the spirit of the border- 第47部分

〃Jim！　Jim！〃　cried　Nell；　when　he　entered　the　cabin。　〃Oh…h！　I　was　afraid。　　Oh！　I

am　glad　you're　back　safe。　See；　this　noble　Indian　has　come　to　help　us。〃



Wingenund　stood　calm　and　erect　by　the　door。



〃Chief；　what　will　you　do？〃



〃Wingenund　will　show　you　the　way　to　the　big　river；〃　answered　the　chieftain；　in

his　deep　bass。



〃Run　away？　No；　never！　That　would　be　cowardly。　Heckewelder；　you　would　not　go？

Nor　you；　Zeisberger？　We　may　yet　be　of　use；　we　may　yet　save　some　of　the

Christians。〃



〃Save　the　yellow…hair；〃　sternly　said　Wingenund。



〃Oh；　Jim；　you　don't　understand。　The　chief　has　come　to　warn　me　of　Girty。　　He

intends　to　take　me　as　he　has　others；　as　he　did　poor　Kate。　did　you　not　see　the

meaning　in　his　eyes　to…day？　How　they　scorched　me！　Ho！　Jim；　take　me　away！　Save

me！　Do　not　leave　me　here　to　that　horrible　fate？　Oh！　Jim；　take　me　away！〃



〃Nell；　I　will　take　you；〃　cried　Jim；　grasping　her　hands。



〃Hurry！　There's　a　blanket　full　of　things　I　packed　for　you；〃　said　Heckewelder。

〃Lose　no　time。　Ah！　hear　that！　My　Heavens！　what　a　yell！〃　Heckewelder　rushed　to

the　door　and　looked　out。　〃There　they　go；　a　black　mob　of　imps；　a　pack　of　hungry

wolves！　Jim　Girty　is　in　the　lead。　How　he　leaps！　How　he　waves　his　sledge！　He

leads　the　savages　toward　the　church。　Oh！　it's　the　end！〃



〃Benny？　Where's　Benny？〃　cried　Jim；　hurriedly　lacing　the　hunting　coat　he　had

flung　about　him。



〃Benny's　safe。　I've　hidden　him。　I'll　get　him　away　from　here；〃　answered　young

Christy。　〃Go！　Now's　your　time。　Godspeed　you！〃



〃I'm　ready；〃　declared　Mr。　Wells。　〃Ihavefinished！〃



〃There　goes　Wingenund！　He's　running。　Follow　him；　quick！　Good…by！　　Good…by！　God

be　with　you！〃　cried　Heckewelder。



〃Good…by！　Good…by！〃



Jim　hurried　Nell　toward　the　bushes　where　Wingenund's　tall　form　could　dimly　be

seen。　Mr。　Wells　followed　them。　On　the　edge　of　the　clearing　Jim　and　Nell　turned

to　look　back。



They　saw　a　black　mass　of　yelling；　struggling；　fighting　savages　crowding　around

the　church。



〃Oh！　Jim；　look　back！　Look　back！〃　cried　Nell；　holding　hard　to　his　hand。　　〃Look

back！　See　if　Girty　is　coming！〃







Chapter　XXVII。



At　last　the　fugitives　breathed　free　under　the　gold　and　red　cover　of　the　woods。

Never　speaking；　never　looking　back；　the　guide　hurried　eastward　with　long

strides。　His　followers　were　almost　forced　to　run　in　order　to　keep　him　in

sight。　He　had　waited　at　the　edge　of　the　clearing　for　them；　and；　relieving　Jim

of　the　heavy　pack；　which　he　swung　slightly　over　his　shoulder；　he　set　a　pace

that　was　most　difficult　to　maintain。　The　young　missionary　half　led；　half

carried　Nell　over　the　stones　and　rough　places。　Mr。　Wells　labored　in　the　rear。



〃Oh！　Jim！　Look　back！　Look　back！　See　if　we　are　pursued！〃　cried　Nell　frequently；

with　many　a　earful　glance　into　the　dense　thickets。



The　Indian　took　a　straight　course　through　the　woods。　He　leaped　the　brooks；

climbed　the　rough　ridges；　and　swiftly　trod　the　glades　that　were　free　of

windfalls。　His　hurry　and　utter　disregard　for　the　plain　trail　left　behind；

proved　his　belief　in　the　necessity　of　placing　many　miles　between　the　fugitives

and　the　Village　of　Peace。　Evidently　they　would　be　followed；　and　it　would　be　a

waste　of　valuable　time　to　try　to　conceal　their　trail。　　Gradually　the　ground

began　to　rise；　the　way　become　more　difficult；　but　Wingenund　never　slackened

his　pace。　Nell　was　strong；　supple；　and　light　of　foot。　She　held　her　own　with

Jim；　but　time　and　time　again　they　were　obliged　to　wait　for　her　uncle。　Once　he

was　far　behind。　Wingenund　halted　for　them　at　the　height　of　a　ridge　where　the

forest　was　open。



〃Ugh！〃　exclaimed　the　chieftain；　as　they　finished　the　ascent。　He　stretched　a

long　arm　toward　the　sun；　his　falcon　eye　gleamed。



Far　in　the　west　a　great　black　and　yellow　cloud　of　smoke　rolled　heavenward。　　It

seemed　to　rise　from　out　the　forest；　and　to　hang　low　over　the　trees；　then　it

soared　aloft　and　grew　thinner　until　it　lost　its　distinct　line　far　in　the

clouds。　The　setting　sun　stood　yet　an　hour　high　over　a　distant　hill；　and　burned

dark　red　through　the　great　pall　of　smoke。



〃Is　it　a　forest　fire？〃　asked　Nell；　fearfully。



〃Fire；　of　course；　but…〃　Jim　did　not　voice　his　fear；　he　looked　closely　at

Wingenund。



The　chieftain　stood　silent　a　moment　as　was　his　wont　when　addressed。　The　dull

glow　of　the　sun　was　reflected　in　the　dark　eyes　that　gazed　far　away　over　forest

and　field。



〃Fire；〃　said　Wingenund；　and　it　seemed　that　as　he　spoke　a　sterner　shadow

flitted　across　his　bronzed　face。　〃The　sun　sets　to…night　over　the　ashes　of　the

Village　of　Peace。



He　resumed　his　rapid　march　eastward。　With　never　a　backward　glance　the　saddened

party　followed。　Nell　kept　close　beside　Jim；　and　the　old　man　tramped　after　them

with　bowed　head。　The　sun　set；　but　Wingenund　never　slackened　his　stride。

Twilight　deepened；　yet　he　kept　on。



〃Indian；　we　can　go　no　further　to…night；　we　must　rest；〃　cried　Jim；　as　Nell

stumbled　against　him；　and　Mr。　Wells　panted　wearily　in　the　rear。



〃Rest　soon；〃　replied　the　chief；　and　kept　on。



Darkness　had　settled　down　when　Wingenund　at　last　halted。　The　fugitives　could

see　little　in　the　gloom；　but　they　heard　the　music　of　running　water；　and　felt

soft　moss　beneath　their　feet。



They　sank　wearily　down　upon　a　projecting　stone。　The　moss　was　restful　to　their

tired　limbs。　Opening　the　pack　they　found　food　with　which　to　satisfy　the

demands　of　hunger。　Then；　close　under　the　stone；　the　fugitives　sank　into

slumber　while　the　watchful　Indian　stood　silent　and　motionless。



Jim　thought　he　had　but　just　closed　his　eyes　when　he　felt　a　gentle　pressure　on

his　arm。



〃Day　is　here；〃　said　the　Indian。



Jim　opened　his　eyes　to　see　the　bright　red　sun　crimsoning　the　eastern　hills；

and　streaming　gloriously　over　the　colored　forests。　He　raised　himself　on　his

elbow　to　look　around。　Nell　was　still　asleep。　The　blanket　was　tucked　close　to

her　chin。　Her　chestnut　hair　was　tumbled　like　a　schoolgirl's；　she　looked　as

fresh　and　sweet　as　the　morning。



〃Nell；　Nell；　wake　up；〃　said　Jim；　thinking　the　while　how　he　would　love　to　kiss

those　white　eyelids。



Nell's　eyes　opened　wide；　a　smile　lay　deep　in　their　hazel　shadows。



〃Where　a　I？　Oh；　I　remember；〃　she　cried；　sitting　up。　〃Oh；　Jim；　I　had　such　a

sweet　dream。　I　was　at　home　with　mother　and　Kate。　Oh；　to　wake　and　find　it　all　a

dream！　I　am　fleeing　for　life。　But；　Jim；　we　are　safe；　are　we　not？〃



〃Another　day；　and　we'll　be　safe。〃



〃Let　us　fly；〃　she　cried；　leaping　up　and　shaking　out　her　crumpled　skirt。　

〃Uncle；　come！〃



Mr。　Wells　lay　quietly　with　his　mild　blue　eyes　smiling　up　at　her。　He　neither

moved　nor　spoke。



〃Eat；　drink；〃　said　the　chief；　opening　the　pack。



〃What　a　beautiful　place；〃　exclaimed　Nell；　taking　the　bread　and　meat　handed　to

her。　〃This　is　a　lovely　little　glade。　Look　at　those　golden　flowers；　the　red　and

purple　leaves；　the　brown　shining　moss；　and　those　lichen…covered　stones。　Why！

Some　one　has　camped　here。　See　the　little　cave；　the　screens　of　plaited　ferns；

and　the　stone　fireplace。〃



〃It　seems　to　me　this　dark　spring　and　those　gracefully　spreading　branches　are

familiar；〃　said　Jim。



〃Beautiful　Spring；〃　interposed　Wingenund。



〃Yes；　I　know　this　place；〃　cried　Nell　excitedly。　〃I　remember　this　glade　though

it　was　moonlight　when　I　saw　it。　Here　Wetzel　rescued　me　from　Girty。〃



〃Nell；　you're　right；〃　replied　Jim。　〃How　strange　we　should　run　across　this

place　again。〃



Strange　fate；　indeed；　which　had　brought　them　again　to　Beautiful　Spring！　It　was

destined　that　the　great　scenes　of　their　lives　were　to　be　enacted　in　this　mossy

glade。



〃Come；　uncle；　you　are　lazy；〃　cried　Nell；　a　touch　of　her　old　roguishness　making

playful　her　voice。



Mr。　Wells　lay　still；　and　smiled　up　at　them。



〃You　are　not　ill？〃　cried　Nell；　seeing　for　the　first　time　how　pallid　was　his

face。



〃Dear　Nellie；　I　am　not　ill。　I　do　not　suffer；　but　I　am　dying；〃　he　answered；

again　with　that　strange；　sweet　smile。



〃Oh…h…h！〃　breathed　Nell；　falling　on　her　knees。



〃No；　no；　Mr。　Wells；　you　are　only　weak；　you　will　be　all　right　again　soon；〃

cried　Jim。



〃Jim；　Nellie；　I　have　known　all　night。　I　have　lain　here　wakeful。　My　heart　never

was　strong。　It　gave　out　yesterday；　and　now　it　is　slowly　growing　weaker。　Put

your　hand　on　my　breast。　Feel。　Ah！　you　see！　My　life　is　flickering。　God's　will

be　done。　I　am　content。　My　work　is　finished。　　My　only　regret　is　that　I　brought

you　out　to　this　terrible　borderland。　　But　I　did　not　know。　If　only　I　could　see

you　safe　from　the　peril　of　this　wilderness；　at　home；　happy；　married。〃



Nell　bent　over　him　blinded　by　her　tears；　unable　to　see　or　speak；　crushed　by

this　last　overwhelming　blow。　Jim　sat　on　the　other　side　of　the　old　missionary；

holding　his　hand。　For　many　moments　neither　spoke。　They　glanced　at　the　pale

face；　watching　with　eager；　wistful　eyes　for　a　smile；　or　listening　for　a　word。



〃Come；〃　said　the　Indian。



Nell　silently　pointed　toward　her　uncle。



〃He　is　dying；〃　whispered　Jim　to　the　Indian。



〃Go；　leave　me；〃　murmured　Mr。　Wells。　〃You　are　still　in　danger。〃



〃We'll　not　leave　you；〃　cried　Jim。



〃No；　no；　no；〃　sobbed　Nell；　bending　over　to　kiss　him。



〃Nellie；　may　I　marry　you　to　Jim？〃　whispered　Mr。　Wells　into　her　ear。　〃He　has

told　me　how　it　is　with　him。　He　loves　you；　Nellie。　I'd　die　happier　knowing　I'd

left　you　with　him。〃



Even　at　that　moment；　with　her　heart　almost　breaking；　Nell's　fair　face　flushed。



〃Nell；　will　you　marry　me？〃　asked　Jim；　softly。　Low　though　it　was；　he　had　heard

Mr。　Wells'　whisper。



Nell　stretched　a　little　trembling　hand　over　her　uncle　to　Jim；　who　inclosed　it

in　his　own。　Her　eyes　met　his。　Through　her　tears　shone　faintly　a　light；　which；

but　for　the　agony　that　made　it　dim；　would　have　beamed　radiant。



〃Find　the　place；〃　said　Mr。　Wells；　handing　Jim　a　Bible。　It　was　the　one　he

always　carried　in　his　pocket。



With　trembling　hand　Jim　turned　the　leaves。　At　last　he　found　the　lines；　and

handed　the　book　back　to　the　old