the spirit of the border- 第31部分

〃Fearfather。　FeartellWingenundsheChristian。〃





Indian　summer；　that　enchanted　time；　unfolded　its　golden；　dreamy　haze　over　the

Delaware　village。　The　forests　blazed　with　autumn　fire；　the　meadows　boomed　in

rich　luxuriance。　All　day　low　down　in　the　valleys　hung　a　purple　smoke　which

changed；　as　the　cool　evening　shades　crept　out　of　the　woodland；　into　a　cloud　of

white　mist。　All　day　the　asters　along　the　brooks　lifted　golden…brown　faces　to

the　sun　as　if　to　catch　the　warning　warmth　of　his　smile。　All　day　the　plains　and

forests　lay　in　melancholy　repose。　The　sad　swish　of　the　west　wind　over　the　tall

grass　told　that　he　was　slowly　dying　way　before　his　enemy；　the　north　wind。　The

sound　of　dropping　nuts　was　heard　under　the　motionless　trees。



For　Joe　the　days　were　days　of　enchantment。　His　wild　heart　had　found　its　mate。

A　willing　captive　he　was　now。　All　his　fancy　for　other　women；　all　his　memories

faded　into　love　for　his　Indian　bride。



Whispering　Winds　charmed　the　eye；　mind；　and　heart。　Every　day　her　beauty　seemed

renewed。　She　was　as　apt　to　learn　as　she　was　quick　to　turn　her　black…crowned

head；　but　her　supreme　beauty　was　her　loving；　innocent　soul。　　Untainted　as　the

clearest　spring；　it　mirrored　the　purity　and　simplicity　of　her　life。　Indian　she

might　be；　one　of　a　race　whose　morals　and　manners　were　alien　to　the　man　she

loved；　yet　she　would　have　added　honor　to　the　proudest　name。



When　Whispering　Winds　raised　her　dark　eyes　they　showed　radiant　as　a　lone　star；

when　she　spoke　low　her　voice　made　music。



〃Beloved；〃　she　whispered　one　day　to　him；　〃teach　the　Indian　maiden　more　love

for　you；　and　truth；　and　God。　Whispering　Winds　yearns　to　go　to　the　Christians；

but　she　fears　her　stern　father。　Wingenund　would　burn　the　Village　of　Peace。　The

Indian　tribes　tremble　before　the　thunder　of　his　wrath。　Be　patient；　my　chief。

Time　changes　the　leaves；　so　it　will　the　anger　of　the　warriors。　Whispering

Winds'　will　set　you　free；　and　be　free　herself　to　go　far　with　you　toward　the

rising　sun；　where　dwell　your　people。　She　will　love；　and　be　constant；　as　the

northern　star。　Her　love　will　be　an　eternal　spring　where　blossoms　bloom　ever

anew；　and　fresh；　and　sweet。　She　will　love　your　people；　and　raise　Christian

children；　and　sit　ever　in　the　door　of　your　home　praying　for　the　west　wind　to

blow。　Or；　if　my　chief　wills；　we　shall　live　the　Indian　life；　free　as　two　eagles

on　their　lonely　crag。〃



Although　Joe　gave　himself　up　completely　to　his　love　for　his　bride；　he　did　not

forget　that　Kate　was　in　the　power　of　the　renegade；　and　that　he　must　rescue

her。　Knowing　Girty　had　the　unfortunate　girls　somewhere　near　the　Delaware

encampment；　he　resolved　to　find　the　place。　Plans　of　all　kinds　he　resolved　in

his　mind。　The　best　one　he　believed　lay　through　Whispering　Winds。　First　to　find

the　whereabouts　of　Girty；　kill　him　if　possible；　or　at　least　free　Kate；　and

then　get　away　with　her　and　his　Indian　bride。　Sanguine　as　he　invariably　was；　he

could　not　but　realize　the　peril　of　this　undertaking。　If　Whispering　Winds

betrayed　her　people；　it　meant　death　to　her　as　well　as　to　him。　He　would　far

rather　spend　the　remaining　days　of　his　life　in　the　Indian　village；　than　doom

the　maiden　whose　love　had　saved　him。　Yet　he　thought　he　might　succeed　in

getting　away　with　her；　and　planned　to　that　end。　His　natural　spirit；　daring；

reckless；　had　gained　while　he　was　associated　with　Wetzel。



Meanwhile　he　mingled　freely　with　the　Indians；　and　here；　as　elsewhere；　his

winning　personality；　combined　with　his　athletic　prowess；　soon　made　him　well

liked。　He　was　even　on　friendly　terms　with　Pipe。　The　swarthy　war　chief　liked

Joe　because；　despite　the　animosity　he　had　aroused　in　some　former　lovers　of

Whispering　Winds；　he　actually　played　jokes　on　them。　In　fact；　Joe's　pranks

raised　many　a　storm；　but　the　young　braves　who　had　been　suitors　for　Wingenund's

lovely　daughter；　feared　the　muscular　paleface；　and　the　tribe's　ridicule　more；

so　he　continued　his　trickery　unmolested。　Joe's　idea　was　to　lead　the　savages　to

believe　he　was　thoroughly　happy　in　his　new　life；　and　so　he　was；　but　it　suited

him　better　to　be　free。　He　succeeded　in　misleading　the　savages。　At　first　he　was

closely　watched；　the　the　vigilance　relaxed；　and　finally　ceased。



This　last　circumstance　was　owing；　no　doubt；　to　a　ferment　of　excitement　that

had　suddenly　possessed　the　Delawares。　Council　after　council　was　held　in　the

big　lodge。　The　encampment　was　visited　by　runner　after　runner。　Some　important

crisis　was　pending。



Joe　could　not　learn　what　it　all　meant；　and　the　fact　that　Whispering　Winds

suddenly　lost　her　gladsome　spirit　and　became　sad　caused　him　further　anxiety。

When　he　asked　her　the　reason　for　her　unhappiness；　she　was　silent。　　Moreover；

he　was　surprised　to　learn；　when　he　questioned　her　upon　the　subject　of　their

fleeing　together；　that　she　was　eager　to　go　immediately。　　While　all　this

mystery　puzzled　Joe；　it　did　not　make　any　difference　to　him　or　in　his　plans。　It

rather　favored　the　latter。　He　understood　that　the　presence　of　Simon　Girty　and

Elliott；　with　several　other　renegades　unknown　to　him；　was　significant　of

unrest　among　the　Indians。　These　presagers　of　evil　were　accustomed　to　go　from

village　to　village；　exciting　the　savages　to　acts　of　war。　Peace　meant　the

downfall　and　death　of　these　men。　They　were　busy　all　day　and　far　into　the

night。　Often　Joe　heard　Girty's　hoarse　voice　lifted　in　the　council　lodge。　Pipe

thundered　incessantly　for　war。　　But　Joe　could　not　learn　against　whom。

Elliott's　suave；　oily　oratory　exhorted　the　Indians　to　vengeance。　But　Joe　could

not　guess　upon　whom。　　He　was；　however；　destined　to　learn。



The　third　day　of　the　councils　a　horseman　stopped　before　Whispering　Winds'

lodge；　and　called　out。　Stepping　to　the　door；　Joe　saw　a　white　man；　whose　dark；

keen；　handsome　face　seemed　familiar。　Yet　Joe　know　he　had　never　seen　this

stalwart　man。



〃A　word　with　you；〃　said　the　stranger。　His　tone　was　curt；　authoritative；　as

that　of　a　man　used　to　power。



〃As　many　as　you　like。　Who　are　you？〃



〃I　am　Isaac　Zane。　Are　you　Wetzel's　companion；　or　the　renegade　Deering？〃



〃I　am　not　a　renegade　any　more　than　you　are。　I　was　rescued　by　the　Indian　girl；

who　took　me　as　her　husband；〃　said　Joe　coldly。　He　was　surprised；　and　did　not

know　what　to　make　of　Zane's　manner。



〃Good！　I'm　glad　to　meet　you；〃　instantly　replied　Zane；　his　tone　and　expression

changing。　He　extended　his　hand　to　Joe。　〃I　wanted　to　be　sure。　I　never　saw　the

renegade　Deering。　He　is　here　now。　I　am　on　my　way　to　the　Wyandot　town。　I　have

been　to　Fort　Henry；　where　my　brother　told　me　of　you　and　the　missionaries。　When

I　arrived　here　I　heard　your　story　from　Simon　Girty。　If　you　can；　you　must　get

away　from　here。　If　I　dared　I'd　take　you　to　the　Huron　village；　but　it's

impossible。　Go；　while　you　have　a　chance。〃



〃Zane；　I　thank　you。　I've　suspected　something　was　wrong。　What　is　it？〃



〃Couldn't　be　worse；〃　whispered　Zane；　glancing　round　to　see　if　they　were

overheard。　〃Girty　and　Elliott；　backed　by　this　Deering；　are　growing　jealous　of

the　influence　of　Christianity　on　the　Indians。　They　are　plotting　against　the

Village　of　Peace。　Tarhe；　the　Huron　chief；　has　been　approached；　and　asked　to

join　in　a　concerted　movement　against　religion。　Seemingly　it　is　not　so　much　the

missionaries　as　the　converted　Indians；　that　the　renegades　are　fuming　over。

They　know　if　the　Christian　savages　are　killed；　the　strength　of　the

missionaries'　hold　will　be　forever　broken。　Pipe　is　wild　for　blood。　These

renegades　are　slowly　poisoning　the　minds　of　the　few　chiefs　who　are　favorably

disposed。　The　outlook　is　bad！　bad！〃



〃What　can　I　do？〃



〃Cut　out　for　yourself。　Get　away；　if　you　can；　with　a　gun。　Take　the　creek　below；

follow　the　current　down　to　the　Ohio；　and　then　make　east　for　Fort　Henry。



〃But　I　want　to　rescue　the　white　girl　Jim　Girty　has　concealed　here　somewhere。〃



〃Impossible！　Don't　attempt　it　unless　you　want　to　throw　your　life　away。　

Buzzard　Jim；　as　we　call　Girty；　is　a　butcher；　he　has　probably　murdered　the

girl。〃



〃I　won't　leave　without　trying。　And　there's　my　wife；　the　Indian　girl　who　saved

me。　Zane；　she's　a　Christian。　She　wants　to　go　with　me。　I　can't　leave　her。〃



〃I　am　warning　you；　that's　all。　If　I　were　you　I'd　never　leave　without　a　try　to

find　the　white　girl；　and　I'd　never　forsake　my　Indian　bride。　I've　been　through

the　same　thing。　You　must　be　a　good　woodsman；　or　Wetzel　wouldn't　have　let　you

stay　with　him。　Pick　out　a　favorable　time　and　make　the　attempt。　I　suggest　you

make　your　Indian　girl　show　you　where　Girty　is。　　She　knows；　but　is　afraid　to

tell　you；　for　she　fears　Girty。　Get　your　dog　and　horse　from　the　Shawnee。　That's

a　fine　horse。　He　can　carry　you　both　to　safety。　Take　him　away　from　Silvertip。〃



〃How？〃



〃Go　right　up　and　demand　your　horse　and　dog。　Most　of　these　Delawares　are

honest；　for　all　their　blood…shedding　and　cruelty。　With　them　might　is　right。

The　Delawares　won't　try　to　get　your　horse　for　you；　but　they'll　stick　to　you

when　you　assert　your　rights。　They　don't　like　the　Shawnee；　anyhow。　If　Silvertip

refuses　to　give　you　the　horse；　grab　him　before　he　can　draw　a　weapon；　and　beat

him　good。　You're　big　enough　to　do　it。　　The　Delawares　will　be　tickled　to　see

you　pound　him。　He's　thick　with　Girty；　that's　why　he　lays　round　here。　Take　my

word；　it's　the　best　way。　　Do　it　openly；　and　no　one　will　interfere。〃



〃By　Heavens；　Zane；　I'll　give　him　a　drubbing。　I　owe　him　one；　and　am　itching　to

get　hold　of　him。〃



〃I　must　go　now。　I　shall　send　a　Wyandot　runner　to　your　brother　at　the　village。

They　shall　be　warned。　Good…by。　Good　luck。　May　we　meet　again。〃



Joe　watched　Zane　ride　swiftly　down　the　land　and　disappear　in　the　shrubbery。　

Whispering　Winds　came　to　the　door　of　the　lodge。　She　looked　anxiously　at　him。

He　went　within；　drawing　her　along　with　him；　and　quickly　informed　her　that　he

had　learned　the　cause　of　the　council；　that　he　had　resolved　to　get　away；　and

she　must　find　out　Girty's　hiding　place。　Whispering　Winds　threw　herself　into

his　arms；　declaring　with　an　energy　and　passion