betty zane-第51章

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〃Wetzel；　I　saw　an　object　just　now；〃　he　said　in　a　low　tone。　〃It　was　moving　behind　those　bushes　at　the　head　of　the　island。　I　am　not　sure　whether　it　was　an　animal　or　an　Indian。〃

〃Injuns。　Go　back　and　be　natur'l　like。　Don't　say　nothin'　and　watch　Miller；〃　whispered　Wetzel。

Much　perturbed　by　the　developments　of　the　last　few　moments；　and　wondering　what　was　going　to　happen；　Alfred　turned　away。　He　had　scarcely　reached　the　others　when　he　heard　Betty's　voice　raised　in　indignant　protest。

〃I　tell　you　I　did　swim　my　pony　across　the　river；〃　cried　Betty。　〃It　was　just　even　with　that　point　and　the　river　was　higher　than　it　is　now。〃

〃You　probably　overestimated　your　feat；〃　said　Miller；　with　his　disagreeable；　doubtful　smile。　〃I　have　seen　the　river　so　low　that　it　could　be　waded；　and　then　it　would　be　a　very　easy　matter　to　cross。　But　now　your　pony　could　not　swim　half　the　distance。〃

〃I'll　show　you；〃　answered　Betty；　her　black　eyes　flashing。　She　put　her　foot　in　the　stirrup　and　leaped　on　Madcap。

〃Now；　Betty；　don't　try　that　foolish　ride　again；〃　implored　Mrs。　Zane。　〃What　do　you　care　whether　strangers　believe　or　not？　Eb；　make　her　come　back。〃

Col。　Bane　only　laughed　and　made　no　attempt　to　detain　Betty。　He　rather　indulged　her　caprices。

〃Stop　her！〃　cried　Clarke。

〃Betty；　where　are　you　goin'？〃　said　Wetzel；　grabbing　at　Madcap's　bridle。　But　Betty　was　too　quick　for　him。　She　avoided　the　hunter；　and　with　a　saucy　laugh　she　wheeled　the　fiery　little　pony　and　urged　her　over　the　bank。　Almost　before　any　one　could　divine　her　purpose　she　had　Madcap　in　the　water　up　to　her　knees。

〃Betty；　stop！〃　cried　Wetzel。

She　paid　no　attention　to　his　call。　In　another　moment　the　pony　would　be　off　the　shoal　and　swimming。

〃Stop！　Turn　back；　Betty；　or　I'll　shoot　the　pony；〃　shouted　Wetzel；　and　this　time　there　was　a　ring　of　deadly　earnestness　in　his　voice。　With　the　words　he　had　cocked　and　thrown　forward　the　long　rifle。

Betty　heard；　and　in　alarm　she　turned　her　pony。　She　looked　up　with　great　surprise　and　concern；　for　she　knew　Wetzel　was　not　one　to　trifle。

〃For　God's　sake！〃　exclaimed　Colonel　Zane；　looking　in　amazement　at　the　hunter's　face；　which　was　now　white　and　stern。

〃Why；　Lew；　you　do　not　mean　you　would　shoot　Madcap？〃　said　Betty；　reproachfully；　as　she　reached　the　shore。

All　present　in　that　watching　crowd　were　silent；　awaiting　the　hunter's　answer。　They　felt　that　mysterious　power　which　portends　the　revelation　of　strange　events。　Col。　Zane　and　Jonathan　knew　the　instant　they　saw　Wetzel　that　something　extraordinary　was　coming。　His　face　had　grown　cold　and　gray；　his　lips　were　tightly　compressed；　his　eyes　dilated　and　shone　with　a　peculiar　lustre。

〃Where　were　you　headin'　your　pony？〃　asked　Wetzel。

〃I　wanted　to　reach　that　point　where　the　water　is　shallow；〃　answered　Betty。

〃That's　what　I　thought。　Well；　Betty；　hostile　Injuns　are　hidin'　and　waitin'　fer　you　in　them　high　rushes　right　where　you　were　makin'　fer；〃　said　Wetzel。　Then　he　shouldered　his　rifle　and　walked　rapidly　away。

〃Oh；　he　cannot　be　serious！〃　cried　Betty。　〃Oh；　how　foolish　am　I。〃

〃Get　back　up　from　the　river；　everybody；〃　commanded　Col。　Zane。

〃Col。　Zane；〃　said　Clarke；　walking　beside　the　Colonel　up　the　bank；　〃I　saw　Wetzel　watching　the　island　in　a　manner　that　I　thought　odd；　under　the　circumstances；　and　I　watched　too。　Presently　I　saw　a　dark　form　dart　behind　a　bush。　I　went　over　and　told　Wetzel；　and　he　said　there　were　Indians　on　the　island。〃

〃This　is　most　dn　strange；〃　said　Col。　Zane；　frowning　heavily。　〃Wetzel's　suspicions；　Miller　turns　up；　teases　Betty　attempting　that　foolhardy　trick；　and　thenIndians！　It　may　be　a　coincidence；　but　it　looks　bad。〃

〃Col。　Zane；　don't　you　think　Wetzel　may　be　mistaken？〃　said　Miller；　coming　up。　〃I　came　over　from　the　other　side　this　morning　and　I　did　not　see　any　Indian　sign。　Probably　Wetzel　has　caused　needless　excitement。〃

〃It　does　not　follow　that　because　you　came　from　over　the　river　there　are　no　Indians　there；〃　answered　Col。　Zane；　sharply。　〃Do　you　presume　to　criticise　Wetzel's　judgment？〃

〃I　saw　an　Indian！〃　cried　Clarke；　facing　Miller　with　blazing　eyes。　〃And　if　you　say　I　did　not；　you　lie！　What　is　more；　I　believe　you　know　more　than　any　one　else　about　it。　I　watched　you。　I　saw　you　were　uneasy　and　that　you　looked　across　the　river　from　time　to　time。　Perhaps　you　had　better　explain　to　Col。　Zane　the　reason　you　taunted　his　sister　into　attempting　that　ride。〃

With　a　snarl　more　like　that　of　a　tiger　than　of　a　human　being；　Miller　sprang　at　Clarke。　His　face　was　dark　with　malignant　hatred；　as　he　reached　for　and　drew　an　ugly　knife。　There　were　cries　of　fright　from　the　children　and　screams　from　the　women。　Alfred　stepped　aside　with　the　wonderful　quickness　of　the　trained　boxer　and　shot　out　his　right　arm。　His　fist　caught　Miller　a　hard　blow　on　the　head；　knocking　him　down　and　sending　the　knife　flying　in　the　air。

It　had　all　happened　so　quickly　that　everyone　was　as　if　paralyzed。　The　settlers　stood　still　and　watched　Miller　rise　slowly　to　his　feet。

〃Give　me　my　knife！〃　he　cried　hoarsely。　The　knife　had　fallen　at　the　feet　of　Major　McColloch；　who　had　concealed　it　with　his　foot。

〃Let　this　end　right　here；〃　ordered　Col。　Zane。　〃Clarke；　you　have　made　a　very　strong　statement。　Have　you　anything　to　substantiate　your　words？〃

〃I　think　I　have；〃　said　Clarke。　He　was　standing　erect；　his　face　white　and　his　eyes　like　blue　steel。　〃I　knew　him　at　Ft。　Pitt。　He　was　a　liar　and　a　drunkard　there。　He　was　a　friend　of　the　Indians　and　of　the　British。　What　he　was　there　he　must　be　here。　It　was　Wetzel　who　told　me　to　watch　him。　Wetzel　and　I　both　think　he　knew　the　Indians　were　on　the　island。〃

〃Col。　Zane；　it　is　false；〃　said　Miller；　huskily。　〃He　is　trying　to　put　you　against　me。　He　hates　me　because　your　sister〃

〃You　cur！〃　cried　Clarke；　striking　at　Miller。　Col。　Zane　struck　up　the　infuriated　young　man's　arm。

〃Give　us　knives；　or　anything；〃　panted　Clarke。

〃Yes；　let　us　fight　it　out　now；〃　said　Miller。

〃Capt。　Boggs；　take　Clarke　to　the　block…house。　Make　him　stay　there　if　you　have　to　lock　him　up；〃　commanded　Col。　Zane。　〃Miller；　as　for　you；　I　cannot　condemn　you　without　proof。　If　I　knew　positively　that　there　were　Indians　on　the　island　and　that　you　were　aware　of　it；　you　would　be　a　dead　man　in　less　time　than　it　takes　to　say　it。　I　will　give　you　the　benefit　of　the　doubt　and　twenty…four　hours　to　leave　the　Fort。〃

The　villagers　dispersed　and　went　to　their　homes。　They　were　inclined　to　take　Clarke's　side。　Miller　had　become　disliked。　His　drinking　habits　and　his　arrogant　and　bold　manner　had　slowly　undermined　the　friendships　he　had　made　during　the　early　part　of　his　stay　at　Ft。　Henry；　while　Clarke's　good　humor　and　willingness　to　help　any　one；　his　gentleness　with　the　children；　and　his　several　acts　of　heroism　had　strengthened　their　regard。

〃Jonathan；　this　looks　like　some　of　Girty's　work。　I　wish　I　knew　the　truth；〃　said　Col。　Zane；　as　he；　his　brothers　and　Betty　and　Myeerah　entered　the　house。　〃Confound　it！　We　can't　have　even　one　afternoon　of　enjoyment。　I　must　see　Lewis。　I　cannot　be　sure　of　Clarke。　He　is　evidently　bitter　against　Miller。　That　would　have　been　a　terrible　fight。　Those　fellows　have　had　trouble　before；　and　I　am　afraid　we　have　not　seen　the　last　of　their　quarrel。〃

〃If　they　meet　againbut　how　can　you　keep　them　apart？〃　said　Silas。　〃If　Miller　leaves　the　Fort　without　killing　Clarke　he'll　hide　around　in　the　woods　and　wait　for　a　chance　to　shoot　him。〃

〃Not　with　Wetzel　here；〃　answered　Col。　Zane。　〃Betty；　do　you　see　what　your〃　he　began；　turning　to　his　sister；　but　when　he　saw　her　white　and　miserable　face　he　said　no　more。

〃Don't　mind；　Betts。　It　wasn't　any　fault　of　yours；〃　said　Isaac；　putting　his　arm　tenderly　round　the　trembling　girl。　〃I　for　another　believe　Clarke　was　right　when　he　said　Miller　knew　there　were　Indians　over　the　river。　It　looks　like　a　plot　to　abduct　you。　Have　no　fear　for　Alfred。　He　can　take　care　of　himself。　He　showed　that　pretty　well。〃

An　hour　later　Clarke　had　finished　his　supper　and　was　sitting　by　his　window　smoking　his　pipe。　His　anger　had　cooled　somewhat　and　his　reflections　were　not　of　the　pleasantest　kind。　He　regretted　that　he　lowered　himself　so　far　as　to　fight　with　a　man　little　better　than　an　outlaw。　Still　there　was　a　grim　satisfaction　in　the　thought　of　the　blow　he　had　given　Miller。　He　remembered　he　had　ask