按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
shoulder and bosom； the ruffian pulled her toward him。 His face was transfixed
with a fierce joy； a brutal passion。
Deering looked on with a drunken grin； while his renegade friend hugged the
almost dying girl。 The Indians paced the glade with short strides like leashed
tigers。 The young missionary lay on the moss with closed eyes。 He could not
endure the sight of Nell in Girty's arms。
No one noticed Wingenund。 He stood back a little； half screened by drooping
branches。 Once again the chief's dark eyes gleamed； his head turned a trifle
aside； and； standing in the statuesque position habitual with him when
resting； he listened； as one who hears mysterious sounds。 Suddenly his keen
glance was riveted on the ferns above the low cliff。 He had seen their
graceful heads quivering。 Then two blinding sheets of flame burst from the
ferns。
Spang！ Spang！
The two rifle reports thundered through the glade。 Two Indians staggered and
fell in their tracksdead without a cry。
A huge yellow body； spread out like a panther in his spring； descended with a
crash upon Deering and Girty。 The girl fell away from the renegade as he went
down with a shrill screech； dragging Deering with him。 Instantly began a
terrific； whirling； wrestling struggle。
A few feet farther down the cliff another yellow body came crashing down to
alight with a thud； to bound erect； to rush forward swift as a leaping deer。
The two remaining Indians had only time to draw their weapons before this
lithe； threatening form whirled upon them。 Shrill cries； hoarse yells； the
clash of steel and dull blows mingled together。 One savage went down； twisted
over； writhed and lay still。 The other staggered； warded of lightninglike
blows until one passed under his guard； and crashed dully on his head。 Then he
reeled； rose again； but only to have his skull cloven by a bloody tomahawk。
The victor darted toward the whirling mass。
〃Lew； shake him loose！ Let him go！〃 yelled Jonathan Zane； swinging his bloody
weapon。
High above Zane's cry； Deering's shouts and curses； Girty's shrieks of fear
and fury； above the noise of wrestling bodies and dull blows； rose a deep
booming roar。
It was Wetzel's awful cry of vengeance。
〃Shake him loose；〃 yelled Jonathan。
Baffled； he ran wildly around the wrestlers。 Time and time again his gory
tomahawk was raised only to be lowered。 He found no opportunity to strike。
Girty's ghastly countenance gleamed at him from the whirl of legs； and arms
and bodies。 Then Wetzel's dark face； lighted by merciless eyes； took its
place； and that gave way to Deering's broad features。 The men being clad alike
in buckskin； and their motions so rapid； prevented Zane from lending a helping
hand。
Suddenly Deering was propelled from the mass as if by a catapult。 His body
straightened as it came down with a heavy thud。 Zane pounced upon it with
catlike quickness。 Once more he swung aloft the bloody hatchet； then once more
he lowered it； for there was no need to strike。 The renegade's side was torn
open from shoulder to hip。 A deluge of blood poured out upon the moss。 Deering
choked； a bloody froth formed on his lips。 His fingers clutched at nothing。
His eyes rolled violently and then were fixed in an awful stare。
The girl lying so quiet in the woods near the old hut was avenged！
Jonathan turned again to Wetzel and Girty； not with any intention to aid the
hunter； but simply to witness the end of the struggle。
Without the help of the powerful Deering； how pitifully weak was the
Deathshead of the frontier in the hands of the Avenger！
Jim Girty's tomahawk was thrown in one direction and his knife in another。 He
struggled vainly in the iron grip that held him。
Wetzel rose to his feet clutching the renegade。 With his left arm； which had
been bared in the fight； he held Girty by the front of his buckskin shirt； and
dragged him to that tree which stood alone in the glade。 He pushed him against
it； and held him there。
The white dog leaped and snarled around the prisoner。
Girty's hands pulled and tore at the powerful arm which forced him hard
against the beech。 It was a brown arm； and huge with its bulging； knotted；
rigid muscles。 A mighty arm； strong as the justice which ruled it。
〃Girty； thy race is run！〃 Wetzel's voice cut the silence like a steel whip。
The terrible； ruthless smile； the glittering eyes of doom seemed literally to
petrify the renegade。
The hunter's right arm rose slowly。 The knife in his hand quivered as if with
eagerness。 The long blade； dripping with Deering's blood； pointed toward the
hilltop。
〃Look thar！ See 'em！ Thar's yer friends！〃 cried Wetzel。
On the dead branches of trees standing far above the hilltop； were many great；
dark birds。 They sat motionless as if waiting。
〃Buzzards！ Buzzards！〃 hissed Wetzel。
Girty's ghastly face became an awful thing to look upon。 No living countenance
ever before expressed such fear； such horror； such agony。 He foamed at the
mouth； he struggled； he writhed。 With a terrible fascination he watched that
quivering； dripping blade； now poised high。
Wetzel's arm swung with the speed of a shooting star。 He drove the blade into
Girty's groin； through flesh and bone； hard and fast into the tree。 He nailed
the renegade to the beech； there to await his lingering doom。
〃Ah…h！ Ah…h！ Ah…h！〃 shrieked Girty； in cries of agony。 He fumbled and pulled
at the haft of the knife； but could not loosen it。 He beat his breast； he tore
his hair。 His screams were echoed from the hilltop as if in mockery。
The white dog stood near； his hair bristling； his teeth snapping。
The dark birds sat on the dead branches above the hilltop； as if waiting for
their feast。
Chapter XXVIII。
Zane turned and cut the young missionary's bonds。 Jim ran to where Nell was
lying on the ground； and tenderly raised her head； calling to her that they
were saved。 Zane bathed the girl's pale face。 Presently she sighed and opened
her eyes。
Then Zane looked from the statuelike form of Wingenund to the motionless
figure of Wetzel。 The chief stood erect with his eyes on the distant hills。
Wetzel remained with folded arms； his cold eyes fixed upon the writhing；
moaning renegade。
〃Lew； look here；〃 said Zane； unhesitatingly； and pointed toward the chief。
Wetzel quivered as if sharply stung； the cold glitter in hie eyes changed to
lurid fire。 With upraised tomahawk he bounded across the brook。
〃Lew； wait a minute！〃 yelled Zane。
〃Wetzel！ wait； wait！〃 cried Jim； grasping the hunter's arm； but the latter
flung him off； as the wind tosses a straw。
〃Wetzel； wait； for God's sake； wait！〃 screamed Nell。 She had risen at Zane's
call； and now saw the deadly resolve in the hunter's eyes。 Fearlessly she
flung herself in front of him； bravely she risked her life before his mad
rush； frantically she threw her arms around him and clung to his hand