betty zane-第49章

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！


u　can　speak　our　language。〃

〃What　shall　Myeerah　say？〃　she　said；　shyly。

〃Tell　them　the　legend　of　the　Standing　Stone。〃

〃A　beautiful　Indian　girl　once　dwelt　in　the　pine　forests；〃　began　Myeerah；　with　her　eyes　cast　down　and　her　hand　seeking　Isaac's。　〃Her　voice　was　like　rippling　waters；　her　beauty　like　the　rising　sun。　From　near　and　from　far　came　warriors　to　see　the　fair　face　of　this　maiden。　She　smiled　on　them　all　an　they　called　her　Smiling　Moon。　Now　there　lived　on　the　Great　Lake　a　Wyandot　chief。　He　was　young　and　bold。　No　warrior　was　as　great　as　Tarhe。　Smiling　Moon　cast　a　spell　o　his　heart。　He　came　many　times　to　woo　her　and　make　be　his　wife。　But　Smiling　Moon　said：　'Go；　do　great　deeds；　an　come　again。'

〃Tarhe　searched　the　east　and　the　west。　He　brought　her　strange　gifts　from　strange　lands。　She　said：　'Go　and　slay　my　enemies。'　Tarhe　went　forth　in　his　war　paint　and　killed　the　braves　who　named　her　Smiling　Moon。　He　came　again　to　her　and　she　said：　'Run　swifter　than　the　deer；　be　more　cunning　than　the　beaver；　dive　deeper　than　the　loon。'

〃Tarhe　passed　once　more　to　the　island　where　dwelt　Smiling　Moon。　The　ice　was　thick；　the　snow　was　deep。　Smiling　Moon　turned　not　from　her　warm　fire　as　she　said：　'The　chief　is　a　great　warrior；　but　Smiling　Moon　is　not　easily　won。　It　is　cold。　Change　winter　into　summer　and　then　Smiling　Moon　will　love　him。'

〃Tarhe　cried　in　a　loud　voice　to　the　Great　Spirit：　'Make　me　a　master。'

〃A　voice　out　of　the　forest　answered：　'Tarhe；　great　warrior；　wise　chief；　waste　not　thy　time；　go　back　to　thy　wigwam。'

〃Tarhe　unheeding　cried　'Tarhe　wins　or　dies。　Make　him　a　master　so　that　he　may　drive　the　ice　northward。'

〃Stormed　the　wild　tempest；　thundered　the　rivers　of　ice　chill　blew　the　north　wind；　the　cold　northwest　wind；　against　the　mild　south　wind；　snow…spirits　and　hail…spirits　fled　before　the　warm　raindrops；　the　white　mountains　melted；　and　lo！　it　was　summer。

〃On　the　mountain　top　Tarhe　waited　for　his　bride。　Never　wearying；　ever　faithful　he　watched　many　years。　There　he　turned　to　stone。　There　he　stands　to…day；　the　Standing　Stone　of　ages。　And　Smiling　Moon；　changed　by　the　Great　Spirit　into　the　Night　Wind；　forever　wails　her　lament　at　dusk　through　the　forest　trees；　and　moans　over　the　mountain　tops。〃

Myeerah's　story　elicited　cheers　and　praises　from　all。　She　was　entreated　to　tell　another；　but　smilingly　shook　her　head。　Now　that　her　shyness　had　worn　off　to　some　extent　she　took　great　interest　in　the　jest　and　the　general　conversation。

Col。　Zane's　fine　old　wine　flowed　like　water。　The　custom　was　to　fill　a　guest's　cup　as　soon　as　it　was　empty。　Drinking　much　was　rather　encouraged　than　otherwise。　But　Col。　Zane　never　allowed　this　custom　to　go　too　far　in　his　house。

〃Friends；　the　hour　grows　late；〃　he　said。　〃To…morrow；　after　the　great　event；　we　shall　have　games；　shooting　matches；　running　races；　and　contests　of　all　kinds。　Capt。　Boggs　and　I　have　arranged　to　give　prizes；　and　I　expect　the　girls　can　give　something　to　lend　a　zest　to　the　competition。〃

〃Will　the　girls　have　a　chance　in　these　races？〃　asked　Isaac。　〃If　so；　I　should　like　to　see　Betty　and　Myeerah　run。〃

〃Betty　can　outrun　any　woman；　red　or　white；　on　the　border；〃　said　Wetzel。　〃And　she　could　make　some　of　the　men　run　their　level　best。〃

〃Well；　perhaps　we　shall　give　her　one　opportunity　to…morrow；〃　observed　the　Colonel。　〃She　used　to　be　good　at　running　but　it　seems　to　me　that　of　late　she　has　taken　to　books　and〃

〃Oh；　Eb！　that　is　untrue；〃　interrupted　Betty。

Col。　Zane　laughed　and　patted　his　sister's　cheek。　〃Never　mind；　Betty；〃　and　then；　rising；　he　continued；　〃Now　let　us　drink　to　the　bride　and　groom…to…be。　Capt。　Boggs；　I　call　on　you。〃

〃We　drink　to　the　bride's　fair　beauty；　we　drink　to　the　groom's　good　luck；〃　said　Capt。　Boggs；　raising　his　cup。

〃Do　not　forget　the　maid…of…honor；〃　said　Isaac。

〃Yes；　and　the　maid…of…honor。　Mr。　Clarke；　will　you　say　something　appropriate？〃　asked　Col。　Zane。

Rising；　Clarke　said：　〃I　would　be　glad　to　speak　fittingly　on　this　occasion；　but　I　do　not　think　I　can　do　it　justice。　I　believe　as　Col。　Zane　does；　that　this　Indian　Princess　is　the　first　link　in　that　chain　of　peace　which　will　some　day　unite　the　red　men　and　the　white　men。　Instead　of　the　White　Crane　she　should　be　called　the　White　Dove。　Gentlemen；　rise　and　drink　to　her　long　life　and　happiness。〃

The　toast　was　drunk。　Then　Clarke　refilled　his　cup　and　holding　it　high　over　his　head　he　looked　at　Betty。

〃Gentlemen；　to　the　maid…of…honor。　Miss　Zane；　your　health；　your　happiness；　in　this　good　old　wine。〃

〃I　thank　you；〃　murmured　Betty　with　downcast　eyes。　〃I　bid　you　all　good…night。　Come；　Myeerah。〃

Once　more　alone　with　Betty；　the　Indian　girl　turned　to　her　with　eyes　like　twin　stars。

〃My　sister　has　made　me　very　happy；〃　whispered　Myeerah　in　her　soft；　low　voice。　〃Myeerah's　heart　is　full。〃

〃I　believe　you　are　happy；　for　I　know　you　love　Isaac　dearly。〃

〃Myeerah　has　always　loved　him。　She　will　love　his　sister。〃

〃And　I　will　love　you；〃　said　Betty。　〃I　will　love　you　because　you　have　saved　him。　Ah！　Myeerah；　yours　has　been　wonderful；　wonderful　love。〃

〃My　sister　is　loved；〃　whispered　Myeerah。　〃Myeerah　saw　the　look　in　the　eyes　of　the　great　hunter。　It　was　the　sad　light　of　the　moon　on　the　water。　He　loves　you。　And　the　other　looked　at　my　sister　with　eyes　like　the　blue　of　northern　skies。　He；　too；　loves　you。〃

〃Hush！〃　whispered　Betty；　trembling　and　hiding　her　face。　〃Hush！　Myeerah；　do　not　speak　of　him。〃



CHAPTER　XI。

He　following　afternoon　the　sun　shone　fair　and　warm；　the　sweet　smell　of　the　tan…bark　pervaded　the　airs　and　the　birds　sang　their　gladsome　songs。　The　scene　before　the　grim　battle…scarred　old　fort　was　not　without　its　picturesqueness。　The　low　vine…covered　cabins　on　the　hill　side　looked　more　like　picture　houses　than　like　real　habitations　of　men；　the　mill　with　its　burned…out　roofa　reminder　of　the　Indiansand　its　great　wheel；　now　silent　and　still；　might　have　been　from　its　lonely　and　dilapidated　appearance　a　hundred　years　old。

On　a　little　knoll　carpeted　with　velvety　grass　sat　Isaac　and　his　Indian　bride。　He　had　selected　this　vantage　point　because　it　afforded　a　fine　view　of　the　green　square　where　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