betty zane-第29部分

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he　hunter　spoke　in　a　low　tone　and　the　driver　whipped　up　his　horses。　From　out　the　depths　of　the　dark　woods　along　which　they　were　riding　came　a　long　and　mournful　howl。　It　was　a　wolf　answering　the　call　of　his　mate。　This　time　the　horses　heard　it；　for　they　threw　back　their　ears　and　increased　their　speed。　The　girls　heard　it；　for　they　shrank　closer　to　the　men。


There　is　that　which　is　frightful　in　the　cry　of　a　wolf。　When　one　is　safe　in　camp　before　a　roaring　fire　the　short；　sharp　bark　of　a　wolf　is　startling；　and　the　long　howl　will　make　one　shudder。　It　is　so　lonely　and　dismal。　It　makes　no　difference　whether　it　be　given　while　the　wolf　is　sitting　on　his　haunches　near　some　cabin　waiting　for　the　remains　of　the　settler's　dinner；　or　while　he　is　in　full　chase　after　his　preythe　cry　is　equally　wild；　savage　and　bloodcurdling。

Betty　had　never　heard　it　and　though　she　was　brave；　when　the　howl　from　the　forest　had　its　answer　in　another　howl　from　the　creek　thicket；　she　slipped　her　little　mittened　hand　under　Wetzel's　arm　and　looked　up　at　him　with　frightened　eyes。

In　half　an　hour　the　full　chorus　of　yelps；　barks　and　howls　swelled　hideously　on　the　air；　and　the　ever　increasing　pack　of　wolves　could　be　seen　scarcely　a　hundred　yards　behind　the　sleds。　The　patter　of　their　swiftly　flying　feet　on　the　snow　could　be　distinctly　heard。　The　slender；　dark　forms　came　nearer　and　nearer　every　moment。　Presently　the　wolves　had　approached　close　enough　for　the　occupants　of　the　sleds　to　see　their　shining　eyes　looking　like　little　balls　of　green　fire。　A　gaunt　beast　bolder　than　the　others；　and　evidently　the　leader　of　the　pack；　bounded　forward　until　he　was　only　a　few　yards　from　the　last　sled。　At　every　jump　he　opened　his　great　jaws　and　uttered　a　quick　bark　as　if　to　embolden　his　followers。

Almost　simultaneously　with　the　red　flame　that　burst　from　Wetzel's　rifle　came　a　sharp　yelp　of　agony　from　the　leader。　He　rolled　over　and　over。　Instantly　followed　a　horrible　mingling　of　snarls　and　barks；　and　snapping　of　jaws　as　the　band　fought　over　the　body　of　their　luckless　comrade。

This　short　delay　gave　the　advantage　to　the　horses。　When　the　wolves　again　appeared　they　were　a　long　way　behind。　The　distance　to　the　fort　was　now　short　and　the　horses　were　urged　to　their　utmost。　The　wolves　kept　up　the　chase　until　they　reached　the　creek　bridge　and　the　mill。　Then　they　slowed　up：　the　howling　became　desultory；　and　finally　the　dark　forms　disappeared　in　the　thickets。



CHAPTER　VIII。

Winter　dragged　by　uneventfully　for　Betty。　Unlike　the　other　pioneer　girls；　who　were　kept　busy　all　the　time　with　their　mending；　and　linsey　weaving；　and　household　duties；　Betty　had　nothing　to　divert　her　but　her　embroidery　and　her　reading。　These　she　found　very　tiresome。　Her　maid　was　devoted　to　her　and　never　left　a　thing　undone。　Annie　was　old　Sam's　daughter；　and　she　had　waited　on　Betty　since　she　had　been　a　baby。　The　cleaning　or　mending　or　darninganything　in　the　shape　of　work　that　would　have　helped　pass　away　the　monotonous　hours　for　Betty；　was　always　done　before　she　could　lift　her　hand。

During　the　day　she　passed　hours　in　her　little　room；　and　most　of　them　were　dreamed　away　by　her　window。　Lydia　and　Alice　came　over　sometimes　and　whiled　away　the　tedious　moments　with　their　bright　chatter　and　merry　laughter；　their　castle…building；　and　their　romancing　on　heroes　and　love　and　marriage　as　girls　always　will　until　the　end　of　time。　They　had　not　forgotten　Mr。　Clarke；　but　as　Betty　had　rebuked　them　with　a　dignity　which　forbade　any　further　teasing　on　that　score；　they　had　transferred　their　fun…making　to　the　use　of　Mr。　Miller's　name。

Fearing　her　brothers'　wrath　Betty　had　not　told　them　of　the　scene　with　Miller　at　the　dance。　She　had　learned　enough　of　rough　border　justice　to　dread　the　consequence　of　such　a　disclosure。　She　permitted　Miller　to　come　to　the　house；　although　she　never　saw　him　alone。　Miller　had　accepted　this　favor　gratefully。　He　said　that　on　the　night　of　the　dance　he　had　been　a　little　the　worse　for　Dan　Watkins'　strong　liquor；　and　that；　together　with　his　bitter　disappointment；　made　him　act　in　the　mad　way　which　had　so　grievously　offended　her。　He　exerted　himself　to　win　her　forgiveness。　Betty　was　always　tender…hearted；　and　though　she　did　not　trust　him；　she　said　they　might　still　be　friends；　but　that　that　depended　on　his　respect　for　her　forbearance。　Miller　had　promised　he　would　never　refer　to　the　old　subject　and　he　had　kept　his　word。

Indeed　Betty　welcomed　any　diversion　for　the　long　winter　evenings。　Occasionally　some　of　the　young　people　visited　her；　and　they　sang　and　danced；　roasted　apples；　popped　chestnuts；　and　played　games。　Often　Wetzel　and　Major　McColloch　came　in　after　supper。　Betty　would　come　down　and　sing　for　them；　and　afterward　would　coax　Indian　lore　and　woodcraft　from　Wetzel；　or　she　would　play　checkers　with　the　Major。　If　she　succeeded　in　winning　from　him；　which　in　truth　was　not　often；　she　teased　him　unmercifully。　When　Col。　Zane　and　the　Major　had　settled　down　to　their　series　of　games；　from　which　nothing　short　of　Indians　could　have　diverted　them；　Betty　sat　by　Wetzel。　The　silent　man　of　the　woods；　an　appellation　the　hunter　had　earned　by　his　reticence；　talked　for　Betty　as　he　would　for　no　one　else。

One　night　while　Col。　Zane；　his　wife　and　Betty　were　entertaining　Capt。　Boggs　and　Major　McColloch　and　several　of　Betty's　girls　friends；　after　the　usual　music　and　singing；　storytelling　became　the　order　of　the　evening。　Little　Noah　told　of　the　time　he　had　climbed　the　apple…tree　in　the　yard　after　a　raccoon　and　got　severely　bitten。

〃One　day；〃　said　Noah；　〃I　heard　Tige　barking　out　in　the　orchard　and　I　ran　out　there　and　saw　a　funny　little　fur　ball　up　in　the　tree　with　a　black　tail　and　white　rings　around　it。　It　looked　like　a　pretty　cat　with　a　sharp　nose。　Every　time　Tige　barked　the　little　animal　showed　his　teeth　and　swelled　up　his　back。　I　wanted　him　for　a　pet。　I　got　Sam　to　give　me　a　sack　and　I　climbed　the　tree　and　the　nearer　I　got　to　him　the　farther　he　backed　down　the　limb。　I　followed　him　and　put　out　the　sack　to　put　it　over　his　head　and　he　bit　me。　I　fell　from　the　limb；　but　he　fell　too　and　Tige　killed　him　and　Sam　stuffed　him　for　me。〃

〃Noah；　you　are　quite　a　valiant　hunter；〃　said　Betty。　〃Now；　Jonathan；　remember　that　you　promised　to　tell　me　of　your　meeting　with　Daniel　Boone。〃

〃It　was　over　on　the　Muskingong　near　the　mouth　of　the　Sandusky。　I　was　hunting　in　the　open　woods　along　the　bank　when　I　saw　an　Indian。　He　saw　me　at　the　same　time　and　we　both　treed。　There　we　stood　a　long　time　each　afraid　to　change　position。　Finally　I　began　to　act　tired　and　resorted　to　an　old　ruse。　I　put　my　coon…skin　cap　on　my　ramrod　and　cautiously　poked　it　from　behind　the　tree；　expecting　every　second　to　hear　the　whistle　of　the　redskin's　bullet。　Instead　I　heard　a　jolly　voice　yell：　'Hey；　young　feller；　you'll　have　to　try　something　better'n　that。'　I　looked　and　saw　a　white　man　standing　out　in　the　open　and　shaking　all　over　with　laughter。　I　went　up　to　him　and　found　him　to　be　a　big　strong　fellow　with　an　honest；　merry　face。　He　said：　'I'm　Boone。'　I　was　considerably　taken　aback；　especially　when　I　saw　he　knew　I　was　a　white　man　all　the　time。　We　camped　and　hunted　along　the　river　a　week　and　at　the　Falls　of　the　Muskingong　he　struck　out　for　his　Kentucky　home。〃

〃Here　is　Wetzel；〃　said　Col。　Zane；　who　had　risen　and　gone　to　the　door。　〃Now；　Betty；　try　and　get　Lew　to　tell　us　something。〃

〃Come；　Lewis；　here　is　a　seat　by　me；〃　said　Betty。　〃We　have　been　pleasantly　passing　the　time。　We　have　had　bear　stories；　snake　stories；　ghost　storiesall　kinds　of　tales。　Will　you　tell　us　one？〃

〃Lewis；　did　you　ever　have　a　chance　to　kill　a　hostile　Indian　and　not　take　it？〃　asked　Col。　Zane。

〃Never　but　once；〃　answered　Lewis。

〃Tell　us　about　it。　I　imagine　it　will　be　interesting。〃

〃Well；　I　ain't　good　at　tellin'　things；〃　began　Lewis。　〃I　reckon　I've　seen　some　strange　sights。　I　kin　tell　you　about　the　only　redskin　I　ever　let　off。　Three　years　ago　I　was　takin'　a　fall　hunt　over　on　the　Big　Sandy；　and　I　run　into　a　party　of　Shawnees。　I　plugged　a　chief　and　started　to　run。　There　was　some　good　runners　and　I　couldn't　shake　'em　in　the　open　country。　Comin'　to　the　Ohio　I　jumped　in　and　swum　across；　keepin'　my　rifle　and　powder　dry　by　holdin'　'em　up。　I　hid　in　some　bulrushes　and　waited。　Pretty　soon　along　comes　three　Injuns；　and　when　they　saw　where　I　had　taken　to　the　water　they　stopped　and　held　a　short　pow…wow。　Then　they　all　took　to　the　water。　This　was　what　I　was　waitin'　for。　When　they　got　nearly　acrosst　I　shot　the　first　redskin；　and　loadin'　quick　got　a　bullet　into　the　others。　The　last　Injun　did　not　sink。　I　watched　him　go　floatin'　down　stream　expectin'　every　minute　to　see　him　go　under　as　he　was　hurt　so　bad　he　could　hardly　keep　his　head　above　water。　He　floated　down　a　long　ways　and　the　current　carried　him　to　a　pile　of　driftwood　which　had　lodged　against　a　little　island。　I　saw　the　Injun　crawl　up　on　the　drift。　I　went　down　stream　and　by　keepin'　the　island　between　me　and　him　I　got　out　to　where　he　was。　I　pulled　my　tomahawk　and　went　around　the　head　of　the　island　and　found　the　redskin　leanin'　against　a　big　log。　He　was　a　young　brave　and　a　fine　lookin　strong　feller。　He　was　tryin'　to　stop　the　blood　from　my　bullet…hole　in　his　side。　When　he　saw　me　he　tried　to　get　up；　but　he　was　too　weak。　He　smiled；　pointed　to　the　wound　and　said：　'Deathwind　not　heap　times　bad　shot。'　Then　he　bowed　his　head　and　waited　for　the　tomahawk。　Well；　I　picked　him　up　and　carried　him　ashore　and　made　a　shack　by　a　spring。　I　staid　there　with　him。　When　he　got　well　enough　to　stand　a　few　days'　travel　I　got　him　across　the　river　and　givin'　him　a　hunk　of　deer　meat　I　told　him　to　go；　and　if　I　ever　saw　him　again　I'd　make　a　better　shot。

〃A　year　afterwards　I　trailed　two　Shawnees　into　Wingenund's　camp　and　got　surrounded　and　captured。　The　Delaware　chief　is　my　great　enemy。　They　beat　me；　shot　salt　into　my　legs；　made　me　run　the　gauntlet；　tied　me　on　the　back　of　a　wild　mustang。　Then　they　got　ready　to　burn　me　at　the　stake。　That　night　they　painted　my　face　black　and　held　the　usual　death　dances。　Some　of　the　braves　got　drunk　and　worked　themselves　into　a　frenzy。　I　allowed　I'd　never　see　daylight。　I　seen　that　one　of　the　braves　left　to　guard　me　was　the　young　feller　I　had　wounded　the　year　before。　He　never　took　no　notice　of　me。　In　the　gray　of　the　early　mornin'　when　all　were　asleep　and　the　other　watch　dozin'　I　felt