up　from　the　Indians　below；　while　those　above　ran　to　the　edge　of　the　cliff。　With　cries　of　wonder　and　baffled　vengeance　they　gesticulated　toward　the　dark　ravine　into　which　horse　and　rider　had　plunged　rather　than　wait　to　meet　a　more　cruel　death。　The　precipice　at　this　point　is　over　three　hundred　feet　in　height；　and　in　places　is　almost　perpendicular。　We　believed　the　Major　to　be　lying　crushed　and　mangled　on　the　rocks。　Imagine　our　frenzy　of　Joy　when　we　saw　the　daring　soldier　and　his　horse　dash　out　of　the　bushes　that　skirt　the　base　of　the　cliff；　cross　the　creek；　and　come　galloping　to　the　fort　in　safety。〃

〃It　was　wonderful！　Wonderful！〃　exclaimed　Isaac；　his　eyes　glistening。　〃No　wonder　the　Indians　call　you　the　'Flying　Chief。'〃

〃Had　the　Major　not　jumped　into　the　clump　of　pine　trees　which　grow　thickly　some　thirty　feet　below　the　summit　he　would　not　now　be　alive；〃　said　Colonel　Zane。　〃I　am　certain　of　that。　Nevertheless　that　does　not　detract　from　the　courage　of　his　deed。　He　had　no　time　to　pick　out　the　best　place　to　jump。　He　simply　took　his　one　chance；　and　came　out　all　right。　That　leap　will　live　in　the　minds　of　men　as　long　as　yonder　bluff　stands　a　monument　to　McColloch's　ride　for　life。〃

Alfred　had　listened　with　intense　interest　to　the　Colonel's　recital。　When　it　ended；　although　his　pulses　quickened　and　his　soul　expanded　with　awe　and　reverence　for　the　hero　of　that　ride；　he　sat　silent。　Alfred　honored　courage　in　a　man　more　than　any　other　quality。　He　marvelled　at　the　simplicity　of　these　bordermen　who；　he　thought；　took　the　most　wonderful　adventures　and　daring　escapes　as　a　matter　of　course；　a　compulsory　part　of　their　daily　lives。　He　had　already；　in　one　day；　had　more　excitement　than　had　ever　befallen　him；　an。　was　beginning　to　believe　his　thirst　for　a　free　life　of　stirring　action　would　be　quenched　long　before　he　had　learned　to　become　useful　in　his　new　sphere。　During　the　remaining　half　hour　of　his　call　on　his　lately　acquired　friends；　he　took　little　part　in　the　conversation；　but　sat　quietly　watching　the　changeful　expressions　on　Betty's　face；　and　listening　to　Colonel　Zane's　jokes。　When　he　rose　to　go　he　bade　his　host　good…night；　and　expressed　a　wish　that　Isaac；　who　had　fallen　asleep；　might　have　a　speedy　recovery。　He　turned　toward　the　door　to　find　that　Betty　had　intercepted　him。

〃Mr。　Clarke；〃　she　said；　extending　a　little　hand　that　trembled　slightly。　〃I　wish　to　saythatI　want　to　say　that　my　feelings　have　changed。　I　am　sorry　for　what　I　said　over　at　Lydia's。　I　spoke　hastily　and　rudely。　You　have　saved　my　brother's　life。　I　will　be　forever　grateful　to　you。　It　is　useless　to　try　to　thank　you。　II　hope　we　may　be　friends。〃

Alfred　found　it　desperately　hard　to　resist　that　low　voice；　and　those　dark　eyes　which　were　raised　shyly；　yet　bravely；　to　his。　But　he　had　been　deeply　hurt。　He　pretended　not　to　see　the　friendly　hand　held　out　to　him；　and　his　voice　was　cold　when　he　answered　her。

〃I　am　glad　to　have　been　of　some　service；〃　he　said；　〃but　I　think　you　overrate　my　action。　Your　brother　would　not　have　drowned；　I　am　sure。　You　owe　me　nothing。　Good…night。〃

Betty　stood　still　one　moment　staring　at　the　door　through　which　he　had　gone　before　she　realized　that　her　overtures　of　friendship　had　been　politely；　but　coldly；　ignored。　She　had　actually　been　snubbed。　The　impossible　had　happened　to　Elizabeth　Zane。　Her　first　sensation　after　she　recovered　from　her　momentary　bewilderment　was　one　of　amusement；　and　she　laughed　in　a　constrained　manner；　but；　presently；　two　bright　red　spots　appeared　in　her　cheeks；　and　she　looked　quickly　around　to　see　if　any　of　the　others　had　noticed　the　incident。　None　of　them　had　been　paying　any　attention　to　her　and　she　breathed　a　sigh　of　relief。　It　was　bad　enough　to　be　snubbed　without　having　others　see　it。　That　would　have　been　too　humiliating。　Her　eyes　flashed　fire　as　she　remembered　the　disdain　in　Clarke's　face；　and　that　she　had　not　been　clever　enough　to　see　it　in　time。

〃Tige；　come　here！〃　called　Colonel　Zane。　〃What　ails　the　dog？〃

The　dog　had　jumped　to　his　feet　and　ran　to　the　door；　where　he　sniffed　at　the　crack　over　the　threshold。　His　aspect　was　fierce　and　threatening。　He　uttered　low　growls　and　then　two　short　barks。　Those　in　the　room　heard　a　soft　moccasined　footfall　outside。　The　next　instant　the　door　opened　wide　and　a　tall　figure　stood　disclosed。

〃Wetzel！〃　exclaimed　Colonel　Zane。　A　hush　fell　on　the　little　company　after　that　exclamation；　and　all　eyes　were　fastened　on　the　new　comer。

Well　did　the　stranger　merit　close　attention。　He　stalked　into　the　room；　leaned　his　long　rifle　against　the　mantelpiece　and　spread　out　his　hands　to　the　fire。　He　was　clad　from　head　to　foot　in　fringed　and　beaded　buckskin；　which　showed　evidence　of　a　long　and　arduous　tramp。　It　was　torn　and　wet　and　covered　with　mud。　He　was　a　magnificently　made　man；　six　feet　in　height；　and　stood　straight　as　an　arrow。　His　wide　shoulders；　and　his　muscular；　though　not　heavy；　limbs　denoted　wonderful　strength　and　activity。　His　long　hair；　black　as　a　raven's　wing；　hung　far　down　his　shoulders。　Presently　he　turned　and　the　light　shone　on　a　remarkable　face。　So　calm　and　cold　and　stern　it　was　that　it　seemed　chiselled　out　of　marble。　The　most　striking　features　were　its　unusual　pallor；　and　the　eyes；　which　were　coal　black；　and　piercing　as　the　dagger's　point。

〃If　you　have　any　bad　news　out　with　it；〃　cried　Colonel　Zane；　impatiently。

〃No　need　fer　alarm；〃　said　Wetzel。　He　smiled　slightly　as　he　saw　Betty's　apprehensive　face。　〃Don't　look　scared；　Betty。　The　redskins　are　miles　away　and　goin'　fer　the　Kanawha　settlement。〃



CHAPTER　III。

Any　weeks　of　quiet　followed　the　events　of　the　last　chapter。　The　settlers　planted　their　corn；　harvested　their　wheat　and　labored　in　the　fields　during　the　whole　of　one　spring　and　summer　without　hearing　the　dreaded　war　cry　of　the　Indians。　Colonel　Zane；　who　had　been　a　disbursing　officer　in　the　army　of　Lord　Dunmore；　where　he　had　attained　the　rank　of　Colonel；　visited　Fort　Pitt　during　the　summer　in　the　hope　of　increasing　the　number　of　soldiers　in　his　garrison。　His　efforts　proved　fruitless。　He　returned　to　Fort　Henry　by　way　of　the　river　with　several　pioneers；　who　with　their　families　were　bound　for　Fort　Henry。　One　of　these　pioneers　was　a　minister　who　worked　in　the　fields　every　week　day　and　on　Sundays　preached　the　Gospel　to　those　who　gathered　in　the　meeting　house。

Alfred　Clarke　had　taken　up　his　permanent　abode　at　the　fort；　where　he　had　been　installed　as　one　of　the　regular　garrison。　His　duties；　as　well　as　those　of　the　nine　other　members　of　the　garrison；　were　light。　For　two　hours　out　of　the　twenty…four　he　was　on　guard。　Thus　he　had　ample　time　to　acquaint　himself　with　the　settlers　and　their　families。

Alfred　and　Isaac　had　now　become　firm　friends。　They　spent　many　hours　fishing　in　the　river；　and　roaming　the　woods　in　the　vicinity；　as　Colonel　Zane　would　not　allow　Isaac　to　stray　far　from　the　fort。　Alfred　became　a　regular　visitor　at　Colonel　Zane's　house。　He　saw　Betty　every　day；　but