betty zane-第50部分

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〃Young　Bennet　is　over　there；　and　if　the　men　needed　any　thing　they　would　send　him　for　it；〃　answered　Silas。　〃I'll　send　some　food　and　water。　Anything　else？〃

〃Powder。　We're　nigh　out　of　powder；〃　replied　the　man　addressed。　〃And　we　might　jes　as　well　make　ready　fer　a　high　old　time。　The　red　devils　hadn't　been　quiet　all　this　last　hour　fer　nothin'。〃

Silas　passed　along　the　narrow　hallway　which　led　from　the　bastion　into　the　main　room　of　the　block…house。　As　he　turned　the　corner　at　the　head　of　the　stairway　he　encountered　a　boy　who　was　dragging　himself　up　the　steps。

〃Hello！　Who's　this？　Why；　Harry！〃　exclaimed　Silas；　grasping　the　boy　and　drawing　him　into　the　room。　Once　in　the　light　Silas　saw　that　the　lad　was　so　weak　he　could　hardly　stand。　He　was　covered　with　blood。　It　dripped　from　a　bandage　wound　tightly　about　his　arm；　it　oozed　through　a　hole　in　his　hunting　shirt；　and　it　flowed　from　a　wound　over　his　temple。　The　shadow　of　death　was　already　stealing　over　the　pallid　face；　but　from　the　grey　eyes　shone　an　indomitable　spirit；　a　spirit　which　nothing　but　death　could　quench。

〃Quick！〃　the　lad　panted。　〃Send　men　to　the　south　wall。　The　redskins　are　breakin'　in　where　the　water　from　the　spring　runs　under　the　fence。〃

〃Where　are　Metzar　and　the　other　men？〃

〃Dead！　Killed　last　night。　I've　been　there　alone　all　night。　I　kept　on　shootin'。　Then　I　gets　plugged　here　under　the　chin。　Knowin'　it's　all　up　with　me　I　deserted　my　post　when　I　heard　the　Injuns　choppin'　on　the　fence　where　it　was　on　fire　last　night。　But　I　onlyrunbecausethey're　gettin'　in。〃

〃Wetzel；　Bennet；　Clarke！〃　yelled　Silas；　as　he　laid　the　boy　on　the　bench。

Almost　as　Silas　spoke　the　tall　form　of　the　hunter　confronted　him。　Clarke　and　the　other　men　were　almost　as　prompt。

〃Wetzel；　run　to　the　south　wall。　The　Indians　are　cutting　a　hole　through　the　fence。〃

Wetzel　turned；　grabbed　his　rifle　and　an　axe　and　was　gone　like　a　flash。

〃Sullivan；　you　handle　the　men　here。　Bessie；　do　what　you　can　for　this　brave　lad。　Come；　Bennet；　Clarke；　we　must　follow　Wetzel；〃　commanded　Silas。

Mrs。　Zane　hastened　to　the　side　of　the　fainting　lad。　She　washed　away　the　blood　from　the　wound　over　his　temple。　She　saw　that　a　bullet　had　glanced　on　the　bone　and　that　the　wound　was　not　deep　or　dangerous。　She　unlaced　the　hunting　shirt　at　the　neck　and　pulled　the　flaps　apart。　There　on　the　right　breast；　on　a　line　with　the　apex　of　the　lung；　was　a　horrible　gaping　wound。　A　murderous　British　slug　had　passed　through　the　lad。　From　the　hole　at　every　heart…beat　poured　the　dark；　crimson　life…tide。　Mrs。　Zane　turned　her　white　face　away　for　a　second；　then　she　folded　a　small　piece　of　linen；　pressed　it　tightly　over　the　wound；　and　wrapped　a　towel　round　the　lad's　breast。

〃Don't　waste　time　on　me。　It's　all　over；〃　he　whispered。　〃Will　you　call　Betty　here　a　minute？〃

Betty　came；　white…faced　and　horror…stricken。　For　forty　hours　she　had　been　living　in　a　maze　of　terror。　Her　movements　had　almost　become　mechanical。　She　had　almost　ceased　to　hear　and　feel。　But　the　light　in　the　eyes　of　this　dying　boy　brought　her　back　to　the　horrible　reality　of　the　present。

〃Oh；　Harry！　Harry！　Harry！〃　was　all　Betty　could　whisper。

〃I'm　goin'；　Betty。　And　I　wantedyou　to　say　a　little　prayer　for　meand　say　good…bye　to　me；〃　he　panted。

Betty　knelt　by　the　bench　and　tried　to　pray。

〃I　hated　to　run；　Betty；　but　I　waited　and　waited　and　nobody　came；　and　the　Injuns　was　getting'　in。　They'll　find　dead　Injuns　in　piles　out　there。　I　was　shootin'　fer　you；　Betty；　and　even　time　I　aimed　I　thought　of　you。〃

The　lad　rambled　on；　his　voice　growing　weaker　and　weaker　and　finally　ceasing。　The　hand　which　had　clasped　Betty's　so　closely　loosened　its　hold。　His　eyes　closed。　Betty　thought　he　was　dead；　but　no！　he　still　breathed。　Suddenly　his　eyes　opened。　The　shadow　of　pain　was　gone。　In　its　place　shone　a　beautiful　radiance。

〃Betty；　I've　cared　a　lot　for　youand　I'm　dyin'happy　because　I've　fought　fer　youand　somethin'　tells　meyou'llbe　saved。　Good…bye。〃　A　smile　transformed　his　face　and　his　gray　eyes　gazed　steadily　into　hers。　Then　his　head　fell　back。　With　a　sigh　his　brave　spirit　fled。

Hugh　Bennet　looked　once　at　the　pale　face　of　his　son；　then　he　ran　down　the　stairs　after　Silas　and　Clarke。　When　the　three　men　emerged　from　behind　Capt。　Boggs'　cabin；　which　was　adjacent　to　the　block…house；　and　which　hid　the　south　wall　from　their　view；　they　were　two　hundred　feet　from　Wetzel　They　heard　the　heavy　thump　of　a　log　being　rammed　against　the　fence；　then　a　splitting　and　splintering　of　one　of　the　six…inch　oak　planks。　Another　and　another　smashing　blow　and　the　lower　half　of　one　of　the　planks　fell　inwards；　leaving　an　aperture　large　enough　to　admit　an　Indian。　The　men　dashed　forward　to　the　assistance　of　Wetzel；　who　stood　by　the　hole　with　upraised　axe。　At　the　same　moment　a　shot　rang　out。　Bennet　stumbled　and　fell　headlong。　An　Indian　had　shot　through　the　hole　in　the　fence。　Silas　and　Alfred　sheered　off　toward　the　fence；　out　of　line。　When　within　twenty　yards　of　Wetzel　they　saw　a　swarthy…faced　and　athletic　savage　squeeze　through　the　narrow　crevice。　He　had　not　straightened　up　before　the　axe；　wielded　by　the　giant　hunter；　descended　on　his　head；　cracking　his　skull　as　if　it　were　an　eggshell。　The　savage　sank　to　the　earth　without　even　a　moan。　Another　savage　naked　and　powerful；　slipped　in。　He　had　to　stoop　to　get　through。　He　raised　himself；　and　seeing　Wetzel；　he　tried　to　dodge　the　lightning　sweep　of　the　axe。　It　missed　his　head；　at　which　it　had　been　aimed；　but　struck　just　over　the　shoulders；　and　buried　itself　in　flesh　and　bone。　The　Indian　uttered　an　agonizing　yell　which　ended　in　a　choking；　gurgling　sound　as　the　blood　spurted　from　his　throat。　Wetzel　pulled　the　weapon　from　the　body　of　his　victim；　and　with　the　same　motion　he　swung　it　around。　This　time　the　blunt　end　met　the　next　Indian's　head　with　a　thud　like　that　made　by　the　butcher　when　he　strikes　the　bullock　to　the　ground。　The　Indian's　rifle　dropped；　his　tomahawk　flew　into　the　air；　while　his　body　rolled　down　the　little　embankment　into　the　spring。　Another　and　another　Indian　met　the　same　fate。　Then　two　Indians　endeavored　to　get　through　the　aperture。　The　awful　axe　swung　by　those　steel　arms；　dispatched　both　of　than　in　the　twinkling　of　an　eye。　Their　bodies　stuck　in　the　hole。

Silas　and　Alfred　stood　riveted　to　the　spot。　Just　then　Wetzel　in　all　his　horrible　glory　was　a　sight　to　freeze　the　marrow　of　any　man。　He　had　cast　aside　his　hunting　shirt　in　that　run　to　the　fence　and　was　now　stripped　to　the　waist。　He　was　covered　with　blood。　The　muscles　of　his　broad　back　and　his　brawny　arms　swelled　and　rippled　under　the　brown　skin。　At　every　swing　of　the　gory　axe　he　let　out　a　yell　the　like　of　which　had　never　before　been　heard　by　the　white　men。　It　was　the　hunter's　mad　yell　of　revenge。　In　his　thirst　for　vengeance　he　had　forgotten　that　he　was　defending　the　Fort　with　its　women　and　its　children；　he　was　fighting　because　he　loved　to　kill。

Silas　Zane　heard　the　increasing　clamor　outside　and　knew　that　hundreds　of　Indians　were　being　drawn　to　the　spot。　Something　must　be　done　at　once。　He　looked　around　and　his　eyes　fell　on　a　pile　of　white…oak　logs　that　had　been　hauled　inside　the　Fort。　They　had　been　placed　there　by　Col。　Zane；　with　wise　forethought。　Silas　grabbed　Clarke　and　pulled　him　toward　the　pile　of　logs；　at　the　same　time　communicating　his　plan。　Together　they　carried　a　log　to　the　fence　and　dropped　it　in　front　of　the　hole。　Wetzel　immediately　stepped　on　it　and　took　a　vicious　swing　at　an　Indian　who　was　trying　to　poke　his　rifle　sideways　through　the　hole。　This　Indian　had　discharged　his　weapon　twice。　While　Wetzel　held　the　Indians　at　bay；　Silas　and　Clarke　piled　the　logs　one　upon　another；　until　the　hole　was　closed。　This　effectually　fortified　and　barricaded　the　weak　place　in　the　stockade　fence。　The　settlers　in　the　bastions　were　now　pouring　such　a　hot　fire　into　the　ranks　of　the　savage　that　they　were　compelled　to　retreat　out　of　range。

While　Wetzel　washed　the　blood　from　his　arms　and　his　shoulders　Silas　and　Alfred　hurried　back　to　where　Bennet　had　fallen。　They　expected　to　find　him　dead；　and　were　overjoyed　to　see　the　big　settler　calmly　sitting　by　the　brook　binding　up　a　wound　in　his　shoulder。

〃It's　nothin'　much。　Jest　a　scratch；　but　it　tumbled　me　over；〃　he　said。　〃I　was　comin'　to　help　you。　That　was　the　wust　Injun　scrap　I　ever　saw。　Why　didn't　you　keep　on　lettin'　'em　come　in？　The　red　varmints　would'a　kept　on　comin'　and　Wetzel　was　good　fer　the　whole　tribe。　All　you'd　had　to　do　was　to　drag　the　dead　Injuns　aside　and　give　him　elbow　room。〃

Wetzel　joined　them　at　this　moment；　and　they　hurried　back　to　the　block…house。　The　firing　had　ceased　on　the　blur。　They　met　Sullivan　at　the　steps　of　the　Fort。　He　was　evidently　coming　in　search　of　them。

〃Zane；　the　Indians　and　the　Britishers　are　getting　ready　for　more　determined　and　persistent　effort　than　any　that　has　yet　been　made；〃　said　Sullivan。

〃How　so？〃　asked　Silas。

〃They　have　got　hammers　from　the　blacksmith's　shop；　and　they　boarded　my　boat　and　found　a　keg　of　nails。　Now　they　are　making　a　number　of　ladders。　If　they　make　a　rush　all　at　once　and　place　ladders　against　the　fence　we'll　have　the　Fort　full　of　Indians　in　ten　minutes。　They　can't　stand　in　the　face　of　a　cannon　charge。　We　must　use　the　cannon。〃

〃Clarke；　go　into　Capt。　Boggs'　cabin　and　fetch　out　two　kegs　of　powder；〃　said　Silas。

The　young　man　turned　in　the　direction　of　the　cabin；　while　Silas　and　the　others　ascended　the　stairs

〃The　firing　seems　to　be　all　on　the　south　side；〃　said　Silas；　〃and　is　not　so　heavy　as　it　was。〃

〃Yes；　as　I　said；　the　Indians　on　the　river　front　are　busy　with　their　new　plans；〃　answered　Sullivan。

〃Why　does　not　Clarke　return？〃　said　Silas；　after　waiting　a　few　moments　at　the　door　of　the　long　room。　〃We　have　no　time　to　lose。　I　want　to　divide　one　keg　of　that　powder　among　the　men。〃

Clarke　appeared　at　the　moment。　He　was　breathing　heavily　as　though　he　had　run　up　the　stairs；　or　was　laboring　under　a　powerful　emotion。　His　face　was　gray。

〃I　could　not　find　any　powder！〃　he　exclaimed。　〃I　searched　every　nook　and　corner　in　Capt。　Boggs'　house。　There　is　no　powder　there。〃

A　brief　silence　ensued。　Everyone　in　the　block…house　heard　the　young　man's　voice。　No　one　moved。　They　all　seemed　waiting　for　someone　to　speak。　Finally　Silas　Zane　burst　out：

〃Not　find　it？　You　surely　could　not　have　looked　well。　Capt。　Boggs　himself　told　me　the