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

settlement. Have you heard of Major McColloch's leap over the hill?"

"I have heard it mentioned, and I would like to hear the story," responded
Alfred. "I am fond of horses, and think I can ride a little myself. I am
afraid I shall be compelled to change my mind."

"That is a fine animal you rode from Fort Pitt," remarked the Major. "I would
like to own him."

"Come, draw your chairs up and he'll listen to Isaac's story," said Colonel
Zane.

"I have not much of a story to tell," said Isaac, in a voice still weak and
low. "I have some bad news, I am sorry to say, but I shall leave that for the
last. This year, if it had been completed, would have made my tenth year as a
captive of the Wyandots. This last period of captivity, which has been nearly
four years, I have not been ill-treated and have enjoyed more comfort than any
of you can imagine. Probably you are all familiar with the reason for my long
captivity. Because of the interest of Myeerah, the Indian Princess, they have
importuned me for years to be adopted into the 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. I finally learned from Myeerah that my suspicions
were well founded. A favorable chance to escape presented and I took it and
got away. I outran all the braves, even Arrowswift, the Wyandot runner, who
shot me through the arm. I have had a hard time of it these last three or four
days, living on herbs and roots, and when I reached the river I was ready to
drop. I pushed a log into the water and started to drift over. When the old
dog saw me I knew I was safe if I could hold on. Once, when the young man
pointed his gun at me, I thought it was all over. I could not shout very
loud."

"Were you going to shoot?" asked Colonel Zane of Clarke.

"I took him for an Indian, but fortunately I discovered my mistake in time,"
answered Alfred.

"Are the Indians on the way here?" asked Jonathan.

"That I cannot say. At present the Wyandots are at home. But I know that the
British and the Indians will make a combined attack on the settlements. It may
be a month, or a year, but it is coming."

"And Hamilton, the hair buyer, the scalp buyer, is behind the plan," said
Colonel Zane, in disgust.