第4章

AshudderranoverJoe"sframe。Fascinated,hewatchedtheguard。TheIndianutteredalowgasp;hiseyesstartedandglaredwildly;heroseveryslowlytohisfullheightandstoodwaiting,listening。Thedarkhandwhichheldthetomahawktrembledsothatlittleglintsofmoonlightglancedfromthebrightsteel。

Fromfarbackintheforest—deepscamethatsamelowmoaning:

"Um—m—mm—woo—o—o—o！"

Itrosefromafaintmurmurandswelledtoadeepmoan,softbutclear,andendedinawaillikethatofalostsoul。

Thebreakitmadeinthatdeadsilencewasawful。Joe"sbloodseemedtohavecurdledandfrozen;acoldsweatoozedfromhisskin,anditwasasifaclammyhandclutchedathisheart。Hetriedtopersuadehimselfthatthefeardisplayedbythesavagewasonlysuperstition,andthatthatmoanwasbutthesighofthenightwind。

TheIndiansentinelstoodasifparalyzedaninstantafterthatweirdcry,andthen,swiftasaflash,andasnoiseless,hewasgoneIntothegloomyforest。

Hehadfledwithoutawakeninghiscompanions。

Oncemorethemoaningcryaroseandswelledmournfullyonthestillnightair。

Itwascloseathand！

"TheWindofDeath,"whisperedJoe。

Hewasshakenandunnervedbytheeventsofthepasttwodays,anddazedfromhiswound。Hisstrengthdesertedhim,andhelostconsciousness。

ChapterVI。

Oneevening,severaldayprevioustothecaptureofthebrothers,asolitaryhunterstoppedbeforeadesertedlogcabinwhichstoodonthebankofastreamfiftymilesormoreinlandfromtheOhioRiver。Itwasrapidlygrowingdark;afine,drizzlingrainhadsetin,andarisingwindgavepromiseofastormynight。

Althoughthehunterseemedfamiliarwithhissurroundings,hemovedcautiously,andhesitatedasifdebatingwhetherheshouldseektheprotectionofthislonelyhut,orremainallnightunderdrippingtrees。Feelingofhishuntingfrock,hefoundthatitwasdampandslippery。Thisfactevidentlydecidedhiminfavorofthecabin,forhestoopedhistallfigureandwentin。

Itwaspitchdarkinside;buthavingbeentherebefore,theabsenceofalightdidnottroublehim。Hereadilyfoundtheladderleadingtotheloft,ascendedit,andlaydowntosleep。

Duringthenightanoiseawakenedhim。Foramomentheheardnothingexceptthefalloftherain。Thencamethehumofvoices,followedbythesofttreadofmoccasinedfeet。HeknewtherewasanIndiantowntenmilesacrossthecountry,andbelievedsomewarriors,belatedonahuntingtrip,hadsoughtthecabinforshelter。

Thehunterlayperfectlyquiet,awaitingdevelopments。IftheIndianshadflintandsteel,andstruckalight,hewasalmostcertaintobediscovered。

Helistenedtotheirlowconversation,andunderstoodfromthelanguagethattheywereDelawares。

Amomentlaterheheardtherustlingofleavesandtwigs,accompaniedbythemetallicclickofsteelagainstsomehardsubstance。Thenoisewasrepeated,andthenfollowedbyahissingsound,whichheknewtobetheburningofapowderonapieceofdrywood,afterwhichraysoflightfilteredthroughcracksoftheunstableflooroftheloft。

Themanplacedhiseyetooneofthesecrevices,andcountedelevenIndians,allyoungbraves,withtheexceptionofthechief。TheIndianshadbeenhunting;theyhadhaunchesofdeerandbuffalotongues,togetherwithseveralpacksofhides。Someofthembusiedthemselvesdryingtheirweapons;otherssatdownlistlessly,plainlyshowingtheirweariness,andtwoworkedoverthesmoulderingfire。Thedampleavesandtwigsburnedfaintly,yettherewasenoughtocausethehunterfearthathemightbediscovered。Hebelievedhehadnotmuchtoworryaboutfromtheyoungbraves,butthehawk—eyedchiefwasdangerous。

Andhewasright。Presentlythestalwartchiefheard,orsaw,adropofwaterfallfromtheloft。Itcamefromthehunter"swetcoat。AlmostanyonesaveanIndianscoutwouldhavefanciedthiscamefromtheroof。Asthechief"sgazeroamedeverywhereovertheinteriorofthecabinhisexpressionwasplainlydistrustful。Hiseyesearchedthewetclayfloor,buthardlycouldhavediscoveredanythingthere,becausethehunter"smoccasinedtrackshadbeenobliteratedbythefootprintsoftheIndians。Thechief"ssuspicionsseemedtobeallayed。

Butintruththischief,withthewonderfulsagacitynaturaltoIndians,hadobservedmatterswhichtotallyescapedtheyoungbraves,and,likeawilyoldfox,hewaitedtoseewhichcubwouldprovethekeenest。Notoneofthem,however,notedanythingunusual。Theysataroundthefire,atetheirmeatandparchedcorn,andchattedvolubly。

Thechiefaroseand,walkingtotheladder,ranhishandalongoneoftherungs。

"Ugh！"heexclaimed。

Instantlyhewassurroundedbyteneager,bright—eyedbraves。Heextendedhisopenpalm;itwassmearedwithwetclaylikethatunderhisfeet。

Simultaneouslywiththeirmutteredexclamationsthebravesgraspedtheirweapons。Theyknewtherewasafoeabovethem。Itwasapaleface,foranIndianwouldhaverevealedhimself。

Thehunter,seeinghewasdiscovered,actedwiththeunerringjudgmentandlightning—likerapidityofonelongaccustomedtoperiloussituations。

Drawinghistomahawkandnoiselesslysteppingtotheholeintheloft,heleapedintothemidstoftheastoundedIndians。

Risingfromthefloorlikethereboundofarubberball,hislongarmwiththeglitteringhatchetmadeawidesweep,andtheyoungbravesscatteredlikefrightenedsheep。

Hemadeadashforthedoorand,incredibleasitmayseem,hismovementsweresoquickhewouldhaveescapedfromtheirverymidstwithoutascratchbutforoneunforeseencircumstance。Theclayfloorwaswetandslippery;hisfeetwerehardlyinmotionbeforetheyslippedfromunderhimandhefellheadlong。

Withloudyellsoftriumphthebandjumpeduponhim。Therewasaconvulsive,heavingmotionofthestrugglingmass,onefrightfulcryofagony,andthenhoarsecommands。Threeofthebravesrantotheirpacks,fromwhichtheytookcordsofbuckskin。SoexceedinglypowerfulwasthehunterthatsixIndianswererequiredtoholdhimwhiletheotherstiedhishandsandfeet。Then,withgruntsandchucklesofsatisfaction,theythrewhimintoacornerofthecabin。

Twoofthebraveshadbeenhurtinthebriefstruggle,onehavingabadlywrenchedshoulderandtheotherabrokenarm。Somuchforthehunter"spowerinthatsinglemomentofaction。

Theloftwassearched,andfoundtobeempty。Thentheexcitementdiedaway,andthebravessettledthemselvesdownforthenight。Theinjuredonesboretheirhurtswithcharacteristicstoicism;iftheydidnotsleep,bothremainedquietandnotasighescapedthem。

Thewindchangedduringthenight,thestormabated,andwhendaylightcametheskywascloudless。Thefirstraysofthesunshoneintheopendoor,lightinguptheinteriorofthecabin。

AsleepyIndianwhohadactedasguardstretchedhislimbsandyawned。Helookedfortheprisoner,andsawhimsittingupinthecorner。Onearmwasfree,andtheothernearlyso。Hehadalmostuntiedthethongswhichboundhim;afewmomentsmoreandhewouldhavebeenfree。

"Ugh！"exclaimedtheyoungbrave,awakeninghischiefandpointingtothehunter。

Thechiefglancedathisprisoner;thenlookedmoreclosely,andwithonespringwasonhisfeet,adrawntomahawknhishand。Ashort,shrillyellissuedfromhislips。Rousedbythatclarioncall,theyoungbravesjumpedup,tremblingineagerexcitement。Thechief"ssummonshadbeenthesharpwar—cryoftheDelawares。

Hemanifestedasintenseemotionascouldpossiblyhavebeenbetrayedbyamatured,experiencedchieftain,andpointingtothehunter,hespokeasingleword。

AtnoondaytheIndiansenteredthefieldsofcornwhichmarkedtheoutskirtsoftheDelawareencampment。

"Kol—loo——kol—loo——kol—loo。"

Thelongsignal,heraldingthereturnofthepartywithimportantnews,pealedthroughoutthequietvalley;andscarcelyhadtheechoesdiedawaywhenfromthevillagecameansweringshouts。

Oncebeyondtheaislesofwavingcornthehuntersawovertheshouldersofhiscaptorsthehomeoftheredmen。Agrassyplain,slopinggraduallyfromthewoodyhilltoawindingstream,wasbrightlybeautifulwithchestnuttreesandlong,well—formedlinesoflodges。Many—huedblanketshungflutteringinthesun,andrisinglazilywerecurlingcolumnsofbluesmoke。Thescenewaspicturesqueandreposeful;thevividhuessuggestingtheIndiansloveofcolorandornament;theabsenceoflifeandstir,hislanguoroushabitofsleepingawaythehotnoondayhours。

Theloudwhoops,however,changedthequietencampmentintoasceneofanimation。Childrenranfromthewigwams,maidensandbravesdashedhereandthere,squawsawakenedfromtheirslumber,andmanyadoughtywarriorrosefromhisrestintheshade。Frenchfurtraderscamecuriouslyfromtheirlodges,andrenegadeshurriedlylefttheirblankets,rousedtoinstantactionbythewell—knownsummons。

Thehunter,leddownthelanetowardtheapproachingcrowd,presentedacalmandfearlessdemeanor。WhentheIndianssurroundedhimoneprolonged,furiousyellrenttheair,andthenfollowedanextraordinarydemonstrationoffiercedelight。Theyoungbrave"sstaccatoyell,themaiden"sscream,theoldsquaw"sscreech,andthedeepwar—cryofthewarriorsintermingledinafearfuldiscordance。

OftenhadthishunterheardthenamewhichtheIndiancalledhim;hehadbeentherebefore,aprisoner;hehadrunthegauntletdownthelane;hehadbeenboundtoastakeinfrontofthelodgewherehiscaptorswerenowleadinghim。

Heknewthechief,Wingenund,sachemoftheDelawares。Sincethattime,nowfiveyearsago,whenWingenundhadtorturedhim,theyhadbeenbitterestfoes。

Ifthehunterheardthehoarsecries,orthewordshissedintohisears;ifhesawthefieryglancesofhatred,andsuddengivingwaytoungovernablerage,unusualtotheIndiannature;ifhefeltintheirfierceexultationthehopelessnessofsuccorormercy,hegavenottheslightestsign。

"Atelang！Atelang！Atelang！"rangoutthestrangeIndianname。

TheFrenchtraders,likerealsavages,ranalongwiththeprocession,theirfeatherswaving,theirpaintshining,theirfacesexpressiveofasmuchexcitementastheIndians"astheycriedaloudintheirnativetongue:

"LeVentdelaMort！LeVentdelaMort！LaVentdelaMort！"

Thehunter,whileyetsomepacesdistant,sawtheloftyfigureofthechieftainstandinginfrontofhisprincipalmen。Wellheknewthemall。TherewerethecraftyPipe,andhissavagecomrade,theHalfKing;therewasShingiss,whoworeonhisforeheadascar——themarkofthehunter"sbullet;

therewereKotoxen,theLynx,andMisseppa,theSource,andWinstonah,theWar—cloud,chiefsofsagacityandrenown。Threerenegadescompletedthecircle;andthesethreetraitorsrepresentedapowerwhichhadfortenyearsleftanawful,bloodytrailoverthecountry。SimonGirty,theso—calledWhiteIndian,withhiskeen,authoritativefaceturnedexpectantly;Elliott,theTorydeserter,fromFortPitt,awiry,spider—likelittleman;andlast,thegauntandgaudilyarrayedformofthedemonofthefrontier——JimGirty。

Theprocessionhaltedbeforethisgroup,andtwobrawnybravespushedthehunterforward。SimonGirty"sfacebetrayedsatisfaction;Elliott"sshiftyeyessnapped,andthedark,repulsivefaceoftheotherGirtyexhibitedanexultantjoy。Thesedesperadoeshadfearedthishunter。

Wingenund,withamajesticwaveofhisarm,silencedtheyellinghordeoffrenziedsavageandsteppedbeforethecaptive。

Thedeadlyfoeswereonce,againfacetoface。Thechieftain"sloftyfigureanddark,sleekhead,nowbareofplumes,toweredovertheotherIndians,buthewasnotobligedtolowerhisgazeinordertolookstraightintothehunter"seyes。

Verilythishuntermeritedtherespectwhichshoneinthegreatchieftain"sglance。Likeamountain—ashhestood,straightandstrong,hismagnificentframetaperingwedge—likefromhisbroadshoulders。Thebulginglineofhisthickneck,thedeepchest,theknottycontourofhisbaredforearm,andthefullcurvesofhislegs——alldenotedawonderfulmusculardevelopment。

Thepowerexpressedinthisman"sbodyseemedintensifiedinhisfeatures。

Hisfacewaswhiteandcold,hisjawsquareandset;hiscoal—blackeyesglitteredwithalmostasuperhumanfire。Andhishair,darkerthanthewingofacrow,fellfarbelowhisshoulders;mattedandtangledasitwas,stillithungtohiswaist,andhaditbeencombedout,musthavereachedhisknees。

OnelongmomentWingenundstoodfacinghisfoe,andthenoverthemultitudeandthroughthevalleyrolledhissonorousvoice:

"Deathwinddiesatdawn！"

ThehunterwastiedtoatreeandleftinviewoftheIndianpopulace。Thechildrenranfearfullyby;thebravesgazedlongatthegreatfoeoftheirrace;thewarriorspassedingloomysilence。Thesavages"tricksoftorture,alltheirdiabolicalingenuityofinflictingpainwassuppressed,awaitingthehourofsunrisewhenthishatedLongKnifewastodie。

Onlyonepersonofferedaninsulttotheprisoner;hewasamanofhisowncolor。JimGirtystoppedbeforehim,hisyellowisheyeslightedbyatigerishglare,hislipscurledinasnarl,andfrombetweenthemissuingtheodorofthefirtraders"vilerum。

"You"llsoonbefeedferthebuzzards,"hecroaked,inhishoarsevoice。Hehadsooftenstrewedtheplainswithhumanfleshforthecarrionbirdsthatthethoughthadadeepfascinationforhim。"D"yehear,scalp—hunter？Feedforbuzzards！"Hedeliberatelyspatinthehunter"sface。"D"yehear？"herepeated。

Therewasnoanswersavethatwhichglitteredinthehunter"seye。Buttherenegadecouldnotreaditbecausehedidnotmeetthatflamingglance。Wildhorsescouldnothavedraggedhimtofacethismanhadhebeenfree。EvennowachillcreptoverGirty。Foramomenthewasenthralledbyamysteriousfear,halfparalyzedbyaforeshadowingofwhatwouldbethishunter"svengeance。

Thenheshookoffhiscravenfear。Hewasfree;thehunter"sdoomwassure。

Hissharpfacewasagainwreathedinasavageleer,andhespatoncemoreontheprisoner。

Hisfierceimpetuositytookhimasteptoofar。Thehunter"sarmsandwaistwerefastened,buthisfeetwerefree。Hispowerfullegwasraisedsuddenly;

hisfootstruckGirtyinthepitofthestomach。Therenegadedroppedlimpandgasping。Thebravescarriedhimaway,hisgaudyfeatherstrailing,hislongarmshanginginertly,andhisfacedistortedwithagony。

Themaidensofthetribe,however,showedfortheprisoneraninterestthathadinitsomethingofveiledsympathy。Indiangirlswerealwaysfascinatedbywhitemen。ManyrecordsofIndianmaidens"kindness,oflove,ofheroismforwhiteprisonersbrightenthedarkpagesoffrontierhistory。Thesegirlswalkedpastthehunter,avertingtheireyeswhenwithinhisrangeofvision,butstealingmanyasidelongglanceathisimpressivefaceandnobleproportions。Oneofthem,particularly,attractedthehunter"seye。

Thiswasbecause,asshecamebywithhercompanions,whiletheyallturnedaway,shelookedathimwithhersoft,darkeyes。Shewasayounggirl,whosedelicatebeautybloomedfreshandsweetasthatofawildrose。Hercostume,fringed,beaded,andexquisitelywroughtwithfancifuldesign,betrayedherrank,shewasWingenund"sdaughter。Thehunterhadseenherwhenshewasachild,andherecognizedhernow。HeknewthatthebeautyofAola,ofWhisperingWindsAmongtheLeaves,hadbeensungfromtheOhiototheGreatLakes。

Oftenshepassedhimthatafternoon。Atsunset,asthebravesuntiedhimandledhimaway,heoncemorecaughtthefull,intensegazeofherlovelyeyes。

Thatnightashelaysecurelyboundinthecornerofalodge,andthelonghoursworeslowlyaway,hestrainedathisstoutbonds,andinhismindrevolveddifferentplansofescape。Itwasnotinthisman"snaturetodespair;whilehehadlifehewouldfight。Fromtimetotimeheexpandedhismuscles,strivingtoloosenthewetbuckskinthongs。

Thedarkhoursslowlypassed,nosoundcomingtohimsavethedistantbarkofadogandthemonotonoustreadofhisguard;adimgraynesspervadedthelodge。Dawnwascloseathand——hishourwasnearlycome。

Suddenlyhishearing,trainedtoamostacutesensibility,caughtafaintsound,almostinaudible。Itcamefromwithoutontheothersideofthelodge。

Thereitwasagain,aslighttearingsound,suchasiscausedbyaknifewhenitcutsthroughsoftmaterial。

Someonewasslittingthewallofthelodge。

Thehunterrollednoiselesslyoverandoveruntilhelayagainsttheskins。

Inthedimgraynesshesawabrightblademovingcarefullyupwardthroughthedeer—hide。Thenalongknifewaspushedintotheopening;asmall,brownhandgraspedthehilt。Anotherlittlehandfollowedandfeltofthewallandfloor,reachingoutwithgropingfingers。

The,hunterrolledagainsothathisbackwasagainstthewallandhiswristsinfrontoftheopening。Hefeltthelittlehandonhisarm;thenitslippeddowntohiswrists。Thecontactofcoldsteelsetatremorofjoythroughhisheart。Thepressureofhisbondsrelaxed,ceased;hisarmswerefree。Heturnedtofindthelong—bladedknifeontheground。Thelittlehandsweregone。

Inatinklingheroseunbound,armed,desperate。InanothersecondanIndianwarriorlayuponthegroundinhisdeath—throes,whileafleeingformvanishedinthegraymorningmist。

ChapterVII。

Joefelttheheavylethargyrisefromhimliketheremovalofablanket;hiseyesbecameclear,andhesawthetreesandtheforestgloom;slowlyherealizedhisactualposition。

Hewasaprisoner,lyinghelplessamonghissleepingcaptors。Silvertipandtheguardhadfledintothewoods,frightenedbytheappallingmoanwhichtheybelievedsoundedtheirdeath—knell。AndJoebelievedhemighthavefledhimselfhadhebeenfree。Whatcouldhavecausedthatsound？Hefoughtoffthenumbingchillthatonceagainbegantocreepoverhim。Hewaswide—awakenow;

hisheadwasclear,andheresolvedtoretainhissenses。Hetoldhimselftherecouldbenothingsupernaturalinthatwind,orwail,orwhateveritwas,whichhadrisenmurmuringfromouttheforest—depths。

Yet,despitehisreasoning,Joecouldnotallayhisfears。Thatthrillingcryhauntedhim。ThefranticflightofanIndianbrave——nay,ofacunning,experiencedchief——wasnottobelightlyconsidered。Thesavageswereathomeintheseuntrackedwilds。Trainedfrominfancytoscentdangerandtofightwhentheyhadanequalchancetheysurelywouldnotrunwithoutgoodcause。

Joeknewthatsomethingmovedunderthosedarktrees。Hehadnoideawhat。Itmightbethefrettingnightwind,orastealthy,prowling,soft—footedbeast,orasavagealientothesewildIndians,andwilderthantheybyfar。Thechirpofabirdawokethestillness。Nighthadgivenwaytomorning。Welcomingthelightthatwaschasingawaythegloom,Joeraisedhisheadwithadeepsighofrelief。Ashedidsohesawabushmove;thenashadowseemedtosinkintotheground。Hehadseenanobjectlighterthanthetrees,darkerthanthegraybackground。Again,thatstrangesenseofthenearnessofsomethingthrilledhim。

Moments,passed——tohimlongashours。Hesawatallfernwaverandtremble。A

rabbit,orperhapsasnake,hadbrushedit。Otherfernsmoved,theirtopsagitated,perhaps,byafaintbreeze。No;thatwaveringlinecamestraighttowardhim;itcouldnotbethewind;itmarkedthecourseofacreeping,noiselessthing。Itmustbeapanthercrawlingnearerandnearer。

Joeopenedhislipstoawakenhiscaptors,butcouldnotspeak;itwasasifhishearthadstoppedbeating。Twentyfeetawaythefernswerepartedtodiscloseawhite,gleamingface,witheyesthatseeminglyglittered。Brawnyshoulderswereupraised,andthenatall,powerfulmanstoodrevealed。Lightlyhesteppedovertheleavesintothelittleglade。HebentoverthesleepingIndians。Once,twice,threetimesalongbladeswunghigh。Onebraveshudderedanothergaveasobbinggasp,andthethirdmovedtwofingers——thustheypassedfromlifetodeath。

"Wetzel！"criedJoe。

"Ireckonso,"saidthedeliverer,hisdeep,calmvoicecontrastingstrangelywithwhatmighthavebeenexpectedfromhisaspect。Then,seeingJoe"sheadcoveredwithblood,hecontinued:"Abletogetup？"

"I"mnothurt,"answeredJoe,risingwhenhisbondshadbeencut。

"Brothers,Ireckon？"Wetzelsaid,bendingoverJim。

"Yes,we"rebrothers。Wakeup,Jim,wakeup！We"resaved！"

"What？Who"sthat？"criedJim,sittingupandstaringatWetzel。

"Thismanhassavedourlives！See,Jim,theIndiansaredead！And,Jim,it"sWetzel,thehunter。Youremember,JeffLynnsaidI"dknowhimifIeversawhimand———"

"WhathappenedtoJeff？"inquiredWetzel,interrupting。HehadturnedfromJim"sgratefulface。

"Jeffwasonthefirstraft,andforallweknowheisnowsafeatFortHenry。

Oursteersmanwasshot,andwewerecaptured。"

"HastheShawneeanythin"ag"instyouboys？"

"Why,yes,Iguessso。Iplayedajokeonhim——tookhisshirtandputitonanotherfellow。"

"Mightjes"aswellkickan"Injun。Whathasheag"inyou？"

"Idon"tknow。Perhapshedidnotlikemytalktohim,"answeredJim。"Iamapreacher,andhavecomewesttoteachthegospeltotheIndians。"

"They"regoodInjunsnow,"saidWetzel,pointingtotheprostratefigures。

"Howdidyoufindus？"eagerlyaskedJoe。

"Runacrostyertrailtwodaysback。"

"Andyou"vebeenfollowingus？"

Thehunternodded。

"DidyouseeanythingofanotherbandofIndians？AtallchiefandJimGirtywereamongthem。"

"They"vebeenartermefertwodays。Iwasfollowin"youwhenSilvertipgotwindofGirtyan"hisDelawares。ThebigchiefwasWingenund。IseenyoupullGirty"snose。ArtertheDelawareswentIturnedlooseyerdogan"horsean"

litoutonyertrail。""

"WherearetheDelawaresnow？"

"Ireckontherenosin"mybacktrail。Wemustbegittin"。Silvertip"llsoonhevalotofInjunshere。""

JoeintendedtoaskthehunteraboutwhathadfrightenedtheIndians,butdespitehiseagerdesireforinformation,herefrainedfromdoingso。

"Girtynighdidferyou,"remarkedWetzel,examiningJoe"swound。"He"sinabadhumor。Hegotkickedafewdaysback,andthenhedtheskinpulledoffenhisnose。Somebody"llhevtosuffer。Wal,youfellergrabyerrifles,an"

we"llbestartin"ferthefort。"

Joeshudderedasheleanedoveroneoftheduskyformstodetachpowderandbullethorn。HehadneverseenadeadIndian,andthetenseface,thesightless,vacanteyesmadehimshrink。Heshudderedagainwhenhesawthehunterscalphisvictims。HeshudderedthethirdtimewhenhesawWetzelpickupSilvertip"sbeautifulwhiteeagleplume,dabbleitinapoolofblood,andstickitinthebarkofatree。Bereftofitsgracefulbeauty,droopingwithitsgoryburden,thelongleatherwasadeadlymessage。IthadbeenSilvertip"spride;itwasnowachallenge,amenacetotheShawneechief。

"Come,"saidWetzel,leadingthewayintotheforest。

ShortlyafterdaylightontheseconddayfollowingthereleaseoftheDownsbrothersthehunterbrushedthroughathicketofalderandsaid:"Thar"sFortHenry。"

Theboyswereonthesummitofamountainfromwhichthelandslopedinalonginclineofrollingridgesandgentlevalleyslikeagreen,billowysea,untilitroseagainabruptlyintoapeakhigherstillthantheoneuponwhichtheystood。ThebroadOhio,glisteninginthesun,layatthebaseofthemountain。

Uponthebluffoverlookingtheriver,andunderthebrowofthemountain,laythefrontierfort。Intheclearatmosphereitstoodoutinboldrelief。A

small,lowstructuresurroundedbyahighstockadefencewasall,andyetitdidnotseemunworthyofitsfame。Thosewatchful,forbiddingloopholes,theblackenedwallsandtimbers,toldthehistoryoftenlong,bloodyyears。Thewholeeffectwasoneofmenace,asifthefortsentoutadefiancetothewilderness,andmeanttoprotectthefewdozenlogcabinsclusteredonthehillside。

"Howwillweevergetacrossthatbigriver？"askedJim,practically。

"Wade——swim,"answeredthehunter,laconically,andbeganthedescentoftheridge。Anhour"srapidwalkingbroughtthethreetotheriver。Depositinghisrifleinaclumpofwillows,anddirectingtheboystodothesamewiththeirguns,thehuntersplashedintothewater。Hiscompanionsfollowedhimintotheshallowwater,andwadedahundredyards,whichbroughtthemneartheislandthattheynowperceivedhidthefort。Thehunterswamtheremainingdistance,and,climbingthebank,lookedbackfortheboys。Theywereclosebehindhim。

Thenhestrodeacrosstheisland,perhapsaquarterofamilewide。

"We"vealongswimhere,"saidWetzel,wavinghishandtowardthemainchanneloftheriver。"Goodferit？"heinquiredofJoe,sinceJimhadnotreceivedanyinjuriesduringtheshortcaptivityandconsequentlyshowedmoreendurance。

"Goodforanything,"answeredJoe,withthatcoolnessWetzelhadbeenquicktoobserveinhim。

Thehuntercastasharpglanceatthelad"shaggardface,hisbruisedtemple,andhishairmattedwithblood。InthatlookhereadJoethoroughly。Hadtheyoungmanknowntheresultofthatscrutiny,hewouldhavebeenpleasedaswellaspuzzled,forthehunterhadsaidtohimself:"Abravelad,an"theborderfever"sonhim。"

"Swimclosetome,"saidWetzel,andheplungedintotheriver。Thetaskwasaccomplishedwithoutaccident。

"Seethebigcabin,thar,onthehillside？Thar"sColonelZaneinthedoor,"

saidWetzel。

Astheynearedthebuildingseveralmenjoinedtheonewhohadbeenpointedoutasthecolonel。Itwasevidenttheboyswerethesubjectoftheirconversation。PresentlyZaneleftthegroupandcametowardthem。Thebrotherssawahandsome,stalwartman,intheprimeoflife。

"Well,Lew,whatluck？"hesaidtoWetzel。

"Notmuch。ItreedfiveInjuns,an"twogotaway,"answeredthehunterashewalkedtowardthefort。

"Lads,welcometoFortHenry,"saidColonelZane,asmilelightinghisdarkface。"Theothersofyourpartyarrivedsafely。Theycertainlywillbeoverjoyedtoseeyou。"

"ColonelZane,Ihadaletterfrommyuncletoyou,"repliedJim;"buttheIndianstookthatandeverythingelsewehadwithus。"

"Nevermindtheletter。Iknewyouruncle,andyourfather,too。Comeintothehouseandchangethosewetclothes。Andyou,mylad,havegotanuglyknockonthehead。Whogaveyouthat？"

"JimGirty。"

"What？"exclaimedthecolonel。

"JimGirtydidthat。HewaswithapartyofDelawareswhoranacrossus。TheyweresearchingforWetzel。"

"GirtywiththeDelawares！Thedevil"stopaynow。AndyousayhuntingWetzel？

Imustlearnmoreaboutthis。Itlooksbad。Buttellme,howdidGirtycometostrikeyou？"

"Ipulledhisnose。"

"Youdid？Good！Good！"criedColonelZane,heartily。

"ByGeorge,that"sgreat！Tellme——butwaituntilyouaremorecomfortable。

YourpackscamesafelyonJeff"sraft,andyouwillfindtheminside。"

AsJoefollowedthecolonelheheardoneoftheothermensay:

"Likeastwopeasinapod。"

FartheronhesawanIndianstandingalittleapartfromtheothers。HearingJoe"sslightexclamationofsurprise,heturned,disclosingafine,manlycountenance,characterizedbycalmdignity。TheIndianreadtheboy"sthought。

"Ugh！Mefriend,"hesaidinEnglish。

"That"smyShawneeguide,Tomepomehala。He"sagoodfellow,althoughJonathanandWetzeldeclaretheonlygoodIndianisadeadone。Comerightinhere。

Thereareyourpacks,andyou"llfindwateroutsidethedoor。"

Thussaying,ColonelZaneledthebrothersintoasmallroom,broughtouttheirpacks,andleftthem。Hecamebackpresentlywithacoupleofsofttowels。

"Nowyouladsfixupabit;thencomeoutandmeetmyfamilyandtellusallaboutyouradventure。Bythattimedinnerwillbeready。"

"Geminy！Don"tthattowelremindyouofhome？"saidJoe,whenthecolonelhadgone。"Fromthelooksofthings,ColonelZanemeanstohavecomforthereinthewilderness。Hestruckmeasbeingafineman。"

TheboyswereindeedgladtochangethefewarticlesofclothingtheIndianshadleftthem,andwhentheywereshavedanddressedtheypresentedanentirelydifferentappearance。Oncemoretheyweretwinbrothers,incostumeandfeature。Joecontrived,bybrushinghishairdownonhisforehead,toconcealthediscoloredbump。

"IthinkIsawacharminggirl,"observedJoe。