Betty Zane

length, and one hundred and fifty in width. Surrounded by a stockade fence twelve feet high, with a yard wide walk running around the inside, and with bastions at each corner large en

mber of cabins located within the stockade. Wells had been sunk inside the inclosure, so t

he protection they offered in time of savage warfare. These forts were u

red the purpose at that time and served to protect many an infant settlement from the savage attacks of Indian tribes. During a siege of Fort Henry, which had occurred about a year previous, the settlers would have lost sc

e cleaning of rifles and moulding of bullets, and the thousand and one things the sterner tasks of their husbands had left them. Major McColloch, Jonathan and Silas Zane, early in the day, had taken different directions along the river to keep a sharp lookout for signs of the enemy. Colonel Zane intended to stay in h

gs. So thought the pioneers who noticed his graceful walk, his fair skin and smooth hands. Yet those who carefully studied his clearcut features were favorably impressed; the women, by th

uced him to run away and seek his fortune with the hardy pioneer and the cunning savage of the border. Beyond a few months' service under General Clark he knew nothing of frontier life; but he was tired of idleness; he was strong and not afraid of work, and he could learn. Colonel Zane, who prided himself on his judgment of character, took a liking to the young man at once, and giving him a rifle and

oad turn, which could not be observed from the fort windows. The river was high from the recent rains and brush heaps and logs and debris of all descriptions were floating down with the swift current. Rabbits and other small animals, which had probably been surrounded on some island and compelled to take to the brush or dr

oks like an Indian girl," said Clarke to hi

es distant he sprang out and, as the pony shied and reared at sight of him, he clutched the bridle and pulled the pony's head down. Looking up he

more surprised and disconcerted. For a moment they looked at each other in silenc

oes this mean?" sh

d and go back to the fort," answer

rded a fine unobstructed view of the river. Betty had either not heard of the Captain's order, that no one was to l

flushing, as she gave a jerk to the reins. "Ho

unt's house in Philadelphia. It was the slight, provoking smile of the man familiar with the various moods of young women, the expression of an amused co

low such a pretty little girl to have her own way. I shall

blushing a bright-red. "

me with full particulars or I might have declined my present occupation: not, however, that it is not agreeable just

I get off and walk back for assistance?"

authoritatively. "Captain Boggs' orders are tha

Girty, or a highwayman. Was it necessary to keep me

ad its charm. No, I am not a robber, and I don't believe you thought so. I have only th

pony and galloped away. A mellow laugh was borne to her ears before

and her hair tumbled like a tomboy's, but she is no backwoods girl, I'll bet on that. I'm afraid I was a little rude, but after taking such a stand I could not weaken, especially before

g along the road some moments before. The sound came from some distance down the river bank and nearer the fort. Walking a few paces up the bluff Alfred caught sight of a large black dog running along the edge of the water. He would run into the water a few paces and then come out and dash along the shore. He barke

e a man, and an Indian at that. Alfred raised his rifle to his shoulder and was in the act of pressing the trigger when he thought he heard a faint halloo. Looking closer, he

hat it bore a white man, who was holding to the log with one hand and with the other was making feeble strokes. He concluded the man was either wounded or nearly drown

imself of some of his clothing, plunged in and pulled it to the shore. The pallid face of the man clinging to the log showed that he was nearly exhausted, and t

very much the worse for wear. The leggins were torn into tatters and the moccasins worn through. H

re you?" asked Clarke, su

ally said something that to Alfred sounded like

the animal's odd maneuvers. He ran to and fro on the sandy beach; he scratched up the sand and pebbles, sending them flying in th

edly put on his clothes and set out on a run for Colonel Zane's house. The first per

eyes. He did not recognize in him any one he had ever seen before, and being of a sullen and taciturn nature, es

said Clarke, who was used to being obeyed by ne

out of the barn and started to sp

er who says his name is Zane, or if he did not me

Colonel, letting his pi

am they ran quickly down to the river, where they found the prostr

oor boy, he looks as if he were dead. Are you sure he spoke? Of course he mus

nconscious man's breast, where he had l

It shall never be forgotten. He is alive, and, I believe, on

t was the dog," Alfred

rm to the house, where the d

ingly. Then, as she saw his face, "Great Hea

," said Colonel Zane, as they laid the insensible man on the

ound beside this one

examin

ke, will you please run over to Captain Boggs and tell Betty to hurry home! Sam, you get a blanket and

rtant, he started off on a run for the fort. He had a vague idea that Betty wa

she pleased she invariably got angry. To be ordered and compelled to give up her ride, and that by a stranger, was intolerable. To make it all the worse this stranger had been decidedly flippant. He had familiarly spoken to her as "a pretty little girl." Not only that, which was a great offense,

ead. Finding she could not become interested she threw the book aside and took up her embroidery. This also turned out a useless effort; she got the linen hopelessly twisted and tangled, and presently she tossed this upon the table. Throwing her shawl over her shoulders,

ow you can ride! I should be afraid of breakin

oiled," said Be

? By wha

retorted Betty, whose

a man that spo

? I never heard you talk that way," said L

ushes and grasped Madcap's bridle. Imagine! For a moment I was frightened out of my wits. I instantly thought of the Girtys, who, I have heard

all?" said Ly

my own way; that his present occupation was pleasant, and that the situation had its charm. The v

now little of refinement like that with which you have been familiar. Some of them are quiet and never speak unless addressed; their simplicity is remarkable; Lew Wetzel and your brother Jonathan, when they are not fighting Indians, are examples. On

such games are likely to be propo

to respect these rugged fellows. They are uncouth; they have no manners, but their hearts are honest and true, and that is of m

d my ride. He, at least, is no frontiersman, notwithstanding his gun and his buckskin suit. He is an educated man.

xclaimed Lydia, clapping her ha

amused," said

it is such a

I fail t

were lots of pretty girls here, that he usually succeeded in finding those things out and with

knew you coul

y discerning, but not backward in express

and perhaps he did me a good turn by keeping me inside the clearing, though I cannot imagine why

, teasingly. "He failed to

little fool. It is only that I have not been accustom

he scene who did not at once bow down before Betty, and

or Mr. Clarke. Maybe

s handsome. I am

ooked," said Betty. She did re

is, and soon twilight came stealing down on them. As

t," said Lydia, rising "Betty, wai

d Clarke standing on the st

ia. "Thank you, only for a moment," said Alfred. "

the darkening room. At his question Lydia became so embarrassed she

r by this stranger, who had already grievously offended her once before that day, Betty stood

looked straight into a pair of dark, sc

t see how that can be possible, will you please have

composure sufficie

low me to

e met this person once before to-day,

he afternoon, he forgot for the moment all about his errand. He was final

s happened?" she exclaimed, noticing

re one and the same person. His face flushed. He felt that his rudeness on that occasion ma

e her inscrutable designs, looked steadily into each other's eyes. What my

indeed blameless. I have just left Colonel Zane's house, where there has been an accident, and I was dispatched to find 'Betty,' b

t Betty he bowed low to Lydia and

in a small trembling voice, all

h, Betty, I hope no one has been hurt! And you were very unkind to Mr. Clarke. I am

open the door. The first thing that struck her after the bright light was the pungent odor of strong liniment. She saw several women neighbors whispering together. Major McColloch and Jonathan Zane were standing by a couch over w

a low voice fro

it had never been forgotten. It was the best beloved voice of her childhood, and with it came the sweet memories o

nd again. "Can it really be you? Oh, it is too good to be true! Tha

oman relieves a heart too full of joy. "Yes, Betty. It is all that is left of me,

not excite him,"

forgotten me?"

I spoke of you and wondered if you were living. And now you are here. Oh, I am so happ

supper? Isaac will be able to talk a little by then, a

saved my life to come that

her, in surprise, while a dark red flush spread over he

urse," said Colonel Za

him out of the river.

Betty, rath

e, there is no doubt of that. You will hear all about it

e no time for reflection. The meeting by the river with the rude but interesting stranger; the shock to her dignity; Lydia's kindly advice; the stranger again, this time emerging from the dark depths of disgrace into the luminous light as the hero of her brother's rescue-all these thoughts jumbled in her mind making it difficult for her to think clearly. Bu

much pride rebelled; no matter how much she disliked to retract anything she had said, she knew no other course lay open to her. She would have to apologize to Mr. Clarke. How could she? What would she say? She remembered h

She tied a red ribbon about her throat and put a rosette in her hair. She had forgotten all about the Indians. By the time Mrs. Zane ca

means to frighten truant youngsters who had evinced a love for running wild in the woods. The evening of Isaac's return every one in the settleme

saac's return. He was a huge man, and when he stalked into the room he made the floor shake with his

ome back. Always said so. There are not enough d

to keep him long enoug

rke entered, accompanied by Captain Boggs, Major McCol

een his brother, and h

nd wrung it wi

s on this side of th

nswer to the Co

ortance," said Colonel Zane. "My sister said you did

" answered Alfred. "Your big blac

ort a very satisfactory one, and an augur

fred, going up to the

anks to you," said I

ed's

answered Alfred. "I tell you, I feared you were

His face would have been but for the marks of privation, singularly like Betty's; the same low, level brows and dark

emed out of place among those surroundings. Alfred Clarke, for one, thought such a charming vision was wasted on the rough settlers, every one of whom wore a faded and dir

you acquainted with t

ke. This is

ered her eyes instantly on enc

ure of meeting Miss Z

fr

etty. She did not answer, but disengaged

ot know her then," answered Alfred. "I had some difficulty in stopping

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

responded Alfred. "I am fond of horses, and think I can ride a li

you rode from Fort Pi

like to

s up and he'll listen

nel

he 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

shoot?" asked Col

fortunately I discovered my mis

on the way here

ow that the British and the Indians will make a combined attack o

e scalp buyer, is behind the plan

o the treaties. Pipe and Wingenund are particularly bitter toward the whites. I understand Cornplanter is also. He would give anything fo

He was the wildest and most untamable of all the Zanes. Most of the time he spent in the woods, not so muc

iors in that tribe of fighters. He was at Indian-head, which is the name of one of the Wyan

w him. He swore he would hang our sca

ou?" asked Colonel Zane. "Of course,

ed them. One of them got away crippled, but we could not follow him because we discovered that they had a white girl as captive, and one of the red devils, thinking we were a rescuing party, had tomahawked her. She was not quite dead. We did all we could to save her life.

deed, these are the times that try men's souls, but I firmly believe the d

ncess pretty?" ask

anada their home was in the Muskoka Lakes region on the Moon river. The old warriors tell wonderful stories of the beauty of that country. Tarhe took captive some French travellers, among them a woman named La Durante. She had a beautiful little girl. The prisoners, except this little girl, were released. When she grew up Tarhe married her. Myeerah i

d yet I hate her. What an od

ame has been celebrated among the Hurons as long as any one of them can remember. The Indians

aid Colonel Zane. "He is tired out. Major, tell Isaac and

at leap from the In

ll did you jump your

y, and from there I leaped my horse. I can never convince myself that it really happened. Often I look up at that cliff in doubt. But th

cannot understand how a man or horse

I suppose I shall have to tell the story. We have f

am curious to see this man Wetzel, whose fame has

The Major had run right into the returning party of Indians, which had been sent out to intercept our reinforcements. In a moment more we heard the exultant yells of the savages, and saw them gliding from tree to tree, slowly lengthening out their line and surrounding the unfortunate Major. They did not fire a shot. We in the fort were stupefied with horror, and stood helplessly with our useless guns, watching and waiting for the seemingly inevitable doom of our comrade. Not so with the Major! Knowing that he was a marked man by the Indians and feeling that any death was preferable to the gauntlet, the knife, the stake and torch of the merciless savage, he had grasped at a desperate chance. He saw his enemies stealthily darting from rock to tree, and tree to bush, creeping through the brush, and slipping closer and closer every moment. On three sides were his hated foes and on the remaining side-the abyss. Without a moment's hesitation the intrepid Major spurred his horse at the precipice. Never shall I forget that thrilling moment. The three hundred savage

derful!" exclaimed Isa

dians call you th

. "I am certain of that. Nevertheless that does not detract from the courage of his deed. He had no time to pick out the best place to jump. He simply to

daring escapes as a matter of course, a compulsory part of their daily lives. He had already, in one day, had more excitement than had ever befallen him, and was beginning to believe his thirst for a free life of stirring action would be quenched long before he had learned to become useful in his new sphere. During the remaining half hour of his call on his latel

feelings have changed. I am sorry for what I said over at Lydia's. I spoke hastily and rudely. You have saved my

were raised shyly, yet bravely, to his. But he had been deeply hurt. He pretended not

I think you overrate my action. Your brother would not h

overed from her momentary bewilderment was one of amusement, and she laughed in a constrained manner; but, presently, two bright red spots appeared in her cheeks, and she looked quickly around to see if any of the others had noticed the incident. None of them had been paying any

alled Colonel Zane.

spect was fierce and threatening. He uttered low growls and then two short barks. Those in the room heard a

on the little company after that exclamation

torn and wet and covered with mud. He was a magnificently made man, six feet in height, and stood straight as an arrow. His wide shoulders, and his muscular, though not heavy, limbs denoted wonderful strength and activity. His long hair, black as a raven's wing, hung far dow

s out with it," cried Co

w Betty's apprehensive face. "Don't look scared, Betty. The r