betty zane-第40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！


e　the　races　and　the　matches　were　to　take　place。　Admiring　women　stood　around　him　and　gazed　at　his　wife。　They　gossiped　in　whispers　about　her　white　skin；　her　little　hands；　her　beauty。　The　girls　stared　with　wide　open　and　wondering　eyes。　The　youngsters　ran　round　and　round　the　little　group；　they　pushed　each　other　over；　and　rolled　in　the　long　grass；　and　screamed　with　delight

It　was　to　be　a　gala　occasion　and　every　man；　woman　and　child　in　the　settlement　had　assembled　on　the　green。　Col。　Zane　and　Sam　were　planting　a　post　in　the　center　of　the　square。　It　was　to　be　used　in　the　shooting　matches。　Capt。　Boggs　and　Major　McColloch　were　arranging　the　contestants　in　order。　Jonathan　Zane；　Will　Martin；　Alfred　Clarkeall　the　young　men　were　carefully　charging　and　priming　their　rifles。　Betty　was　sitting　on　the　black　stallion　which　Col。　Zane　had　generously　offered　as　first　prize。　She　was　in　the　gayest　of　moods　and　had　just　coaxed　Isaac　to　lift　her　on　the　tall　horse；　from　which　height　she　purposed　watching　the　sports。　Wetzel　alone　did　not　seem　infected　by　the　spirit　of　gladsomeness　which　pervaded。　He　stood　apart　leaning　on　his　long　rifle　and　taking　no　interest　in　the　proceedings　behind　him。　He　was　absorbed　in　contemplating　the　forest　on　the　opposite　shore　of　the　river。

〃Well；　boys；　I　guess　we　are　ready　for　the　fun；〃　called　Col。　Zane；　cheerily。　〃Only　one　shot　apiece；　mind　you；　except　in　case　of　a　tie。　Now；　everybody　shoot　his　best。〃

The　first　contest　was　a　shooting　match　known　as　〃driving　the　nail。〃　It　was　as　the　name　indicated；　nothing　less　than　shooting　at　the　head　of　a　nail。　In　the　absence　of　a　nailfor　nails　were　scarceone　was　usually　fashioned　from　a　knife　blade；　or　an　old　file；　or　even　a　piece　of　silver。　The　nail　was　driven　lightly　into　the　stake；　the　contestants　shot　at　it　from　a　distance　as　great　as　the　eyesight　permitted。　To　drive　the　nail　hard　and　fast　into　the　wood　at　one　hundred　yards　was　a　feat　seldom　accomplished。　By　many　hunters　it　was　deemed　more　difficult　than　〃snuffing　the　candle；〃　another　border　pastime；　which　consisted　of　placing　in　the　dark　at　any　distance　a　lighted　candle；　and　then　putting　out　the　flame　with　a　single　rifle　ball。　Many　settlers；　particularly　those　who　handled　the　plow　more　than　the　rifle；　sighted　from　a　rest；　and　placed　a　piece　of　moss　under　the　rife…barrel　to　prevent　its　spring　at　the　discharge。

The　match　began。　Of　the　first　six　shooters　Jonathan　Zane　and　Alfred　Clarke　scored　the　best　shots。　Each　placed　a　bullet　in　the　half…inch　circle　round　the　nail。

〃Alfred；　very　good；　indeed；〃　said　Col。　Zane。　〃You　have　made　a　decided　improvement　since　the　last　shooting…match。〃

Six　other　settlers　took　their　turns。　All　were　unsuccessful　in　getting　a　shot　inside　the　little　circle。　Thus　a　tie　between　Alfred　and　Jonathan　had　to　be　decided。

〃Shoot　close；　Alfred；〃　yelled　Isaac。　〃I　hope　you　beat　him。　He　always　won　from　me　and　then　crowed　over　it。〃

Alfred's　second　shot　went　wide　of　the　mark；　and　as　Jonathan　placed　another　bullet　in　the　circle；　this　time　nearer　the　center；　Alfred　had　to　acknowledge　defeat。

〃Here　comes　Miller；〃　said　Silas　Zane。　〃Perhaps　he　will　want　a　try。〃

Col。　Zane　looked　round。　Miller　had　joined　the　party。　He　carried　his　rifle　and　accoutrements；　and　evidently　had　just　returned　to　the　settlement。　He　nodded　pleasantly　to　all。

〃Miller；　will　you　take　a　shot　for　the　first　prize；　which　I　was　about　to　award　to　Jonathan？〃　said　Col。　Zane。

〃No。　I　am　a　little　late；　and　not　entitled　to　a　shot。　I　will　take　a　try　for　the　others；〃　answered　Miller。

At　the　arrival　of　Miller　on　the　scene　Wetzel　had　changed　his　position　to　one　nearer　the　crowd。　The　dog；　Tige；　trotted　closely　at　his　heels。　No　one　heard　Tige's　low　growl　or　Wetzel's　stern　word　to　silence　him。　Throwing　his　arm　over　Betty's　pony；　Wetzel　apparently　watched　the　shooters。　In　reality　he　studied　intently　Miller's　every　movement。

〃I　expect　some　good　shooting　for　this　prize；〃　said　Col。　Zane；　waving　a　beautifully　embroidered　buckskin　bullet　pouch；　which　was　one　of　Betty's　donations。

Jonathan　having　won　his　prize　was　out　of　the　lists　and　could　compete　no　more。　This　entitled　Alfred　to　the　first　shot　for　second　prize。　He　felt　he　would　give　anything　he　possessed　to　win　the　dainty　trifle　which　the　Colonel　had　waved　aloft。　Twice　he　raised　his　rifle　in　his　exceeding　earnestness　to　score　a　good　shot　and　each　time　lowered　the　barrel。　When　finally　he　did　shoot　the　bullet　embedded　itself　in　the　second　circle。　It　was　a　good　shot；　but　he　knew　it　would　never　win　that　prize。

〃A　little　nervous；　eh？〃　remarked　Miller；　with　a　half　sneer　on　his　swarthy　face。

Several　young　settlers　followed　in　succession；　but　their　aims　were　poor。　Then　little　Harry　Bennet　took　his　stand。　Harry　had　won　many　prizes　in　former　matches；　and　many　of　the　pioneers　considered　him　one　of　the　best　shots　in　the　country

〃Only　a　few　more　after　you；　Harry；〃　said　Col。　Zane。　〃You　have　a　good　chance。〃

〃All　right；　Colonel。　That's　Betty's　prize　and　somebody'll　have　to　do　some　mighty　tall　shootin'　to　beat　me；〃　said　the　lad；　his　blue　eyes　flashing　as　he　toed　the　mark。

Shouts　and　cheers　of　approval　greeted　his　attempt。　The　bullet　had　passed　into　the　wood　so　close　to　the　nail　that　a　knife　blade　could　not　have　been　inserted　between。

Miller's　turn　came　next。　He　was　a　fine　marksman　and　he　knew　it。　With　the　confidence　born　of　long　experience　and　knowledge　of　his　weapon；　he　took　a　careful　though　quick　aim　and　fired。　He　turned　away　satisfied　that　he　would　carry　off　the　coveted　prize。　He　had　nicked　the　nail。

But　Miller　reckoned　without　his　host。　Betty　had　seen　the　result　of　his　shot　and　the　self…satisfied　smile　on　his　face。　She　watched　several　of　the　settlers　make　poor　attempts　at　the　nail；　and　then；　convinced　that　not　one　of　the　other　contestants　could　do　so　well　as　Miller；　she　slipped　off　the　horse　and　ran　around　to　where　Wetzel　was　standing　by　her　pony。

〃Lew；　I　believe　Miller　will　win　my　prize；〃　she　whispered；　placing　her　hand　on　the　hunter's　arm。　〃He　has　scratched　the　nail；　and　I　am　sure　no　one　except　you　can　do　better。　I　do　not　want　Miller　to　have　anything　of　mine。〃

〃And；　little　girl；　you　want　me　to　shoot　fer　you；〃　said　Lewis。

〃Yes；　Lew；　please　come　and　shoot　for　me。〃

It　was　said　of　Wetzel　that　he　never　wasted　powder。　He　never　entered　into　the　races　and　shooting…matches　of　the　settlers；　yet　it　was　well　known　that　he　was　the　fleetest　runner　and　the　most　unerring　shot　on　the　frontier。　Therefore；　it　was　with　surprise　and　pleasure　that　Col。　Zane　heard　the　hunter　say　he　guessed　he　would　like　one　shot　anyway。

Miller　looked　on　with　a　grim　smile。　He　knew　that；　Wetzel　or　no　Wetzel；　it　would　take　a　remarkably　clever　shot　to　beat　his。

〃This　shot's　for　Betty；〃　said　Wetzel　as　he　stepped　to　the　mark。　He　fastened　his　keen　eyes　on　the　stake。　At　that　distance　the　head　of　the　nail　looked　like　a　tiny　black　speck。　Wetzel　took　one　of　the　locks　of　hair　that　waved　over　his　broad　shoulders　and　held　it　up　in　front　of　his　eyes　a　moment。　He　thus　ascertained　that　there　was　not　any　perceptible　breeze。　The　long　black　barrel　started　slowly　to　riseit　seemed　to　the　interested　onlookers　that　it　would　never　reach　a　level　and　when；　at　last。　it　became　rigid；　there　was　a　single　second　in　which　man　and　rifle　appeared　as　if　carved　out　of　stone。　Then　followed　a　burst　of　red　flame；　a　puff　of　white　smoke；　a　clear　ringing　report。

Many　thought　the　hunter　had　missed　altogether。　It　seemed　that　the　nail　had　not　changed　its　position；　there　was　no　bullet　hole　in　the　white　lime　wash　that　had　been　smeared　round　the　nail。　But　on　close　inspection　the　nail　was　found　to　have　been　driven　to　its　head　in　the　wood。

〃A　wonderful　shot！〃　exclaimed　Col。　Zane。　〃Lewis；　I　don't　remember　having　seen　the　like　more　than　once　or　twice　in　my　life。〃

Wetzel　made　no　answer。　He　moved　away　to　his　former　position　and　commenced　to　reload　his　rifle。　Betty　came　running　up　to　him；　holding　in　her　hand　the　prize　bullet　pouch。

〃Oh；　Lew；　if　I　dared　I　would　kiss　you。　It　pleases　me　more　for　you　to　have　won　my　prize　than　if　any　one　else　had　won　it。　And　it　was　the　finest；　straightest　shot　ever　made。〃

〃Betty；　it's　a　little　fancy　for　redskins；　but　it'll　be　a　keepsake；〃　answered　Lewis；　his　eyes　reflecting　the　bright　smile　on　her　face。

Friendly　rivalry　in　feats　that　called　for　strength；　speed　and　daring　was　the　diversion　of　the　youth　of　that　period；　and　the　pioneers　conducted　this　good…natured　but　spirited　sport　strictly　on　its　merits。　Each　contestant　strove　his　utmost　to　outdo　his　opponent。　It　was　hardly　to　be　expected　that　Alfred　would　carry　off　any　of　the　laurels。　Used　as　he　had　been　to　comparative　idleness　he　was　no　match　for　the　hardy　lads　who　had　been　brought　up　and　trained　to　a　life　of　action；　wherein　a　ten　mile　walk　behind　a　plow；　or　a　cord　of　wood　chopped　in　a　day；　were　trifles。　Alfred　lost　in　the　foot…race　and　the　sackrace；　but　by　dint　of　exerting　himself　to　the　limit　of　his　strength；　he　did　manage　to　take　one　fall　out　of　the　best　wrestler。　He　was　content　to　stop　here；　and；　throwing　himself　on　the　grass；　endeavored　to　recover　his　breath。　He　felt　happier　today　than　for　some　time　past。　Twice　during　the　afternoon　he　had　met　Betty's　eyes　and　the　look　he　encountered　there　made　his　heart　stir　with　a　strange　feeling　of　fear　and　hope。　While　he　was　ruminating　on　what　had　happened　between　Betty　and　himself　he　allowed　his　eyes　to　wander　from　one　person　to　another。　When　his　gaze　alighted　on　Wetzel　it　became　riveted　there。　The　hunter's　attitude　struck　him　as　singular。　Wetzel　had　his　face　half　turned　toward　the　boys　romping　near　him　and　he　leaned　carelessly　against　a　white　oak　tree。　But　a　close　observer　would　have　seen；　as　Alfred　did；　that　there　was　a　certain　alertness　in　that　rigid　and　motionless　figure。　Wetzel's　eyes　were　fixed　on　the　western　end　of　the　island。　Almost　involuntarily　Alfred's　eyes　sought　the　same　direction。　The　western　end　of　the　island　ran　out　into　a　long　low　point　covered　with　briars；　rushes　and　saw…grass。　As　Alfred　directed　his　gaze　along　the　water　line　of　this　point　he　distinctly　saw　a　dark　form　flit　from　one　bush　to　another。　He　was　positive　he　had　not　been　mistaken。　He　got　up　slowly　and　unconcernedly；　and　strolled　over　to　Wetzel。

〃Wetzel；　I　saw　an　object　just　now；〃　he　said　in　a　low　tone。　〃It　was　moving　behind　those　bushes　at　the　head　of　th