"Grey, Zane - Betty Zane" - читать интересную книгу автора (Grey Zane)

answer to the Colonel's question.

"Mr. Clarke, you do not seem impressed with your importance," said Colonel
Zane. "My sister said you did not tell her what part you took in Isaac's
rescue."

"I hardly deserve all the credit," answered Alfred. "Your big black dog merits
a great deal of it."

"Well, I consider your first day at the fort a very satisfactory one, and an
augury of that fortune you came west to find.

"How are you?" said Alfred, going up to the couch where Isaac lay.

"I am doing well, thanks to you," said Isaac, warmly shaking Alfred's hand.

"It is good to see you pulling out all right," answered Alfred. "I tell you, I
feared you were in a bad way when I got you out of the water."

Isaac reclined on the couch with his head and shoulder propped up by pillows.
He was the handsomest of the brothers. His face would have been but for the
marks of privation, singularly like Betty's; the same low, level brows and
dark eyes; the same mouth, though the lips were stronger and without the soft
curves which made his sister's mouth so sweet.

Betty appeared at the door, and seeing the room filled with men she hesitated
a moment before coming forward. In her white dress she made such a dainty
picture that she seemed 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 dirty buckskin suit and a belt containing a
knife and a tomahawk. Colonel Zane stepped up to Betty and placing his arm
around her turned toward Clarke with pride in his eyes.

"Betty, I want to make you acquainted with the hero of the hour, Mr. Alfred
Clarke. This is my sister."

Betty bowed to Alfred, but lowered her eyes instantly on encountering the
young man's gaze.

"I have had the pleasure of meeting Miss Zane twice today," said Alfred.

"Twice?" asked Colonel Zane, turning to Betty. She did not answer, but
disengaged herself from his arm and sat down by Isaac.

"It was on the river road that I first met Miss Zane, although I did not know
her then," answered Alfred. "I had some difficulty in stopping her pony from
going to Fort Pitt, or some other place down the river."

"Ha! Ha! Well, I know she rides that pony pretty hard," said Colonel Zane,
with his hearty laugh. "I'll tell you, Clarke, we have some riders here in the