betty zane-第17章

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A　little　hope　revived　in　his　heart　as　he　thought　that　perhaps　all　might　yet　be　well。　Surely　some　one　would　be　up　to　whom　he　could　intrust　the　letter；　and　if　no　one　he　would　run　over　and　slip　it　under　the　door　of　Colonel　Zane's　house。

In　the　gray　of　the　early　morning　Alfred　rode　out　with　the　daring　band　of　heavily　armed　men；　all　grim　and　stern；　each　silent　with　the　thought　of　the　man　who　knows　he　may　never　return。　Soon　the　settlement　was　left　far　behind。



CHAPTER　V。

During　the　last　few　days；　in　which　the　frost　had　cracked　open　the　hickory　nuts；　and　in　which　the　squirrels　had　been　busily　collecting　and　storing　away　their　supply　of　nuts　for　winter　use；　it　had　been　Isaac's　wont　to　shoulder　his　rifle；　walk　up　the　hill；　and　spend　the　morning　in　the　grove。

On　this　crisp　autumn　morning　he　had　started　off　as　usual；　and　had　been　called　back　by　Col。　Zane；　who　advised　him　not　to　wander　far　from　the　settlement。　This　admonition；　kind　and　brotherly　though　it　was；　annoyed　Isaac。　Like　all　the　Zanes　he　had　born　in　him　an　intense　love　for　the　solitude　of　the　wilderness。　There　were　times　when　nothing　could　satisfy　him　but　the　calm　of　the　deep　woods。

One　of　these　moods　possessed　him　now。　Courageous　to　a　fault　and　daring　where　daring　was　not　always　the　wiser　part；　Isaac　lacked　the　practical　sense　of　the　Colonel　and　the　cool　judgment　of　Jonathan。　Impatient　of　restraint；　independent　in　spirit；　and　it　must　be　admitted；　in　his　persistence　in　doing　as　he　liked　instead　of　what　he　ought　to　do；　he　resembled　Betty　more　than　he　did　his　brothers。

Feeling　secure　in　his　ability　to　take　care　of　himself；　for　he　knew　he　was　an　experienced　hunter　and　woodsman；　he　resolved　to　take　a　long　tramp　in　the　forest。　This　resolution　was　strengthened　by　the　fact　that　he　did　not　believe　what　the　Colonel　and　Jonathan　had　told　himthat　it　was　not　improbable　some　of　the　Wyandot　braves　were　lurking　in　the　vicinity；　bent　on　killing　or　recapturing　him。　At　any　rate　he　did　not　fear　it。

Once　in　the　shade　of　the　great　trees　the　fever　of　discontent　left　him；　and；　forgetting　all　except　the　happiness　of　being　surrounded　by　the　silent　oaks；　he　penetrated　creeper　and　deeper　into　the　forest。　The　brushing　of　a　branch　against　a　tree；　the　thud　of　a　falling　nut；　the　dart　of　a　squirrel；　and　the　sight　of　a　bushy　tail　disappearing　round　a　limb　all　these　things　which　indicated　that　the　little　gray　fellows　were　working　in　the　tree…tops；　and　which　would　usually　have　brought　Isaac　to　a　standstill；　now　did　not　seem　to　interest　him。　At　times　he　stooped　to　examine　the　tender　shoots　growing　at　the　foot　of　a　sassafras　tree。　Then；　again；　he　closely　examined　marks　he　found　in　the　soft　banks　of　the　streams。

He　went　on　and　on。　Two　hours　of　this　still…hunting　found　him　on　the　bank　of　a　shallow　gully　through　which　a　brook　went　rippling　and　babbling　over　the　mossy　green　stones。　The　forest　was　dense　here；　rugged　oaks　and　tall　poplars　grew　high　over　the　tops　of　the　first　growth　of　white　oaks　and　beeches；　the　wild　grapevines　which　coiled　round　the　trees　like　gigantic　serpents；　spread　out　in　the　upper　branches　and　obscured　the　sun；　witch…hopples　and　laurel　bushes　grew　thickly；　monarchs　of　the　forest；　felled　by　some　bygone　storm；　lay　rotting　on　the　ground；　and　in　places　the　wind…falls　were　so　thick　and　high　as　to　be　impenetrable。

Isaac　hesitated。　He　realized　that　he　had　plunged　far　into　the　Black　Forest。　Here　it　was　gloomy；　a　dreamy　quiet　prevailed；　that　deep　calm　of　the　wilderness；　unbroken　save　for　the　distant　note　of　the　hermit…thrush；　the　strange　bird　whose　lonely　cry；　given　at　long　intervals；　pierced　the　stillness。　Although　Isaac　had　never　seen　one　of　these　birds；　he　was　familiar　with　that　cry　which　was　never　heard　except　in　the　deepest　woods；　far　from　the　haunts　of　man。

A　black　squirrel　ran　down　a　tree　and　seeing　the　hunter　scampered　away　in　alarm。　Isaac　knew　the　habits　of　the　black　squirrel；　that　it　was　a　denizen　of　the　wildest　woods　and　frequented　only　places　remote　from　civilization。　The　song　of　the　hermit　and　the　sight　of　the　black　squirrel　caused　Isaac　to　stop　and　reflect；　with　the　result　that　he　concluded　he　had　gone　much　farther　from　the　fort　than　he　had　intended。　He　turned　to　retrace　his　steps　when　a　faint　sound　from　down　the　ravine　came　to　his　sharp　ears。

There　was　no　instinct　to　warn　him　that　a　hideously　painted　face　was　raised　a　moment　over　the　clump　of　laurel　bushes　to　his　left；　and　that　a　pair　of　keen　eyes　watched　every　move　he　made。

Unconscious　of　impending　evil　Isaac　stopped　and　looked　around　him。　Suddenly　above　the　musical　babble　of　the　brook　and　the　rustle　of　the　leaves　by　the　breeze　came　a　repetition　of　the　sound。　He　crouched　close　by　the　trunk　of　a　tree　and　strained　his　ears。　All　was　quiet　for　some　moments。　Then　he　heard　the　patter；　patter　of　little　hoofs　coming　down　the　stream。　Nearer　and　nearer　they　came。　Sometimes　they　were　almost　inaudible　and　again　he　heard　them　clearly　and　distinctly。　Then　there　came　a　splashing　and　the　faint　hollow　sound　caused　by　hard　hoofs　striking　the　stones　in　shallow　water。　Finally　the　sounds　ceased。

Cautiously　peering　from　behind　the　tree　Isaac　saw　a　doe　standing　on　the　bank　fifty　yards　down　the　brook。　Trembling　she　had　stopped　as　if　in　doubt　or　uncertainty。　Her　ears　pointed　straight　upward；　and　she　lifted　one　front　foot　from　the　ground　like　a　thoroughbred　pointer。　Isaac　knew　a　doe　always　led　the　way　through　the　woods　and　if　there　were　other　deer　they　would　come　up　unless　warned　by　the　doe。　Presently　the　willows　parted　and　a　magnificent　buck　with　wide　spreading　antlers　stepped　out　and　stood　motionless　on　the　bank。　Although　they　were　down　the　wind　Isaac　knew　the　deer　suspected　some　hidden　danger。　They　looked　steadily　at　the　clump　of　laurels　at　Isaac's　left；　a　circumstance　he　remarked　at　the　time；　but　did　not　understand　the　real　significance　of　until　long　afterward。

Following　the　ringing　report　of　Isaac's　rifle　the　buck　sprang　almost　across　the　stream；　leaped　convulsively　up　the　bank；　reached　the　top；　and　then　his　strength　failing；　slid　down　into　the　stream；　where；　in　his　dying　struggles；　his　hoofs　beat　the　water　into　white　foam。　The　doe　had　disappeared　like　a　brown　flash。

Isaac；　congratulating　himself　on　such　a　fortunate　shotfor　rarely　indeed　does　a　deer　fail　dead　in　his　tracks　even　when　shot　through　the　heart　rose　from　his　crouching　position　and　commenced　to　reload　his　rifle。　With　great　care　he　poured　the　powder　into　the　palm　of　his　hand；　measuring　the　quantity　with　his　eyefor　it　was　an　evidence　of　a　hunter's　skill　to　be　able　to　get　the　proper　quantity　for　the　ball。　Then　he　put　the　charge　into　the　barrel。　Placing　a　little　greased　linsey　rag；　about　half　an　inch　square；　over　the　muzzle；　he　laid　a　small　lead　bullet　on　it；　and　with　the　ramrod　began　to　push　the　ball　into　the　barrel。

A　slight　rustle　behind　him；　which　sounded　to　him　like　the　gliding　of　a　rattlesnake　over　the　leaves；　caused　him　to　start　and　turn　round。　But　he　was　too　late。　A　crushing　blow　on　the　head　from　a　club　in　the　hand　of　a　brawny　Indian　laid　him　senseless　on　the　ground。

When　Isaac　regained　his　senses　he　felt　a　throbbing　pain　in　his　head；　and　then　he　opened　his　eyes　he　was　so　dizzy　that　he　was　unable　to　discern　objects　clearly。　After　a　few　moments　his　sight　returned。　When　he　had　struggled　to　a　sitting　posture　he　discovered　that　his　hands　were　bound　with　buckskin　thongs。　By　his　side　he　saw　two　long　poles　of　basswood；　with　some　strips　of　green　bark　and　pieces　of　grapevine　laced　across　and　tied　fast　to　the　poles。　Evidently　this　had　served　as　a　litter　on　which　he　had　been　carried。　From　his　wet　clothes　and　the　position　of　the　sun；　now　low　in　the　west；　he　concluded　he　had　been　brought　across　the　river　and　was　now　miles　from　the　fort。　In　front　of　him　he　saw　three　Indians　sitting　before　a　fire。　One　of　them　was　cutting　thin　slices　from　a　haunch　of　deer　meat；　another　was　drinking　from　a　gourd；　and　the　third　was　roasting　a　piece　of　venison　which　he　held　on　a　sharpened　stick。　Isaac　knew　at　once　the　Indians　were　Wyandots；　and　he　saw　they　were　in　full　war　paint。　They　were　not　young　braves；　but　middle　aged　warriors。　One　of　them　Isaac　recognized　as　Crow；　a　chief　of　one　of　the　Wyandot　tribes；　and　a　warrior　renowned　for　his　daring　and　for　his　ability　to　make　his　way　in　a　straight　line　through　the　wilderness。　Crow　was　a　short；　heavy　Indian　and　his　frame　denoted　great　strength　He　had　a　broad　forehead；　high　cheek　bones；　prominent　nose　and　his　face　would　have　been　handsome　and　intelligent　but　for　the　scar　which　ran　across　his　cheek；　giving　him　a　sinister　look。

〃Hugh！〃　said　Crow；　as　he　looked　up　and　saw　Isaac　staring　at　him。　The　other　Indians　immediately　gave　vent　to　a　like　exclamation。

〃Crow；　you　caught　me　again；〃　said　Isaac；　in　the　Wyandot　tongue；　which　he　spoke　fluently。

〃The　white　chief　is　sure　of　eye　and　swift　of　foot；　but　he　cannot　escape　the　Huron。　Crow　has　been　five　times　on　his　trail　since　the　moon　was　bright。　The　white　chief's　eyes　were　shut　and　his　ears　were　deaf；〃　answered　the　Indian　loftily。

〃How　long　have　you　been　near　the　fort？〃

〃Two　moons　have　the　warriors　of　Myeerah　hunted　the　pale　face。〃

〃Have　you　any　more　Indians　with　you？〃

The　chief　nodded　and　said　a　party　of　nine　Wyandots　had　been　in　the　vicinity　of　Wheeling　for　a　month。　He　named　some　of　the　warriors。

Isaac　was　surprised　to　learn　of　the　renowned　chiefs　who　had　been　sent　to　recapture　him。　Not　to　mention　Crow；　the　Delaware　chiefs　Son…of…Wingenund　and　Wapatomeka　were　among　the　most　cunning　and　sagacious　Indians　of　the　west。　Isaac　reflected　that　his　year's　absence　from　Myeerah　had　not　caused　her　to　forget　him。

Crow　untied　Isaac's　hands　and　gave　him　water　and　venison。　Then　he　picked　up　his　rifle　and　with　a　word　to　the　Indians　he　stepped　into　the　underbrush　that　skirted　the　little　dale；　and　was　lost　to　view。

Isaac's　head　ached　and　throbbed　so　that　after　he　had　satisfied　his　thirst　and　hunger　he　was　glad　to　close　his　eyes　and　lean　back　against　the　tree。　Engrossed　in　thoughts　of　the　home　he　might　never　see　again；　he　had　lain　there　an　hour　without　moving；　when　he　was　aroused　from　his　meditations　by　low　guttural　exclamations　from　the　Indians。　Opening　his　eyes　he　saw　Crow　and　another　Indian　enter　the　glade；　leading　and　half　supporting　a　third　savage。

They　helped　this　Indian　to　the　log；　where　he　sat　down　slowly　and　wearily；　holding　one　hand　over　his　breast。　He　was　a　magnificent　specimen　of　Indian　manhood；　almost　a　giant　in　stature；　with　broad　shoulders　in　proportion　to　his　height。　His　head…dress　and　the　gold　rings　which　encircled　his　bare　muscular　arms　indicated　that　he　was　a　chief　high　in　power。　The　seven　eagle　plumes　in　his　scalp…lock　represented　seven　warriors　that　he　had　killed　in　battle。　Little　sticks　of　wood　plaited　in　his　coal　black　hair　and　painted　different　colors　showed　to　an　Indian　eye　how　many　times　this　chief　had　been　wounded　by　bullet；　knife；　or　tomahawk。

His　face　was　calm。　If　he　suffered　he　allowed　no　sign　of　it　to　escape　him。　He　gazed　thoughtfully　into　the　fire；　slowly　the　while　untying　the　belt　which　contained　his　knife　and　tomahawk。　The　weapons　were　raised　and　held　before　him；　one　in　each　hand；　and　then　waved　on　high。　The　action　was　repeated　three　times。　Then　slowly　and　reluctantly　the　Indian　lowered　them　as　if　he　knew　their　work　on　earth　was　done。

It　was　growing　dark　and　the　b