the spirit of the border- 第4部分

eyes　seemed　starting　from　their　sockets；　and　his　arms　beat　the　air。　Then　he

was　lifted　and　flung　with　a　crash　against　the　cabin　wall。　　Falling；　he　lay　in

a　heap　on　the　grass；　while　the　blood　flowed　from　a　cut　on　his　temple。



〃What's　this？〃　cried　a　man；　authoritatively。　He　had　come　swiftly　up；　and

arrived　at　the　scene　where　stood　the　grizzled　frontiersman。



〃It　was　purty　handy；　Wentz。　I　couldn't　hev'　did　better　myself；　and　I　was

comin'　for　that　purpose；〃　said　the　frontiersman。　〃Leffler　was　tryin'　to　kiss

the　lass。　He's　been　drunk　fer　two　days。　That　little　girl's　sweetheart　kin

handle　himself　some；　now　you　take　my　word　on　it。〃



〃I'll　agree　Leff's　bad　when　he's　drinkin'；〃　answered　the　fur…trader；　and　to

Joe　he　added；　〃He's　liable　to　look　you　up　when　he　comes　around。〃



〃Tell　him　if　I　am　here　when　he　gets　sober；　I'll　kill　him；〃　Joe　cried　in　a

sharp　voice。　His　gaze　rested　once　more　on　the　fallen　teamster；　and　again　an

odd　contraction　of　his　eyes　was　noticeable。　The　glance　was　cutting；　as　if　with

the　flash　of　cold　gray　steel。　〃Nell；　I'm　sorry　I　wasn't　round　sooner；〃　he

said；　apologetically；　as　if　it　was　owing　to　his　neglect　the　affair　had

happened。



As　they　entered　the　cabin　Nell　stole　a　glance　at　him。　This　was　the　third　time

he　had　injured　a　man　because　of　her。　She　had　on　several　occasions　seen　that

cold；　steely　glare　in　his　eyes；　and　it　had　always　frightened　her。　It　was　gone；

however；　before　they　were　inside　the　building。　He　said　something　which　she　did

not　hear　distinctly；　and　his　calm　voice　allayed　her　excitement。　She　had　been

angry　with　him；　but　now　she　realized　that　her　resentment　had　disappeared。　He

had　spoken　so　kindly　after　the　outburst。　Had　he　not　shown　that　he　considered

himself　her　protector　and　lover？　A　strange　emotion；　sweet　and　subtle　as　the

taste　of　wine；　thrilled　her；　while　a　sense　of　fear　because　of　his　strength　was

mingled　with　her　pride　in　it。　Any　other　girl　would　have　been　only　too　glad　to

have　such　a　champion；　she　would；　too；　hereafter；　for　he　was　a　man　of　whom　to

be　proud。



〃Look　here；　Nell；　you　haven't　spoken　to　me；〃　Joe　cried　suddenly；　seeming　to

understand　that　she　had　not　even　heard　what　he　said；　so　engrossed　had　she　been

with　her　reflections。　〃Are　you　mad　with　me　yet？〃　he　continued。　〃Why；　Nell；　I'm

inI　love　you！〃



Evidently　Joe　thought　such　fact　a　sufficient　reason　for　any　act　on　his　part。　

His　tender　tone　conquered　Nell；　and　she　turned　to　him　with　flushed　cheeks　and

glad　eyes。



〃I　wasn't　angry　at　all；〃　she　whispered；　and　then；　eluding　the　arm　he　extended；

she　ran　into　the　other　room。　







Chapter　III。



Joe　lounged　in　the　doorway　of　the　cabin；　thoughtfully　contemplating　two　quiet

figures　that　were　lying　in　the　shade　of　a　maple　tree。　One　he　recognized　as　the

Indian　with　whom　Jim　had　spent　an　earnest　hour　that　morning；　the　red　son　of

the　woods　was　wrapped　in　slumber。　He　had　placed　under　his　head　a　many…hued

homespun　shirt　which　the　young　preacher　had　given　him；　but　while　asleep　his

head　had　rolled　off　this　improvised　pillow；　and　the　bright　garment　lay　free；

attracting　the　eye。　Certainly　it　had　led　to　the　train　of　thought　which　had

found　lodgment　in　Joe's　fertile　brain。



The　other　sleeper　was　a　short；　stout　man　whom　Joe　had　seen　several　times

before。　This　last　fellow　did　not　appear　to　be　well…balanced　in　his　mind；　and

was　the　butt　of　the　settlers'　jokes；　while　the　children　called　him　〃Loorey。〃

He；　like　the　Indian；　was　sleeping　off　the　effects　of　the　previous　night's

dissipation。



During　a　few　moments　Joe　regarded　the　recumbent　figures　with　an　expression　on

his　face　which　told　that　he　thought　in　them　were　great　possibilities　for

sport。　With　one　quick　glance　around　he　disappeared　within　the　cabin；　and　when

he　showed　himself　at　the　door；　surveying　the　village　square　with　mirthful

eyes；　he　held　in　his　hand　a　small　basket　of　Indian　design。　It　was　made　of

twisted　grass；　and　simply　contained　several　bits　of　soft；　chalky　stone　such　as

the　Indians　used　for　painting；　which　collection　Joe　had　discovered　among　the

fur…trader's　wares。



He　glanced　around　once　more；　and　saw　that　all　those　in　sight　were　busy　with

their　work。　He　gave　the　short　man　a　push；　and　chuckled　when　there　was　no

response　other　than　a　lazy　grunt。　Joe　took　the　Indians'　gaudy　shirt；　and；

lifting　Loorey；　slipped　it　around　him；　shoved　the　latter's　arms　through　the

sleeves；　and　buttoned　it　in　front。　He　streaked　the　round　face　with　red　and

white　paint；　and　then；　dexterously　extracting　the　eagle　plume　from　the

Indian's　head…dress；　stuck　it　in　Loorey's　thick　shock　of　hair。　It　was　all　done

in　a　moment；　after　which　Joe　replaced　the　basket；　and　went　down　to　the　river。



Several　times　that　morning　he　had　visited　the　rude　wharf　where　Jeff　Lynn；　the

grizzled　old　frontiersman；　busied　himself　with　preparations　for　the

raft…journey　down　the　Ohio。　Lynn　had　been　employed　to　guide　the　missionary's

party　to　Fort　Henry；　and；　as　the　brothers　had　acquainted　him　with　their

intention　of　accompanying　the　travelers；　he　had　constructed　a　raft　for　them

and　their　horses。



Joe　laughed　when　he　saw　the　dozen　two…foot　logs　fastened　together；　upon　which

a　rude　shack　had　been　erected　for　shelter。　This　slight　protection　from　sun　and

storm　was　all　the　brothers　would　have　on　their　long　journey。



Joe　noted；　however；　that　the　larger　raft　had　been　prepared　with　some　thought

for　the　comfort　of　the　girls。　The　floor　of　the　little　hut　was　raised　so　that

the　waves　which　broke　over　the　logs　could　not　reach　it。　　Taking　a　peep　into

the　structure；　Joe　was　pleased　to　see　that　Nell　and　Kate　would　be　comfortable；

even　during　a　storm。　A　buffalo　robe　and　two　red　blankets　gave　to　the　interior

a　cozy；　warm　look。　He　observed　that　some　of　the　girls'　luggage　was　already　on

board。



〃When'll　we　be　off？〃　he　inquired。



〃Sun…up；〃　answered　Lynn；　briefly。



〃I'm　glad　of　that。　I　like　to　be　on　the　go　in　the　early　morning；〃　said　Joe；

cheerfully。



〃Most　folks　from　over　Eastways　ain't　in　a　hurry　to　tackle　the　river；〃　replied

Lynn；　eyeing　Joe　sharply。



〃It's　a　beautiful　river；　and　I'd　like　to　sail　on　it　from　here　to　where　it

ends；　and　then　come　back　to　go　again；〃　Joe　replied；　warmly。



〃In　a　hurry　to　be　a…goin'？　I'll　allow　you'll　see　some　slim　red　devils；　with

feathers　in　their　hair；　slipping　among　the　trees　along　the　bank；　and　mebbe

you'll　hear　the　ping　which's　made　when　whistlin'　lead　hits。　Perhaps　you'll

want　to　be　back　here　by　termorrer　sundown。〃



〃Not　I；〃　said　Joe；　with　his　short；　cool　laugh。



The　old　frontiersman　slowly　finished　his　task　of　coiling　up　a　rope　of　wet

cowhide；　and　then；　producing　a　dirty　pipe；　he　took　a　live　ember　from　the　fire

and　placed　it　on　the　bowl。　He　sucked　slowly　at　the　pipe…stem；　and　soon　puffed

out　a　great　cloud　of　smoke。　Sitting　on　a　log；　he　deliberately　　surveyed　the

robust　shoulders　and　long；　heavy　limbs　of　the　young　man；　with　a　keen

appreciation　of　their　symmetry　and　strength。　Agility；　endurance　and　courage

were　more　to　a　borderman　than　all　else；　a　new…comer　on　the　frontier　was　always

〃sized…up〃　with　reference　to　these　〃points；〃　and　respected　in　proportion　to

the　measure　in　which　he　possessed　them。



Old　Jeff　Lynn；　riverman；　hunter；　frontiersman；　puffed　slowly　at　his　pipe　while

he　mused　thus　to　himself：　〃Mebbe　I'm　wrong　in　takin'　a　likin'　to　this

youngster　so　sudden。　Mebbe　it's　because　I'm　fond　of　his　sunny…haired　lass；　an'

ag'in　mebbe　it's　because　I'm　gettin'　old　an'　likes　young　folks　better'n　I　onct

did。　Anyway；　I'm　kinder　thinkin；　if　this　young　feller　gits　worked　out；　say　fer

about　twenty　pounds　less；　he'll　lick　a　whole　raft…load　of　wild…cats。〃



Joe　walked　to　and　fro　on　the　logs；　ascertained　how　the　raft　was　put　together；

and　took　a　pull　on　the　long；　clumsy　steering…oar。　At　length　he　seated　himself

beside　Lynn。　He　was　eager　to　ask　questions；　to　know　about　the　rafts；　the

river；　the　forest；　the　Indianseverything　in　connection　with　this　wild　life；

but　already　he　had　learned　that　questioning　these　frontiersmen　is　a　sure　means

of　closing　their　lips。



〃Ever　handle　the　long　rifle？〃　asked　Lynn；　after　a　silence。



〃Yes；〃　answered　Joe；　simply。



〃Ever　shoot　anythin'？〃　the　frontiersman　questioned；　when　he　had　taken　four　or

five　puffs　at　his　pipe。



〃Squirrels。〃



〃Good　practice；　shootin'　squirrels；〃　observed　Jeff；　after　another　silence；

long　enough　to　allow　Joe　to　talk　if　he　was　so　inclined。　〃Kin　ye　hit　onesay；

a　hundred　yards？〃



〃Yes；　but　not　every　time　in　the　head；〃　returned　Joe。　There　was　an　apologetic

tone　in　his　answer。



Another　interval　followed　in　which　neither　spoke。　Jeff　was　slowly　pursuing　his

line　of　thought。　After　Joe's　last　remark　he　returned　his　pipe　to　his　pocket

and　brought　out　a　tobacco…pouch。　He　tore　off　a　large　portion　of　the　weed　and

thrust　it　into　his　mouth。　Then　he　held　out　the　little　buckskin　sack　to　Joe。



〃Hev'　a　chaw；〃　he　said。



To　offer　tobacco　to　anyone　was　absolutely　a　borderman's　guarantee　of

friendliness　toward　that　person。



Jeff　expectorated　half　a　dozen　times；　each　time　coming　a　little　nearer　the

stone　he　was　aiming　at；　some　five　yards　distant。　Possibly　this　was　the

borderman's　way　of　oiling　up　his　conversational　machinery。　At　all　events；　he

commenced　to　talk。



〃Yer　brother's　goin'　to　preach　out　here；　ain't　he？　Preachin'　is　all　right；

I'll　allow；　but　I'm　kinder　doubtful　about　preachin'　to　redskins。　　Howsumever；

I've　knowed　Injuns　who　are　good　fellows；　and　there's　no　tellin'。　What　are　ye

goin'　in　ferfarmin'？〃



〃No；　I　wouldn't　make　a　good　farmer。〃



〃Jest　cum　out　kinder　wild　like；　eh？〃　rejoined　Jeff；　knowingly。



〃I　wanted　to　come　West　because　I　was　tired　of　tame　life。　I　love　the　forest；　I

want　to　fish　and　hunt；　and　I　think　I'd　like　toto　see　Indians。〃



〃I　kinder　thought　so；〃　said　the　old　frontiersman；　nodding　his　head　as　though

he　perfectly　understood　Joe's　case。　〃Well；　lad；　where　you're　goin'　seein'

Injuns　ain't　a　matter　of　choice