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

had taken Isaac's trail."

Betty turned to the younger man with tearful eyes, and with beseeching voice
implored them to save her brother.

"I am ready to follow you," said Clarke to Wetzel.

The hunter shook his head, but did not answer.

"It is that hateful White Crane," passionately burst out Betty, as the
Colonel's wife led her weeping into the house.

"Did you get more than one shot at them?" asked Clarke.

The hunter nodded, and the slight, inscrutable smile flitted across his stern
features. He never spoke of his deeds. For this reason many of the thrilling
adventures which he must have had will forever remain unrevealed. That evening
there was sadness at Colonel Zane's supper table. They felt the absence of the
Colonel's usual spirits, his teasing of Betty, and his cheerful conversation.
He had nothing to say. Betty sat at the table a little while, and then got up
and left the room saying she could not eat. Jonathan, on hearing of his
brother's recapture, did not speak, but retired in gloomy silence. Silas was
the only one of the family who was not utterly depressed. He said it could
have been a great deal worse; that they must make the best of it, and that the
sooner Isaac married his Indian Princess the better for his scalp and for the
happiness of all concerned.

"I remember Myeerah very well," he said. "It was eight years ago, and she was
only a child. Even then she was very proud and willful, and the loveliest girl
I ever laid eyes on."

Alfred Clarke staid late at Colonel Zane's that night. Before going away for
so many weeks he wished to have a few more moments alone with Betty. But a
favorable opportunity did not present itself during the evening, so when he
had bade them all goodbye and goodnight, except Betty, who opened the door for
him, he said softly to her:

"It is bright moonlight outside. Come, please, and walk to the gate with me."

A full moon shone serenely down on hill and dale, flooding the valley with its
pure white light and bathing the pastures in its glory; at the foot of the
bluff the waves of the river gleamed like myriads of stars all twinkling and
dancing on a bed of snowy clouds. Thus illumined the river wound down the
valley, its brilliance growing fainter and fainter until at last, resembling
the shimmering of a silver thread which joined the earth to heaven, it
disappeared in the horizon.

"I must say goodbye," said Alfred, as they reached the gate.

"Friends must part. I am sorry you must go, Mr. Clarke, and I trust you may