登陆注册
5247900000082

第82章 Chapter XXV(1)

"Please do not preach to-day," said Nell, raising her eyes imploringly to Jim's face.

"Nellie, I must conduct the services as usual. I can not shirk my duty, nor let these renegades see I fear to face them."

"I have such a queer feeling. I am afraid. I don't want to be left alone.

Please do not leave me."

Jim strode nervously up and down the length of the room. Nell's worn face, her beseeching eyes and trembling hands touched his heart. Rather than almost anything else, he desired to please her, to strengthen her; yet how could he shirk his duty?

"Nellie, what is it you fear?" he asked, holding her hands tightly.

"Oh, I don't know what--everything. Uncle is growing weaker every day. Look at Mr. Young; he is only a shadow of his former self, and this anxiety is wearing Mr. Heckewelder out. He is more concerned than he dares admit. You needn't shake your head, for I know it. Then those Indians who are waiting, waiting--for God only knows what! Worse than all to me, I saw that renegade, that fearful beast who made way with poor dear Kate!"

Nell burst into tears, and leaned sobbing on Jim's shoulder.

"Nell, I've kept my courage only because of you," replied Jim, his voice trembling slightly.

She looked up quickly. Something in the pale face which was bent over her told that now, if ever, was the time for a woman to forget herself, and to cheer, to inspire those around her.

"I am a silly baby, and selfish!" she cried, freeing herself from his hold.

"Always thinking of myself." She turned away and wiped the tears from her eyes. "Go, Jim, do you duty; I'll stand by and help you all a woman can."

The missionaries were consulting in Heckewelder's cabin. Zeisberger had returned that morning, and his aggressive, dominating spirit was just what they needed in an hour like this. He raised the downcast spirits of the ministers.

"Hold the service? I should say we will," he declared, waving his hands.

"What have we to be afraid of?"

"I do not know," answered Heckewelder, shaking his head doubtfully. "I do not know what to fear. Girty himself told me he bore us no ill will; but I hardly believe him. All this silence, this ominous waiting perplexes, bewilders me."

"Gentlemen, our duty at least is plain," said Jim, impressively. "The faith of these Christian Indians in us is so absolute that they have no fear. They believe in God, and in us. These threatening savages have failed signally to impress our Christians. If we do not hold the service they will think we fear Girty, and that might have a bad influence."

"I am in favor of postponing the preaching for a few days. I tell you I am afraid of Girty's Indians, not for myself, but for these Christians whom we love so well. I am afraid." Heckewelder's face bore testimony to his anxious dread.

"You are our leader; we have but to obey," said Edwards. "Yet I think we owe it to our converts to stick to our work until we are forced by violence to desist."

"Ah! What form will that violence take?" cried Heckewelder, his face white.

"You cannot tell what these savages mean. I fear! I fear!"

"Listen, Heckewelder, you must remember we had this to go through once before," put in Zeisberger earnestly. "In '78 Girty came down on us like a wolf on the fold. He had not so many Indians at his beck and call as now; but he harangued for days, trying to scare us and our handful of Christians. He set his drunken fiends to frighten us, and he failed. We stuck it out and won. He's trying the same game. Let us stand against him, and hold our services as usual. We should trust in God!"

"Never give up!" cried Jim.

"Gentlemen, you are right; you shame me, even though I feel that I understand the situation and its dread possibilities better than any one of you. Whatever befalls we'll stick to our post. I thank you for reviving the spirit in my cowardly heart. We will hold the service to-day as usual and to make it more impressive, each shall address the congregation in turn."

"And, if need be, we will give our lives for our Christians," said Young, raising his pale face.

The deep mellow peals of the church bell awoke the slumbering echoes.

Scarcely had its melody died away in the forest when a line of Indians issued from the church and marched toward the maple grove. Men, women, youths, maidens and children.

Glickhican, the old Delaware chief, headed the line. His step was firm, his head erect, his face calm in its noble austerity. His followers likewise expressed in their countenances the steadfastness of their belief. The maidens' heads were bowed, but with shyness, not fear. The children were happy, their bright faces expressive of the joy the felt in the anticipation of listening to their beloved teachers.

This procession passed between rows of painted savages, standing immovable, with folded arms, and somber eyes.

No sooner had the Christians reached the maple grove, when from all over the clearing appeared hostile Indians, who took positions near the knoll where the missionaries stood.

Heckewelder's faithful little band awaited him on the platform. The converted Indians seated themselves as usual at the foot of the knoll. The other savages crowded closely on both sides. They carried their weapons, and maintained the same silence that had so singularly marked their mood of the last twenty-four hours. No human skill could have divined their intention.

This coldness might be only habitual reserve, and it might be anything else.

Heckewelder approached at the same time that Simon Girty and his band of renegades appeared. With the renegades were Pipe and Half King. These two came slowly across the clearing, passed through the opening in the crowd, and stopped close to the platform.

Heckewelder went hurriedly up to his missionaries. He seemed beside himself with excitement, and spoke with difficulty.

"Do not preach to-day. I have been warned again," he said, in a low voice.

"Do you forbid it?" inquired Edwards.

"No, no. I have not that authority, but I implore it. Wait, wait until the Indians are in a better mood."

同类推荐
  • Coral Reefs

    Coral Reefs

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 金史

    金史

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 西方发愿文注

    西方发愿文注

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 太上九赤班符五帝内真经

    太上九赤班符五帝内真经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 佛说广博严净不退转轮经

    佛说广博严净不退转轮经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 重生之大唐中兴

    重生之大唐中兴

    一场梦,让他回到1000多年的晚唐时期,成为了唐僖宗他弟、唐朝倒数第二个皇帝唐昭宗身上,看他如何扭转大唐困局,治宦官干政,平朝堂之乱,除藩镇之祸,重现大唐王朝的盛世!李晔看着远去的长安城,发出了怒吼,“给我20年,我将还天下一个盛世大唐!”建了一个群(809466851),有兴趣的可以加加。
  • 白鲸

    白鲸

    《白鲸》讲的是裴廓德号捕鲸船在船长亚哈的带领下与白鲸莫比·迪克之间进行的一场殊死搏斗。主人公亚哈因为捕鲸被莫比·迪克咬掉了一条腿,他带着复仇的誓言再次出海。几经辗转,终于遭遇白鲸。经过三天追踪,亚哈最后击中白鲸,但船被白鲸撞破,亚哈被鱼叉上的绳子缠住,带入海中。全船只有水手以实玛力一人得救,他以他的叙述口吻和回忆讲述了这个惊心动魄的海上历险故事。
  • 修真电饭锅

    修真电饭锅

    神秘仙府坠落,冒着巨大危险前去寻宝的周青云,回来后发现自己的储物袋之中,居然多了一个电饭锅。从此,周青云的饭桶之名不径而走。可深谙闷声发大财之道的周青云,却默默无闻的当着他的吃货。因为只有他知道,那不是普通的电饭锅,而是一个修真文明历经数万年发展,而达到极致的产品—修真电饭锅。任你背景再深厚,把丹药当成饭来吃,也总有吃错药或是吃穷的一天,而周青云有了能把普通食物,硬是吃出丹药效果的修真电饭锅,却一定有吃成仙的时候!
  • 死亡文化

    死亡文化

    自人类以外,迄于今日,已有850亿人先后死在这个星球上。他们全是我们的亲族父祖。死亡时一个绝对不可逆转的过程,所以任何人不能重复体验、表达感受,这种无助和未知感让人对死亡有着本能的畏惧。其实,死亡是美丽庄严的,它消弭了人类所有的灾难,让一切生命获得了永恒。人文学者李书崇带领读者步入生死代代交迭的历史长河中,希冀每一个尊重生命的人可以更理性、更成熟地对待生命。
  • 一世倾心:放倒妖孽邪王

    一世倾心:放倒妖孽邪王

    大婚之日未进门便被休弃,穿越而来的千敬表示淡定,不吵不闹退了婚,事后还混了个郡主的名头拿来装逼。可是,总有人换着花样逼她,害她,还想着要弄死她,且个个都是金马奖影帝影后。某女冷冷一笑,放马过来吧!姐浑身都是戏。“千娇郡主这个身份是你赐的,现在还给你,我们绝交!”倾城女子把玩着手中的青丝,眼中精光流转。“不就是想要本王给你王妃之位嘛!直说便好。”“……”卧槽,这都被看出来了?!
  • 天降三宝:腹黑总裁的落魄娇妻

    天降三宝:腹黑总裁的落魄娇妻

    腹黑Boss没想到的是,有一天,因为一个神秘的借种计划,他的身边会从天而降三个宝贝,而他万万没有想到的是,他想查明当年的真相,却毫无预兆的爱上了唯一一个敢耍他的女人。当初的落魄千金强势回归,随着往事的层层迷云被拨开,所谓真爱,又向何方?“我想和你做一场交易!”......“我接受!”......“我就是天理,除了我,你碰谁,都是犯罪!”直到最后,韩瑟才知道,曾经她以为的自我逆袭,原来都是在他的宠溺放纵下养成,他给的保护已经铺垫了她整个人生。--情节虚构,请勿模仿
  • 穿越豪门贵妇

    穿越豪门贵妇

    王莉莉五年前跪在佛前求一个好offer,损友问,为何不同时求个好姻缘,王莉莉曰:做人不能太贪心,一样一样求,佛才能满足你的心愿。王莉莉五年后跪在佛前求一个好姻缘。佛曰:这个姑娘心比较实,给她一个好姻缘吧。于是,王莉莉穿越了,成为了一个已婚妇女。【情节虚构,请勿模仿】
  • 西游山海志

    西游山海志

    钟神秀穿越到了一个是似而非的西游世界,还好身上有氪金买的八条黄金鲤鱼……不过,换到八个黄巾力士是什么鬼啊,说好的ssr了?……大清亡了。
  • 玉镜新谭

    玉镜新谭

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 漫威之DNF分解大师

    漫威之DNF分解大师

    新书《海贼之赏金别跑》已上传~~~~夏之夜穿越了,穿越到了漫威电影的世界中!“但是,直接出现在了枪林弹雨的战场上,是个什么开局啊?”“还有,为什么我的金手指会是DNF里的分解机?”【分解装备成功!】【高级狙击枪射击心得*100】【分解装备成功!】【高级格斗技法心得*100】【分解装备成功!】【千锤百炼的耀眼战魂,可提升身体属性强度!】“能提升的比神还厉害?”【那只是起点!】“那就继续分解!”【分解装备成功!】“……”群号:279372305