betty zane-第2部分

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The　first　Zane　of　whom　any　trace　can　be　found　was　a　Dane　of　aristocratic　lineage；　who　was　exiled　from　his　country　and　came　to　America　with　William　Penn。　He　was　prominent　for　several　years　in　the　new　settlement　founded　by　Penn；　and　Zane　street；　Philadelphia；　bears　his　name。　Being　a　proud　and　arrogant　man；　he　soon　became　obnoxious　to　his　Quaker　brethren。　He　therefore　cut　loose　from　them　and　emigrated　to　Virginia；　settling　on　the　Potomac　river；　in　what　was　then　known　as　Berkeley　county。　There　his　five　sons；　and　one　daughter；　the　heroine　of　this　story；　were　born。

Ebenezer　Zane；　the　eldest；　was　born　October　7；　1747；　and　grew　to　manhood　in　the　Potomac　valley。　There　he　married　Elizabeth　McColloch；　a　sister　of　the　famous　McColloch　brothers　so　well　known　in　frontier　history。

Ebenezer　was　fortunate　in　having　such　a　wife　and　no　pioneer　could　have　been　better　blessed。　She　was　not　only　a　handsome　woman；　but　one　of　remarkable　force　of　character　as　well　as　kindness　of　heart。　She　was　particularly　noted　for　a　rare　skill　in　the　treatment　of　illness；　and　her　deftness　in　handling　the　surgeon's　knife　and　extracting　a　poisoned　bullet　or　arrow　from　a　wound　had　restored　to　health　many　a　settler　when　all　had　despaired。

The　Zane　brothers　were　best　known　on　the　border　for　their　athletic　prowess；　and　for　their　knowledge　of　Indian　warfare　and　cunning。　They　were　all　powerful　men；　exceedingly　active　and　as　fleet　as　deer。　In　appearance　they　were　singularly　pleasing　and　bore　a　marked　resemblance　to　one　another；　all　having　smooth　faces；　clear　cut；　regular　features；　dark　eyes　and　long　black　hair。

When　they　were　as　yet　boys　they　had　been　captured　by　Indians；　soon　after　their　arrival　on　the　Virginia　border；　and　had　been　taken　far　into　the　interior；　and　held　as　captives　for　two　years。　Ebenezer；　Silas；　and　Jonathan　Zane　were　then　taken　to　Detroit　and　ransomed。　While　attempting　to　swim　the　Scioto　river　in　an　effort　to　escape；　Andrew　Zane　had　been　shot　and　killed　by　his　pursuers。

But　the　bonds　that　held　Isaac　Zane；　the　remaining　and　youngest　brother；　were　stronger　than　those　of　interest　or　revenge　such　as　had　caused　the　captivity　of　his　brothers。　He　was　loved　by　an　Indian　princess；　the　daughter　of　Tarhe；　the　chief　of　the　puissant　Huron　race。　Isaac　had　escaped　on　various　occasions；　but　had　always　been　retaken；　and　at　the　time　of　the　opening　of　our　story　nothing　had　been　heard　of　him　for　several　years；　and　it　was　believed　he　had　been　killed。

At　the　period　of　the　settling　of　the　little　colony　in　the　wilderness；　Elizabeth　Zane；　the　only　sister；　was　living　with　an　aunt　in　Philadelphia；　where　she　was　being　educated。

Colonel　Zane's　house；　a　two　story　structure　built　of　rough　hewn　logs；　was　the　most　comfortable　one　in　the　settlement；　and　occupied　a　prominent　site　on　the　hillside　about　one　hundred　yards　from　the　fort。　It　was　constructed　of　heavy　timber　and　presented　rather　a　forbidding　appearance　with　its　square　corners；　its　ominous　looking　portholes；　and　strongly　barred　doors　and　windows。　There　were　three　rooms　on　the　ground　floor；　a　kitchen；　a　magazine　room　for　military　supplies；　and　a　large　room　for　general　use。　The　several　sleeping　rooms　were　on　the　second　floor；　which　was　reached　by　a　steep　stairway。

The　interior　of　a　pioneer's　rude　dwelling　did　not　reveal；　as　a　rule；　more　than　bare　walls；　a　bed　or　two；　a　table　and　a　few　chairsin　fact；　no　more　than　the　necessities　of　life。　But　Colonel　Zane's　house　proved　an　exception　to　this。　Most　interesting　was　the　large　room。　The　chinks　between　the　logs　had　been　plastered　up　with　clay　and　then　the　walls　covered　with　white　birch　bark；　trophies　of　the　chase；　Indian　bows　and　arrows；　pipes　and　tomahawks　hung　upon　them；　the　wide　spreading　antlers　of　a　noble　buck　adorned　the　space　above　the　mantel　piece；　buffalo　robes　covered　the　couches；　bearskin　rugs　lay　scattered　about　on　the　hardwood　floor。　The　wall　on　the　western　side　had　been　built　over　a　huge　stone；　into　which　had　been　cut　an　open　fireplace。

This　blackened　recess；　which　had　seen　two　houses　burned　over　it；　when　full　of　blazing　logs　had　cheered　many　noted　men　with　its　warmth。　Lord　Dunmore；　General　Clark；　Simon　Kenton；　and　Daniel　Boone　had　sat　beside　that　fire。　There　Cornplanter；　the　Seneca　chief；　had　made　his　famous　deal　with　Colonel　Zane；　trading　the　island　in　the　river　opposite　the　settlement　for　a　barrel　of　whiskey。　Logan；　the　Mingo　chief　and　friend　of　the　whites；　had　smoked　many　pipes　of　peace　there　with　Colonel　Zane。　At　a　later　period；　when　King　Louis　Phillippe；　who　had　been　exiled　from　France　by　Napoleon；　had　come　to　America；　during　the　course　of　his　melancholy　wanderings　he　had　stopped　at　Fort　Henry　a　few　days。　His　stay　there　was　marked　by　a　fierce　blizzard　and　the　royal　guest　passed　most　of　his　time　at　Colonel　Zane's　fireside。　Musing　by　those　roaring　logs　perhaps　he　saw　the　radiant　star　of　the　Man　of　Destiny　rise　to　its　magnificent　zenith。

One　cold；　raw　night　in　early　spring　the　Colonel　had　just　returned　from　one　of　his　hunting　trips　and　the　tramping　of　horses　mingled　with　the　rough　voices　of　the　negro　slaves　sounded　without。　When　Colonel　Zane　entered　the　house　he　was　greeted　affectionately　by　his　wife　and　sister。　The　latter；　at　the　death　of　her　aunt　in　Philadelphia；　had　come　west　to　live　with　her　brother；　and　had　been　there　since　late　in　the　preceding　autumn。　It　was　a　welcome　sight　for　the　eyes　of　a　tired　and　weary　hunter。　The　tender　kiss　of　his　comely　wife；　the　cries　of　the　delighted　children；　and　the　crackling　of　the　fire　warmed　his　heart　and　made　him　feel　how　good　it　was　to　be　home　again　after　a　three　days'　march　in　the　woods。　Placing　his　rifle　in　a　corner　and　throwing　aside　his　wet　hunting　coat；　he　turned　and　stood　with　his　back　to　the　bright　blaze。　Still　young　and　vigorous；　Colonel　Zane　was　a　handsome　man。　Tall；　though　not　heavy；　his　frame　denoted　great　strength　and　endurance。　His　face　was　smooth；　his　heavy　eyebrows　met　in　a　straight　line；　his　eyes　were　dark　and　now　beamed　with　a　kindly　light；　his　jaw　was　square　and　massive；　his　mouth　resolute；　in　fact；　his　whole　face　was　strikingly　expressive　of　courage　and　geniality。　A　great　wolf　dog　had　followed　him　in　and；　tired　from　travel；　had　stretched　himself　out　before　the　fireplace；　laying　his　noble　head　on　the　paws　he　had　extended　toward　the　warm　blaze。

〃Well！　Well！　I　am　nearly　starved　and　mighty　glad　to　get　back；〃　said　the　Colonel；　with　a　smile　of　satisfaction　at　the　steaming　dishes　a　negro　servant　was　bringing　from　the　kitchen。

〃We　are　glad　you　have　returned；〃　answered　his　wife；　whose　glowing　face　testified　to　the　pleasure　she　felt。　〃Supper　is　readyAnnie；　bring　in　some　creamyes；　indeed；　I　am　happy　that　you　are　home。　I　never　have　a　moment's　peace　when　you　are　away；　especially　when　you　are　accompanied　by　Lewis　Wetzel。〃

〃Our　hunt　was　a　failure；〃　said　the　Colonel；　after　he　had　helped　himself　to　a　plate　full　of　roast　wild　turkey。　〃The　bears　have　just　come　out　of　their　winter's　sleep　and　are　unusually　wary　at　this　time。　We　saw　many　signs　of　their　work；　tearing　rotten　logs　to　pieces　in　search　of　grubs　and　bees'　nests。　Wetzel　killed　a　deer　and　we　baited　a　likely　place　where　we　had　discovered　many　bear　tracks。　We　stayed　up　all　night　in　a　drizzling　rain；　hoping　to　get　a　shot。　I　am　tired　out。　So　is　Tige。　Wetzel　did　not　mind　the　weather　or　the　ill　luck；　and　when　we　ran　across　some　Indian　sign　he　went　off　on　one　of　his　lonely　tramps；　leaving　me　to　come　home　alone。〃

〃He　is　such　a　reckless　man；〃　remarked　Mrs。　Zane。

〃Wetzel　is　reckless；　or　rather；　daring。　His　incomparable　nerve　carries　him　safely　through　many　dangers；　where　an　ordinary　man　would　have　no　show　whatever。　Well；　Betty；　how　are　you？〃

〃Quite　well；〃　said　the　slender；　dark…eyed　girl　who　had　just　taken　the　seat　opposite　the　Colonel。

〃Bessie；　has　my　sister　indulged　in　any　shocking　escapade　in　my　absence？　I　think　that　last　trick　of　hers；　when　she　gave　a　bucket　of　hard　cider　to　that　poor　tame　bear；　should　last　her　a　spell。〃

〃No；　for　a　wonder　Elizabeth　has　been　very　good。　However；　I　do　not　attribute　it　to　any　unusual　change　of　temperament；　simply　the　cold；　wet　weather。　I　anticipate　a　catastrophe　very　shortly　if　she　is　kept　indoors　much　longer。〃

〃I　have　not　had　much　opportunity　to　be　anything　but　well　behaved。　If　it　rains　a　few　days　more　I　shall　become　desperate。　I　want　to　ride　my　pony；　roam　the　woods；　paddle　my　canoe；　and　enjoy　myself；〃　said　Elizabeth。

〃Well！　Well！　Betts；　I　knew　it　would　be　dull　here　for　you；　but　you　must　not　get　discouraged。　You　know　you　got　here　late　last　fall；　and　have　not　had　any　pleasant　weather　yet。　It　is　perfectly　delightful　in　May　and　June。　I　can　take　you　to　fields　of　wild　white　honeysuckle　and　May　flowers　and　wild　roses。　I　know　you　love　the　woods；　so　be　patient　a　little　longer。〃

Elizabeth　had　been　spoiled　by　her　brotherswhat　girl　would　not　have　been　by　five　great　big　worshippers？and　any　trivial　thing　gone　wrong　with　her　was　a　serious　matter　to　them。　They　were　proud　of　her；　and　of　her　beauty　and　accomplishments　were　never　tired　of　talking。　She　had　the　dark　hair　and　eyes　so　characteristic　of　the　Zanes；　the　same　oval　face　and　fine　features：　and　added　to　this　was　a　certain　softness　of　contour　and　a　sweetness　of　expression　which　made　her　face　bewitching。　But；　in　spite　of　that　demure　and　innocent　face；　she　possessed