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Betty Zane-Part5_Zane Gray(1872-1939)_English Literature(文学名著)-第2页

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"I think they managed to keep him long enough," remarked Silas Zane.



"Well, here comes the hero," said Colonel Zane, as Clarke entered, accompanied

by Captain Boggs, Major McColloch and Jonathan. "Any sign of Wetzel or the



Indians?"

Jonathan had not yet seen his brother, and he went over and seized Isaac's



hand and wrung it without speaking.

"There are no Indians on this side of the river," said Major McColloch, in



answer to the Colonel's question.

"Mr. Clarke, you do not seem impressed with your importance," said Colonel



Zane. "My sister said you did not tell her what part you took in Isaac's

rescue."



"I hardly deserve all the credit," answered Alfred. "Your big black dog merits

a great deal of it."



"Well, I consider your first day at the fort a very satisfactory one, and an

augury of that fortune you came west to find.



"How are you?" said Alfred, going up to the couch where Isaac lay.

"I am doing well, thanks to you," said Isaac, warmly shaking Alfred's hand.



"It is good to see you pulling out all right," answered Alfred. "I tell you, I

feared you were in a bad way when I got you out of the water."



Isaac reclined on the couch with his head and shoulder propped up by pillows.

He was the handsomest of the brothers. His face would have been but for the



marks of privation, singularly like Betty's; the same low, level brows and

dark eyes; the same mouth, though the lips were stronger and without the soft



curves which made his sister's mouth so sweet.

Betty appeared at the door, and seeing the room filled with men she hesitated



a moment before coming forward. In her white dress she made such a dainty

picture that she seemed out of place among those surroundings. Alfred Clarke,



for one, thought such a charmingvision was wasted on the rough settlers,

every one of whom wore a faded and dirty buckskin suit and a belt containing a



knife and a tomahawk. Colonel Zane stepped up to Betty and placing his arm

around her turned toward Clarke with pride in his eyes.



"Betty, I want to make you acquainted with the hero of the hour, Mr. Alfred

Clarke. This is my sister."



Betty bowed to Alfred, but lowered her eyes instantly on encountering the

young man's gaze.



"I have had the pleasure of meeting Miss Zane twice today," said Alfred.

"Twice?" asked Colonel Zane, turning to Betty. She did not answer, but



disengaged herself from his arm and sat down by Isaac.

"It was on the river road that I first met Miss Zane, although I did not know



her then," answered Alfred. "I had some difficulty in stopping her pony from

going to Fort Pitt, or some other place down the river."



"Ha! Ha! Well, I know she rides that pony pretty hard," said Colonel Zane,

with his hearty laugh. "I'll tell you, Clarke, we have some riders here in the



settlement. Have you heard of Major McColloch's leap over the hill?"

"I have heard it mentioned, and I would like to hear the story," responded



Alfred. "I am fond of horses, and think I can ride a little myself. I am

afraid I shall be compelled to change my mind."



"That is a fine animal you rode from Fort Pitt," remarked the Major. "I would

like to own him."



"Come, draw your chairs up and he'll listen to Isaac's story," said Colonel

Zane.



"I have not much of a story to tell," said Isaac, in a voice still weak and

low. "I have some bad news, I am sorry to say, but I shall leave that for the



last. This year, if it had been completed, would have made my tenth year as a

captive of the Wyandots. This last period of captivity, which has been nearly



four years, I have not been ill-treated and have enjoyed more comfort than any

of you can imagine. Probably you are all familiar with the reason for my long



captivity. Because of the interest of Myeerah, the Indian Princess, they have

importuned me for years to be adopted into the tribe, marry the White Crane,



as they call Myeerah, and become a Wyandot chief. To this I would never

consent, though I have been careful not to provoke the Indians. I was allowed



the freedom of the camp, but have always been closely watched. I should still

be with the Indians had I not suspected that Hamilton, the British Governor,



had formed a plan with the Hurons, Shawnees, Delawares, and other tribes, to

strike a terrible blow at the whites along, the river. For months I have



watched the Indians preparing for an expedition, the extent of which they had

never before undertaken. I finally learned from Myeerah that my suspicions



were well founded. A favorable chance to escape presented and I took it and

got away. I outran all the braves, even Arrowswift, the Wyandot runner, who



shot me through the arm. I have had a hard time of it these last three or four

days, living on herbs and roots, and when I reached the river I was ready to



drop. I pushed a log into the water and started to drift over. When the old

dog saw me I knew I was safe if I could hold on. Once, when the young man



pointed his gun at me, I thought it was all over. I could not shout very

loud."



"Were you going to shoot?" asked Colonel Zane of Clarke.

"I took him for an Indian, but fortunately I discovered my mistake in time,"






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