betty zane-第44章

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d　the　drooping　head。　No　words　could　express　the　agony　in　her　face　as　she　raised　it　to　Mrs。　Zane。　In　it　was　a　mute　appeal；　an　unutterable　prayer　for　hope。　Mrs。　Zane　turned　sorrowfully　to　her　task。　There　was　no　need　of　her　skill　here。　Alfred　Clarke；　who　had　been　ordered　to　take　Martin's　place　on　top　of　the　block…house；　paused　a　moment　in　silent　sympathy。　When　he　saw　that　little　hole　in　the　bared　chest；　from　which　the　blood　welled　up　in　an　awful　stream；　he　shuddered　and　passed　on。　Betty　looked　up　from　her　work　and　then　turned　away　sick　and　faint。　Her　mute　lips　moved　as　if　in　prayer。

Alice　was　left　alone　with　her　dying　husband。　She　tenderly　supported　his　head　on　her　bosom；　leaned　her　face　against　his　and　kissed　the　cold；　numb　lips。　She　murmured　into　his　already　deaf　ear　the　old　tender　names。　He　knew　her；　for　he　made　a　feeble　effort　to　pass　his　arm　round　her　neck。　A　smile　illumined　his　face。　Then　death　claimed　him。　With　wild；　distended　eyes　and　with　hands　pressed　tightly　to　her　temples　Alice　rose　slowly　to　her　feet。

〃Oh；　God！　Oh；　God！〃　she　cried。

Her　prayer　was　answered。　In　a　momentary　lull　in　the　battle　was　heard　the　deadly　hiss　of　a　bullet　as　it　sped　through　one　of　the　portholes。　It　ended　with　a　slight　sickening　spat　as　the　lead　struck　the　flesh。　Then　Alice；　without　a　cry；　fell　on　the　husband's　breast。　Silas　Zane　found　her　lying　dead　with　the　body　of　her　husband　clasped　closely　in　her　arms。　He　threw　a　blanket　over　them　and　went　on　his　wearying　round　of　the　bastions。

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The　besiegers　had　been　greatly　harassed　and　hampered　by　the　continual　fire　from　Col。　Zane's　house。　It　was　exceedingly　difficult　for　the　Indians；　and　impossible　for　the　British；　to　approach　near　enough　to　the　Colonel's　house　to　get　an　effective　shot。　Col。　Zane　and　his　men　had　the　advantage　of　being　on　higher　ground。　Also　they　had　four　rifles　to　a　man；　and　they　used　every　spare　moment　for　reloading。　Thus　they　were　enabled　to　pour　a　deadly　fire　into　the　ranks　of　the　enemy；　and　to　give　the　impression　of　being　much　stronger　in　force　than　they　really　were。

About　dusk　the　firing　ceased　and　the　Indians　repaired　to　the　river　bluff。　Shortly　afterward　their　camp…fires　were　extinguished　and　all　became　dark　and　quiet。　Two　hours　passed。　Fortunately　the　clouds；　which　had　at　first　obscured　the　moon；　cleared　away　somewhat　and　enough　light　was　shed　on　the　scene　to　enable　the　watchers　to　discern　objects　near　by。

Col。　Zane　had　just　called　together　his　men　for　a　conference。　He　suspected　some　cunning　deviltry　on　part　of　the　Indians。

〃Sam；　take　what　stuff　to　eat　you　can　lay　your　hands　on　and　go　up　to　the　loft。　Keep　a　sharp　lookout　and　report　anything　to　Jonathan　or　me；〃　said　the　Colonel。

All　afternoon　Jonathan　Zane　had　loaded　and　fired　his　rifles　in　sullen　and　dogged　determination。　He　had　burst　one　rifle　and　disabled　another。　The　other　men　were　fine　marksmen；　but　it　was　undoubtedly　Jonathan's　unerring　aim　that　made　the　house　so　unapproachable。　He　used　an　extremely　heavy；　large　bore　rifle。　In　the　hands　of　a　man　strong　enough　to　stand　its　fierce　recoil　it　was　a　veritable　cannon。　The　Indians　had　soon　learned　to　respect　the　range　of　that　rifle；　and　they　gave　the　cabin　a　wide　berth。

But　now　that　darkness　had　enveloped　the　valley　the　advantage　lay　with　the　savages。　Col。　Zane　glanced　apprehensively　at　the　blackened　face　of　his　brother。

〃Do　you　think　the　Fort　can　hold　out？〃　he　asked　in　a　husky　voice。　He　was　a　bold　man；　but　he　thought　now　of　his　wife　and　children。

〃I　don't　know；〃　answered　Jonathan。　〃I　saw　that　big　Shawnee　chief　today。　His　name　is　Fire。　He　is　well　named。　He　is　a　fiend。　Girty　has　a　picked　band。〃

〃The　Fort　has　held　out　surprisingly　well　against　such　combined　and　fierce　attacks。　The　Indians　are　desperate。　You　can　easily　see　that　in　the　way　in　which　they　almost　threw　their　lives　away。　The　green　square　is　covered　with　dead　Indians。〃

〃If　help　does　not　come　in　twenty…four　hours　not　one　man　will　escape　alive。　Even　Wetzel　could　not　break　through　that　line　of　Indians。　But　if　we　can　hold　the　Indians　off　a　day　longer　they　will　get　tired　and　discouraged。　Girty　will　not　be　able　to　hold　them　much　longer。　The　British　don't　count。　It's　not　their　kind　of　war。　They　can't　shoot；　and　so　far　as　I　can　see　they　haven't　done　much　damage。〃

〃To　your　posts；　men；　and　every　man　think　of　the　women　and　children　in　the　block…house。〃

For　a　long　time；　which　seemed　hours　to　the　waiting　and　watching　settlers；　not　a　sound　could　be　heard；　nor　any　sign　of　the　enemy　seen。　Thin　clouds　had　again　drifted　over　the　noon；　allowing　only　a　pale；　wan　light　to　shine　down　on　the　valley。　Time　dragged　on　and　the　clouds　grew　thicker　and　denser　until　the　moon　and　the　stars　were　totally　obscured。　Still　no　sign　or　sound　of　the　savages。

〃What　was　that？〃　suddenly　whispered　Col。　Zane。

〃It　was　a　low　whistle　from　Sam。　We'd　better　go　up；〃　said　Jonathan。

They　went　up　the　stairs　to　the　second　floor　from　which　they　ascended　to　the　loft　by　means　of　a　ladder。　The　loft　was　as　black　as　pitch。　In　that　Egyptian　darkness　it　was　no　use　to　look　for　anything；　so　they　crawled　on　their　hands　and　knees　over　the　piles　of　hides　and　leather　which　lay　on　the　floor　When　they　reached　the　small　window　they　made　out　the　form　of　the　negro。

〃What　is　it；　Sam？〃　whispered　Jonathan。

〃Look；　see　thar；　Massa　Zane；〃　came　the　answer　in　a　hoarse　whisper　from　the　negro　and　at　the　same　time　he　pointed　down　toward　the　ground。

Col。　Zane　put　his　head　alongside　Jonathan's　and　all　three　men　peered　out　into　the　darkness。

〃Jack；　can　you　see　anything？〃　said　Col。　Zane。

〃No；　but　wait　a　minute　until　the　moon　throws　a　light。〃

A　breeze　had　sprung　up。　The　clouds　were　passing　rapidly　over　the　moon；　and　at　long　intervals　a　rift　between　the　clouds　let　enough　light　through　to　brighten　the　square　for　an　instant。

〃Now；　Massa　Zane；　thar！〃　exclaimed　the　slave。

〃I　can't　see　a　thing。　Can　you；　Jack？〃

〃I　am　not　sure　yet。　I　can　see　something；　but　whether　it　is　a　log　or　not　I　don't　know。〃

Just　then　there　was　a　faint　light　like　the　brightening　of　a　firefly；　or　like　the　blowing　of　a　tiny　spark　from　a　stick　of　burning　wood。　Jonathan　uttered　a　low　curse。

〃Dn　'em！　At　their　old　tricks　with　fire。　I　thought　all　this　quiet　meant　something。　The　grass　out　there　is　full　of　Indians；　and　they　are　carrying　lighted　arrows　under　them　so　as　to　cover　the　light。　But　we'll　fool　the　red　devils　this　time〃

〃I　can　see　'em；　Massa　Zane。〃

〃Sh…h…h！　no　more　talk；〃　whispered　Col。　Zane。

The　men　waited　with　cocked　rifles。　Another　spark　rose　seemingly　out　of　the　earth。　This　time　it　was　nearer　the　house。　No　sooner　had　its　feeble　light　disappeared　than　the　report　of　the　negro's　rifle　awoke　the　sleeping　echoes。　It　was　succeeded　by　a　yell　which　seemed　to　come　from　under　the　window。　Several　dark　forms　rose　so　suddenly　that　they　appeared　to　spring　out　of　the　ground。　Then　came　the　peculiar　twang　of　Indian　bows。　There　were　showers　of　sparks　and　little　streaks　of　fire　with　long　tails　like　comets　winged　their　parabolic　flight　toward　the　cabin。　Falling　short　they　hissed　and　sputtered　in　the　grass。　Jonathan's　rifle　spoke　and　one　of　the　fleeing　forms　tumbled　to　the　earth。　A　series　of　long　yells　from　all　around　the　Fort　greeted　this　last　shot；　but　not　an　Indian　fired　a　rifle。

Fire…tipped　arrows　were　now　shot　at　the　block…house；　but　not　one　took　effect；　although　a　few　struck　the　stockade…fence。　Col。　Zane　had　taken　the　precaution　to　have　the　high　grass　and　the　clusters　of　goldenrod　cut　down　all　round　the　Fort。　The　wisdom　of　this　course　now　became　evident；　for　the　wily　savages　could　not　crawl　near　enough　to　send　their　fiery　arrows　on　the　roof　of　the　block…house。　This　attempt　failing；　the　Indians　drew　back　to　hatch　up　some　other　plot　to　burn　the　Fort。

〃Look！〃　suddenly　exclaimed　Jonathan。

Far　down　the　road；　perhaps　five　hundred　yards　from　the　Fort；　a　point　of　light　had　appeared。　At　first　it　was　still；　and　then　it　took　an　odd　jerky　motion；　to　this　side　and　to　that；　up　and　down　like　a　jack…o…lantern。

〃What　the　hell？〃　muttered　Col。　Zane；　sorely　puzzled。　〃Jack；　by　all　that's　strange　it's　getting　bigger。〃

Sure　enough　the　spark　of　fire；　or　whatever　it　was；　grew　larger　and　larger。　Col。　Zane　thought　it　might　be　a　light　carried　by　a　man　on　horseback。　But　if　this　were　true　where　was　the　clatter　of　the　horse's　hoofs？　On　that　rocky　blur　no　horse　could　run　noiselessly。　It　could　not　be　a　horse。　Fascinated　and　troubled　by　this　new　mystery　which　seemed　to　presage　evil　to　them　the　watchers　waited　with　that　patience　known　only　to　those　accustomed　to　danger。　They　knew　that　whatever　it　was；　it　was　some　satanic　stratagem　of　the　savages；　and　that　it　would　come　all　too　soon。

The　light　was　now　zigzagging　back　and　forth　across　the　road；　and　approaching　the　Fort　with　marvelous　rapidity。　Now　its　motion　was　like　the　wide　swinging　of　a　lighted　lantern　on　a　dark　night。　A　moment　more　of　breathless　suspense　and　the　lithe　form　of　an　Indian　brave　could　be　seen　behind　the　light。　He　was　running　with　almost　incredible　swiftness　down　the　road　in　the　direction　of　the　Fort。　Passing　at　full　speed　within　seventy…five　yards　of　the　stockade…fence　the　Indian　shot　his　arrow。　Like　a　fiery　serpent　flying　through　the　air　the　missile　sped　onward　in　its　graceful　flight；　going　clear　over　the　block…house；　and　striking　with　a　spiteful　thud　the　roof　of　one　of　the　cabins　beyond。　Unhurt　by　the　volley　that　was　fired　at　him；　the　daring　brave　passed　swiftly　out　of　sight。

Deeds　like　this　were　dear　to　the　hearts　of　the　savages。　They　were　deeds　which　made　a　warrior　of　a　brave；　and　for　which　honor　any　Indian　would　risk　his　life　over　and　over　again。　The　exultant　yells　which　greeted　this　performance　proclaimed　its　success。

The　breeze　had　already　fanned　the　smouldering　arrow　into　a　blaze　and　the　dry　roof　of　the　cabin　had　caught　fire　and　was　burning　fiercely。

〃That　infernal　redskin　is　going　to　do　that　again；〃　ejaculated　Jonathan。

It　was　indeed　true。　That　same　small　bright　light　could　be　seen　coming　down　the　road　gathering　headway　with　every　second。　No　doubt　the　same　Indian；　emboldened　by　his　success；　and　maddened　with　that　thirst　for　glory　so　often　fatal　to　his　kind；　was　again　making　the　effort　to　fire　the　block…house。

The　eyes　of　Col。　Zane　and　his　companions　were　fastened　on　the　light　as　it　came　nearer　and　nearer　with　its　changing　motion。　The　burning　cabin　brightened　the　square　before　the　Fort。　The　slender；　shadowy　figure　of　the　Indian　could　be　plainly　seen　emerging　from　the　gloom。　So　swiftly　did　he　run　that　he　seemed　to　have　wings。　Now　he　was　in　the　full　glare　of　the　light。　What　a　magnificent　nerve；　what　a　terrible　assurance　there　was　in　his　action！　It　seemed　to　paralyze　all。　The　red　arrow　emitted　a　shower　of　sparks　as　it　was　discharged。　This　time　it　winged　its　way　straight　and　true　and　imbedded　itself　in　the　roof　of　the　block…house。

Almost　at　the　same　instant　a　solitary　rifle　shot　rang　out　and　the　daring　warrior　plunged　headlong；　sliding　face　downward　in　the　dust　of　the　road；　while　from　the　Fort　came　that　demoniac　yell　now　grown　so　familiar。

〃Wetzel's　compliments；〃　muttered　Jonathan。　〃But　the　mischief　is　done。　Look　at　that　damned　burning　arrow。　If　it　doesn't　blow　out　the　Fort　will　go。〃

The　arrow　was　visible；　but　it　seemed　a　mere　spark。　It　alternately　paled　and　glowed。　One　m