the spirit of the border-第3部分

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！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！





〃To　teach　the　Indians；　and　I　was；　no　doubt；　strongly　influenced　by　your　being

here。〃



〃You're　going　to　do　as　you　ever　havemake　some　sacrifice。　You　are　always

devoting　yourself；　if　not　to　me；　to　some　other。　Now　it's　your　life　you're

giving　up。　To　try　to　convert　the　redskins　and　influence　me　for　good　is　in　both

cases　impossible。　How　often　have　I　said　there　wasn't　any　good　in　me！　My　desire

is　to　kill　Indians；　not　preach　to　them；　Jim。　I'm　glad　to　see　you；　but　I　wish

you　hadn't　come。　This　wild　frontier　is　no　place　for　a　preacher。〃



〃I　think　it　is；〃　said　Jim；　quietly。



〃What　of　Rosethe　girl　you　were　to　marry？〃



Joe　glanced　quickly　at　his　brother。　Jim's　face　paled　slightly　as　he　turned

away。



〃I'll　speak　once　more　of　her；　and　then；　never　again；〃　he　answered。　〃You　knew

Rose　better　than　I　did。　Once　you　tried　to　tell　me　she　was　too　fond　of

admiration；　and　I　rebuked　you；　but　now　I　see　that　your　wider　experience　of

women　had　taught　you　things　I　could　not　then　understand。　She　was　untrue。　　When

you　left　Williamsburg；　apparently　because　you　had　gambled　with　Jewett　and

afterward　fought　him；　I　was　not　misled。　You　made　the　game　of　cards　a　pretense；

you　sought　it　simply　as　an　opportunity　to　wreak　your　vengeance　on　him　for　his

villainy　toward　me。　Well；　it's　all　over　now。　Though　you　cruelly　beat　and　left

him　disfigured　for　life；　he　will　live；　and　you　are　saved　from　murder；　thank

God！　When　I　learned　of　your　departure　I　yearned　to　follow。　Then　I　met　a

preacher　who　spoke　of　having　intended　to　go　West　with　a　Mr。　Wells；　of　the

Moravian　Mission。　I　immediately　said　I　would　go　in　his　place；　and　here　I　am。

I'm　fortunate　in　that　I　have　found　both　him　and　you。〃



〃I'm　sorry　I　didn't　kill　Jewett；　I　certainly　meant　to。　Anyway；　there's　some

comfort　in　knowing　I　left　my　mark　on　him。　He　was　a　sneaking；　cold…blooded

fellow；　with　his　white　hair　and　pale　face；　and　always　fawning　round　the　girls。

I　hated　him；　and　gave　it　to　him　good。〃　Joe　spoke　musingly　and　complacently　as

though　it　was　a　trivial　thing　to　compass　the　killing　of　a　man。



〃Well；　Jim；　you're　here　now；　and　there's　no　help　for　it。　We'll　go　along　with

this　Moravian　preacher　and　his　nieces。　If　you　haven't　any　great　regrets　for

the　past；　why；　all　may　be　well　yet。　I　can　see　that　the　border　is　the　place　for

me。　But　now；　Jim；　for　once　in　your　life　take　a　word　of　advice　from　me。　We're

out　on　the　frontier；　where　every　man　looks　after　himself。　Your　being　a

minister　won't　protect　you　here　where　every　man　wears　a　knife　and　a　tomahawk；

and　where　most　of　them　are　desperadoes。　Cut　out　that　soft　voice　and　most　of

your　gentle　ways；　and　be　a　little　more　like　your　brother。　Be　as　kind　as　you

like；　and　preach　all　you　want　to；　but　when　some　of　these　buckskin…legged

frontiermen　try　to　walk　all　over　you；　as　they　will；　take　your　own　part　in　a

way　you　have　never　taken　it　before。　I　had　my　lesson　the　first　few　days　out

with　that　wagon…train。　It　was　a　case　of　four　fights；　but　I'm　all　right　now。〃



〃Joe；　I　won't　run；　if　that's　what　you　mean；〃　answered　Jim；　with　a　laugh。　

〃Yes；　I　understand　that　a　new　life　begins　here；　and　I　am　content。　If　I　can

find　my　work　in　it；　and　remain　with　you；　I　shall　be　happy。〃



〃Ah！　old　Mose！　I'm　glad　to　see　you；〃　Joe　cried　to　the　big　dog　who　came　nosing

round　him。　〃You've　brought　this　old　fellow；　did　you　bring　the　horses？〃



〃Look　behind　the　wagon。〃



With　the　dog　bounding　before　him；　Joe　did　as　he　was　directed；　and　there　found

two　horses　tethered　side　by　side。　Little　wonder　that　his　eyes　gleamed　with

delight。　One　was　jet…black；　the　other　iron…gray　and　in　every　line　the

clean…limbed　animals　showed　the　thoroughbred。　The　black　threw　up　his　slim　head

and　whinnied；　with　affection　clearly　shining　in　his　soft；　dark　eyes　as　he

recognized　his　master。



〃Lance；　old　fellow；　how　did　I　ever　leave　you！〃　murmured　Joe；　as　he　threw　his

arm　over　the　arched　neck。　Mose　stood　by　looking　up；　and　wagging　his　tail　in

token　of　happiness　at　the　reunion　of　the　three　old　friends。　There　were　tears

in　Joe's　eyes　when；　with　a　last　affectionate　caress；　he　turned　away　from　his

pet。



〃Come；　Jim；　I'll　take　you　to　Mr。　Wells。〃



They　stated　across　the　little　square；　while　Mose　went　back　under　the　wagon；

but　at　a　word　from　Joe　he　bounded　after　them；　trotting　contentedly　at　their

heels。　Half　way　to　the　cabins　a　big；　raw…boned　teamster；　singing　in　a　drunken

voice；　came　staggering　toward　them。　Evidently　he　had　just　left　the　group　of

people　who　had　gathered　near　the　Indians。



〃I　didn't　expect　to　see　drunkenness　out　here；〃　said　Jim；　in　a　low　tone。



〃There's　lots　of　it。　I　saw　that　fellow　yesterday　when　he；　couldn't　walk。　

Wentz　told　me　he　was　a　bad　customer。〃



The　teamster；　his　red　face　bathed　in　perspiration；　and　his　sleeves　rolled　up；

showing　brown；　knotty　arms；　lurched　toward　them。　As　they　met　he　aimed　a　kick

at　the　dog；　but　Mose　leaped　nimbly　aside；　avoiding　the　heavy　boot。　　He　did　not

growl；　nor　show　his　teeth；　but　the　great　white　head　sank　forward　a　little；　and

the　lithe　body　crouched　for　a　spring。



〃Don't　touch　that　dog；　he'll　tear　your　leg　off！〃　Joe　cried　sharply。



〃Say；　pard；　cum　an'　hev'　a　drink；〃　replied　the　teamster；　with　a　friendly　leer。



〃I　don't　drink；〃　answered　Joe；　curtly；　and　moved　on。



The　teamster　growled　something　of　which　only　the　word　〃parson〃　was

intelligible　to　the　brothers。　Joe　stopped　and　looked　back。　His　gray　eyes

seemed　to　contract；　they　did　not　flash；　but　shaded　and　lost　their　warmth。　Jim

saw　the　change；　and；　knowing　what　it　signified；　took　Joe's　arm　as　he　gently

urged　him　away。　The　teamster's　shrill　voice　could　be　heard　until　they　entered

the　fur…trader's　cabin。



An　old　man　with　long；　white　hair　flowing　from　beneath　his　wide…brimmed　hat；

sat　near　the　door　holding　one　of　Mrs。　Wentz's　children　on　his　knee。　　His　face

was　deep…lined　and　serious；　but　kindness　shone　from　his　mild　blue　eyes。



〃Mr。　Wells；　this　is　my　brother　James。　He　is　a　preacher；　and　has　come　in　place

of　the　man　you　expected　from　Williamsburg。〃



The　old　minister　arose；　and　extended　his　hand；　gazing　earnestly　at　the

new…comer　meanwhile。　Evidently　he　approved　of　what　he　saw　in　his　quick

scrutiny　of　the　other's　face；　for　his　lips　were　wreathed　with　a　smile　of

welcome。



〃Mr。　Downs；　I　am　glad　to　meet　you；　and　to　know　you　will　go　with　me。　I　thank

God　I　shall　take　into　the　wilderness　one　who　is　young　enough　to　carry　on　the

work　when　my　days　are　done。〃



〃I　will　make　it　my　duty　to　help　you　in　whatsoever　way　lies　in　my　power；〃

answered　Jim；　earnestly。



〃We　have　a　great　work　before　us。　I　have　heard　many　scoffers　who　claim　that　it

is　worse　than　folly　to　try　to　teach　these　fierce　savages　Christianity；　but　I

know　it　can　be　done；　and　my　heart　is　in　the　work。　I　have　no　fear；　yet　I　would

not　conceal　from　you；　young　man；　that　the　danger　of　going　among　these　hostile

Indians　must　be　great。〃



〃I　will　not　hesitate　because　of　that。　My　sympathy　is　with　the　redman。　I　have

had　an　opportunity　of　studying　Indian　nature　and　believe　the　race　inherently

noble。　He　has　been　driven　to　make　war；　and　I　want　to　help　him　into　other

paths。〃



Joe　left　the　two　ministers　talking　earnestly　and　turned　toward　Mrs。　Wentz。　

The　fur…trader's　wife　was　glowing　with　pleasure。　She　held　in　her　hand　several

rude　trinkets；　and　was　explaining　to　her　listener；　a　young　woman；　that　the

toys　were　for　the　children；　having　been　brought　all　the　way　from　Williamsburg。



〃Kate；　where's　Nell？〃　Joe　asked　of　the　girl。



〃She　went　on　an　errand　for　Mrs。　Wentz。〃



Kate　Wells　was　the　opposite　of　her　sister。　Her　motions　were　slow；　easy　and

consistent　with　her　large；　full；　form。　Her　brown　eyes　and　hair　contrasted

sharply　with　Nell's。　The　greatest　difference　in　the　sisters　lay　in　that　Nell's

face　was　sparkling　and　full　of　the　fire　of　her　eager　young　life；　while　Kate's

was　calm；　like　the　unruffled　surface　of　a　deep　lake。



〃That's　Jim；　my　brother。　We're　going　with　you；〃　said　Joe。



〃Are　you？　I'm　glad；〃　answered　the　girl；　looking　at　the　handsome　earnest　face

of　the　young　minister。



〃Your　brother's　like　you　for　all　the　world；〃　whispered　Mrs。　Wentz。



〃He　does　look　like　you；〃　said　Kate；　with　her　slow　smile。



〃Which　means　you　think；　or　hope；　that　that　is　all；〃　retorted　Joe　laughingly。

〃Well；　Kate；　there　the　resemblance　ends；　thank　God　for　Jim！〃



He　spoke　in　a　sad；　bitter　tone　which　caused　both　women　to　look　at　him

wonderingly。　Joe　had　to　them　ever　been　full　of　surprises；　never　until　then　had

they　seen　evidences　of　sadness　in　his　face。　A　moment's　silence　ensued。　Mrs。

Wentz　gazed　lovingly　at　the　children　who　were　playing　with　the　trinkets；　while

Kate　mused　over　the　young　man's　remark；　and　began　studying　his；　half…averted

face。　She　felt　warmly　drawn　to　him　by　the　strange　expression　in　the　glance　he

had　given　his　brother。　The　tenderness　in　his　eyes　did　not　harmonize　with　much

of　this　wild　and　reckless　boy's　behavior。　To　Kate　he　had　always　seemed　so

bold；　so　cold；　so　different　from　other　men；　and　yet　here　was　proof　that　Master

Joe　loved　his　brother。



The　murmured　conversation　of　the　two　ministers　was　interrupted　by　a　low　cry

from　outside　the　cabin。　A　loud；　coarse　laugh　followed；　and　then　a　husky　voice；





〃Hol'　on；　my　purty　lass。〃'



Joe　took　two　long　strides；　and　was　on　the　door…step。　He　saw　Nell　struggling

violently　in　the　grasp　of　the　half…drunken　teamster。



〃I'll　jes'　hev'　to　kiss　this　lassie　fer　luck；〃　he　said　in　a　tone　of　good

humor。



At　the　same　instant　Joe　saw　three　loungers　laughing；　and　a　fourth；　the

grizzled　frontiersman；　starting　forward　with　a　yell。



〃Let　me　go！〃　cried　Nell。



Just　when　the　teamster　had　pulled　her　close　to　him；　and　was　bending　his　red；

moist　face　to　hers；　two　brown；　sinewy　hands　grasped　his　neck　with　an　angry

clutch。　Deprived　thus　of　breath；　his　mouth　opened；　his　tongue　protruded；　his

eyes　seemed　starting　from　their　sockets；　and　his　arms　beat　the　air。　Then　he

was　lifte