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Betty Zane-Part2_Zane Gray(1872-1939)_English Literature(文学名著)-第2页

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that fur trader last summer. Well, he is as wild as a deer and she has been



riding him without his being broken," said Colonel Zane.

"Some other time I shall tell you about my jump over the hill. Just now I have



important matters to discuss," answered the Major to Betty.

It was evident that something unusual had occurred, for after chatting a few



moments the three men withdrew into the magazine room and conversed in low,

earnest tones.



Lydia Boggs was eighteen, fair haired and blue eyed. Like Betty she had

received a good education, and, in that respect, was superior to the border



girls, who seldom knew more than to keep house and to make linen. At the

outbreak of the Indian wars General Clark had stationed Captain Boggs at Fort



Henry and Lydia had lived there with him two years. After Betty's arrival,

which she hailed with delight, the girls had become fast friends.



Lydia slipped her arm affectionately around Betty's neck and said, "Why did

you not come over to the Fort to-day?"



"It has been such an ugly day, so disagreeablealtogether, that I have

remained indoors."



"You missed something," said Lydia, knowingly.

"What do you mean? What did I miss?"



"Oh, perhaps, after all, it will not interest you."

"How provoking! Of course it will. Anything or anybody would interest me



to-night. Do tell me, please."

"It isn't much. Only a young soldier came over with Major McColloch."



"A soldier? From Fort Pitt? Do I know him? I have met most of the officers."

"No, you have never seen him. He is a stranger to all of us."



"There does not seem to be so much in your news," said Betty, in a

disappointed tone. "To be sure, strangers are a rarity in our little village,



but, judging from the strangers who have visited us in the past, I imagine

this one cannot be much different."



"Wait until you see him," said Lydia, with a serious little nod of her head.

"Come, tell me all about him," said Betty, now much interested.



"Major McColloch brought him in to see papa, and he was introduced to me. He

is a southerner and from one of those old families. I could tell by his cool,



easy, almost reckless air. He is handsome, tall and fair, and his face is

frank and open. He has such beautiful manners. He bowed low to me and really I



felt so embarrassed that I hardly spoke. You know I am used to these big

hunters seizing your hand and giving it a squeeze which makes you want to



scream. Well, this young man is different. He is a cavalier. All the girls are

in love with him already. So will you be."



"I? Indeed not. But how refreshing. You must have been strongly impressed to

see and remember all you have told me."



"Betty Zane, I remember so well because he is just the man you described one

day when we were building castles and telling each other what kind of a hero



we wanted."

"Girls, do not talk such nonsense," interrupted the Colonel's wife who was



perturbed by the colloquy in the other room. She had seen those ominous signs

before. "Can you find nothing better to talk about?"



Meanwhile Colonel Zane and his companions were earnestly discussing certain

information which had arrived that day. A friendly Indian runner had brought



news to Short Creek, a settlement on the river between Fort Henry and Fort

Pitt of an intended raid by the Indians all along the Ohio valley. Major



McColloch, who had been warned by Wetzel of the fever of unrest among the

Indians--a fever which broke out every spring--had gone to Fort Pitt with the



hope of bringing back reinforcements, but, excepting the young soldier, who

had volunteered to return with him, no help could he enlist, so he journeyed



back post-haste to Fort Henry.

The information he brought disturbed Captain Boggs, who commanded the



garrison, as a number of men were away on a logging expedition up the river,

and were not expected to raft down to the Fort for two weeks.



Jonathan Zane, who had been sent for, joined the trio at this moment, and was

acquainted with the particulars. The Zane brothers were always consulted where



any question concerning Indian craft and cunning was to be decided. Colonel

Zane had a strong friendly influence with certain tribes, and his advice was



invaluable. Jonathan Zane hated the sight of an Indian and except for his

knowledge as a scout, or Indian tracker or fighter, he was of little use in a



council. Colonel Zane informed the men of the fact that Wetzel and he had

discovered Indian tracks within ten miles of the Fort, and he dwelt



particularly on the disappearance of Wetzel.

"Now, you can depend on what I say. There are Wyandots in force on the war



path. Wetzel told me to dig for the Fort and he left me in a hurry. We were




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