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

and then went over to the fort and into Captain Bogg's house, which adjoined
the blockhouse. Here she found Lydia preparing flax.

"I saw you racing by on your pony. Goodness, how you can ride! I should be
afraid of breaking my neck," exclaimed Lydia, as Betty entered.

"My ride was spoiled," said Betty, petulantly.

"Spoiled? By what--whom?"

"By a man, of course," retorted Betty, whose temper still was high. "It is
always a man that spoils everything."

"Why, Betty, what in the world do you mean? I never heard you talk that way,"
said Lydia, opening her blue eyes in astonishment.

"Well, Lyde, I'll tell you. I was riding down the river road and just as I
came to the end of the clearing a man jumped out from behind some bushes and
grasped Madcap's bridle. Imagine! For a moment I was frightened out of my
wits. I instantly thought of the Girtys, who, I have heard, have evinced a
fondness for kidnapping little girls. Then the fellow said he was on guard and
ordered me, actually commanded me to go home."

"Oh, is that all?" said Lydia, laughing.

"No, that is not all. He--he said I was a pretty little girl and that he was
sorry I could not have my own way; that his present occupation was pleasant,
and that the situation had its charm. The very idea. He was most impertinent,"
and Betty's telltale cheeks reddened again at the recollection.

"Betty, I do not think your experience was so dreadful, certainly nothing to
put you out as it has," said Lydia, laughing merrily. "Be serious. You know we
are not in the backwoods now and must not expect so much of the men. These
rough border men know little of refinement like that with which you have been
familiar. Some of them are quiet and never speak unless addressed; their
simplicity is remarkable; Lew Wetzel and your brother Jonathan, when they are
not fighting Indians, are examples. On the other hand, some of them are
boisterous and if they get anything to drink they will make trouble for you.
Why, I went to a party one night after I had been here only a few weeks and
they played a game in which every man in the place kissed me."

"Gracious! Please tell me when any such games are likely to be proposed and
I'll stay home," said Betty.

"I have learned to get along very well by simply making the best of it,"
continued Lydia. "And to tell the truth, I have learned to respect these
rugged fellows. They are uncouth; they have no manners, but their hearts are
honest and true, and that is of much greater importance in frontiersmen than
the little attentions and courtesies upon which women are apt to lay too much
stress."