betty zane-第53章

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〃You　should　have　allowed　Clarke　to　kill　him　yesterday；〃　said　Isaac。　〃Like　as　not　he'll　have　Girty　here　with　a　lot　of　howling　devils。　What's　to　be　done？〃

〃I'll　send　Wetzel　after　him　and　that'll　soon　wind　up　his　ball　of　yarn；〃　answered　Col。　Zane。

〃Pleasegoand　findif　Mr。　Clarke〃

〃Yes；　Betty；　I'll　go　at　once。　You　must　not　lose　courage；　Betty。　It's　quite　probable　that　Miller　has　killed　Alfred　and　that　there's　worse　to　follow。〃

〃I'll　come；　Eb；　as　soon　as　I　have　told　Myeerah。　She　is　scared　half　to　death；〃　said　Isaac；　starting　for　the　door。

〃All　right；　only　hurry；〃　said　Col。　Zane；　grabbing　his　rifle。　Without　wasting　more　words；　and　lacing　up　his　hunting　shirt　as　he　went　he　ran　out　of　the　room。

The　first　rays　of　dawn　came　streaking　in　at　the　window　The　chill　gray　light　brought　no　cheer　with　its　herald　of　the　birth　of　another　day。　For　what　might　the　morning　sun　disclose？　It　might　shine　on　a　long　line　of　painted　Indians。　The　fresh　breeze　from　over　the　river　might　bring　the　long　war　whoop　of　the　savage。

No　wonder　Noah　and　his　brother；　awakened　by　the　voice　of　their　father；　sat　up　in　their　little　bed　and　looked　about　with　frightened　eyes。　No　wonder　Mrs。　Zane's　face　blanched。　How　many　times　she　had　seen　her　husband　grasp　his　rifle　and　run　out　to　meet　danger！

〃Bessie；〃　said　Betty。　〃If　it's　true　I　will　not　be　able　to　bear　it。　It　s　all　my　fault。〃

〃Nonsense！　You　heard　Eb　say　Miller　and　Clarke　had　quarreled　before。　They　hated　each　other　before　they　ever　saw　you。〃

A　door　banged；　quick　footsteps　sounded　on　the　stairs；　and　Isaac　came　rushing　into　the　room。　Betty；　deathly　pale；　stood　with　her　hands　pressed　to　her　bosom；　and　looked　at　Isaac　with　a　question　in　her　eyes　that　her　tongue　could　not　speak。

〃Betty；　Alfred's　badly　hurt；　but　he's　alive。　I　can　tell　you　no　more　now；〃　said　Isaac。　〃Bessie；　bring　your　needle；　silk　linen；　liniment　everything　you　need　for　a　bad　knife　wound；　and　come　quickly。〃

Betty's　haggard　face　changed　as　if　some　warm　light　had　been　reflected　on　it；　her　lips　moved；　and　with　a　sob　of　thankfulness　she　fled　to　her　room。

Two　hours　later；　while　Annie　was　serving　breakfast　to　Betty　and　Myeerah；　Col。　Zane　strode　into　the　room。

〃Well；　one　has　to　eat　whatever　happens；〃　he　said；　his　clouded　face　brightening　somewhat。　〃Betty；　there's　been　bad　work；　bad　work。　When　I　got　to　Clarke's　room　I　found　him　lying　on　the　bed　with　a　knife　sticking　in　him。　As　it　is　we　are　doubtful　about　pulling　him　through。〃

〃May　I　see　him？〃　whispered　Betty；　with　pale　lips。

〃If　the　worst　comes　to　the　worst　I'll　take　you　over。　But　it　would　do　no　good　now　and　would　surely　unnerve　you。　He　still　has　a　fighting　chance。〃

〃Did　they　fight；　or　was　Mr。　Clarke　stabbed　in　his　sleep？〃

〃Miller　climbed　into　Clarke's　window　and　knifed　him　in　the　dark。　As　I　came　over　I　met　Wetzel　and　told　him　I　wanted　him　to　trail　Miller　and　find　if　there　is　any　truth　in　his　threat　about　Girty　and　the　Indians。　Sam　just　now　found　Tige　tied　fast　in　the　fence　corner　back　of　the　barn。　That　explains　the　mystery　of　Miller's　getting　so　near　the　house。　You　know　he　always　took　pains　to　make　friends　with　Tige。　The　poor　dog　was　helpless；　his　legs　were　tied　and　his　jaws　bound　fast。　Oh；　Miller　is　as　cunning　as　an　Indian！　He　has　had　this　all　planned　out；　and　he　has　had　more　than　one　arrow　to　his　bow。　But；　if　I　mistake　not　he　has　shot　his　last　one。〃

〃Miller　must　be　safe　from　pursuit　by　this　time；〃　said　Betty。

〃Safe　for　the　present；　yes；〃　answered　Col。　Zane；　〃but　while　Jonathan　and　Wetzel　live　I　would　not　give　a　snap　of　my　fingers　for　Miller's　chances。　Hello；　I　hear　some　one　talking。　I　sent　for　Jack　and　the　Major。〃

The　Colonel　threw　open　the　door。　Wetzel；　Major　McColloch；　Jonathan　and　Silas　Zane　were　approaching。　They　were　all　heavily　armed。　Wetzel　was　equipped　for　a　long　chase。　Double　leggins　were　laced　round　his　legs。　A　buckskin　knapsack　was　strapped　to　his　shoulders。

〃Major；　I　want　you　and　Jonathan　to　watch　the　river；〃　said　Col。　Zane。　〃Silas；　you　are　to　go　to　the　mouth　of　Yellow　Creek　and　reconnoiter。　We　are　in　for　a　siege。　It　may　be　twenty…four　hours　and　it　may　be　ten　days。　In　the　meantime　I　will　get　the　Fort　in　shape　to　meet　the　attack。　Lewis；　you　have　your　orders。　Have　you　anything　to　suggest？〃

〃I'll　take　the　dog；〃　answered　Wetzel。　〃He'll　save　time　for　me。　I'll　stick　to　Miller's　trail　and　find　Girty's　forces。　I've　believed　all　along　that　Miller　was　helpin'　Girty；　and　I'm　thinkin'　that　where　Miller　goes　there　I'll　find　Girty　and　his　redskins。　If　it's　night　when　I　get　back　I'll　give　the　call　of　the　hoot…owl　three　times；　quick；　so　Jack　and　the　Major　will　know　I　want　to　get　back　across　the　river。〃

〃All　right；　Lewis；　we'll　be　expecting　you　any　time；〃　said　Col。　Zane。

〃Betty；　I'm　goin'　now　and　I　want　to　tell　you　somethin'；〃　said　Wetzel；　as　Betty　appeared。　〃Come　as　far　as　the　end　of　the　path　with　me。〃

〃I'm　sorry　you　must　go。　But　Tige　seems　delighted；〃　said　Betty；　walking　beside　Wetzel；　while　the　dog　ran　on　before。

〃Betty；　I　wanted　to　tell　you　to　stay　close　like　to　the　house；　fer　this　feller　Miller　has　been　layin'　traps　fer　you；　and　the　Injuns　is　on　the　war…path。　Don't　ride　your　pony；　and　stay　home　now。〃

〃Indeed；　I　shall　never　again　do　anything　as　foolish　as　I　did　yesterday。　I　have　learned　my　lesson。　And　Oh！　Lew；　I　am　so　grateful　to　you　for　saving　me。　When　will　you　return　to　the　Fort？〃

〃Mebbe　never；　Betty。〃

〃Oh；　no。　Don't　say　that。　I　know　all　this　Indian　talk　will　blow　over；　as　it　always　does；　and　you　will　come　back　and　everything　will　be　all　right　again。〃

〃I　hope　it'll　be　as　you　say；　Betty；　but　there's　no　tellin'；　there's　no　tellin'。〃

〃You　are　going　to　see　if　the　Indians　are　making　preparations　to　besiege　the　Fort？〃

〃Yes；　I　am　goin'　fer　that。　And　if　I　happen　to　find　Miller　on　my　way　I'll　give　him　Betty's　regards。〃

Betty　shivered　at　his　covert　meaning。　Long　ago　in　a　moment　of　playfulness；　Betty　had　scratched　her　name　on　the　hunter's　rifle。　Ever　after　that　Wetzel　called　his　fatal　weapon　by　her　name。

〃If　you　were　going　simply　to　avenge　I　would　not　let　you　go。　That　wretch　will　get　his　just　due　some　day；　never　fear　for　that。〃

〃Betty；　'taint　likely　he'll　get　away　from　me；　and　if　he　does　there's　Jonathan。　This　mornin'　when　we　trailed　Miller　down　to　the　river　bank　Jonathan　points　across　the　river　and　says：　'You　or　me；'　and　I　says：　'Me；'　so　it's　all　settled。〃

〃Will　Mr。　Clarke　live？〃　said　Betty；　in　an　altered　tone；　asking　the　question　which　was　uppermost　in　her　mind。

〃I　think　so；　I　hope　so。　He's　a　husky　young　chap　and　the　cut　wasn't　bad。　He　lost　so　much　blood。　That's　why　he's　so　weak。　If　he　gets　well　he'll　have　somethin'　to　tell　you。〃

〃Lew；　what　do　you　mean？〃　demanded　Betty；　quickly。

〃Me　and　him　had　a　long　talk　last　night　and〃

〃You　did　not　go　to　him　and　talk　of　me；　did　you？〃　said　Betty；　reproachfully。

They　had　now　reached　the　end　of　the　path。　Wetzel　stopped　and　dropped　the　butt　of　his　rifle　on　the　ground。　Tige　looked　on　and　wagged　his　tail。　Presently　the　hunter　spoke。

〃Yes；　we　talked　about　you。〃

〃Oh！　Lewis。　What　didcould　you　have　said？〃　faltered　Betty。

〃You　think　I　hadn't　ought　to　speak　to　him　of　you？〃

〃I　do　not　see　why　you　should。　Of　course　you　are　my　good　friend；　but　he　it　is　not　like　you　to　speak　of　me。〃

〃Fer　once　I　don't　agree　with　you。　I　knew　how　it　was　with　him　so　I　told　him。　I　knew　how　it　was　with　you　so　I　told　him；　and　I　know　how　it　is　with　me；　so　I　told　him　that　too。〃

〃With　you？〃　whispered　Betty。

〃Yes；　with　me。　That　kind　of　gives　me　a　right；　don't　it；　considerin'　it's　all　fer　your　happiness？〃

〃With　you？〃　echoed　Betty　in　a　low　tone。　She　was　beginning　to　realize　that　she　had　not　known　this　man。　She　looked　up　at　him。　His　eyes　were　misty　with　an　unutterable　sadness。

〃Oh；　no！　No！　Lew。　Say　it　is　not　true；〃　she　cried；　piteously。　All　in　a　moment　Betty's　burdens　became　too　heavy　for　her。　She　wrung　her　little　hands。　Her　brother's　kindly　advice；　Bessie's　warnings；　and　old　Grandmother　Watkins'　words　came　back　to　her。　For　the　first　time　she　believed　what　they　saidthat　Wetzel　loved　her。　All　at　once　the　scales　fell　from　her　eyes　and　she　saw　this　man　as　he　really　was。　All　the　thousand　and　one　things　he　had　done　for　her；　his　simple　teaching；　his　thoughtfulness；　his　faithfulness；　and　his　watchful