第10章

Itwasyetdaylight,whichseemedastrangetimetocreepintothislittlenook;but,Joethought,itwasnottosleep,onlytowait,wait,waitforthelonghourstopass。Hewasamazedoncemore,because,bythetimetwilighthadgivenplacetodarkness,Wetzelwasasleep。Theladsaidthentohimselfthathewouldneveragainbesurprisedatthehunter。HeassumedonceandforallthatWetzelwascapableofanything。Yethowcouldhelosehimselfinslumber？

Feeling,ashemust,overthecaptureofthegirls;eagertodrawabeadontheblack—heartedrenegade;hatingIndianswithallhissoulandstrength,andlyingtherebutafewhoursbeforewhatheknewwouldbeabloodybattle,Wetzelcalmlywenttosleep。Knowingthehuntertobeasbloodthirstyasatiger,Joehadexpectedhewouldrushtoacombatwithhisfoes;but,no,thisman,withhiskeensagacity,knewwhentocreepuponhisenemy;hebidedthattime,and,whilehewaited,slept。

Joecouldnotclosehiseyesinslumber。Throughtheintersticesinthebrancheshesawthestarscomeoutonebyone,thedarknessdeepened,andthedimoutlineoftalltreesoverthedarkhillcameoutsharply。Themomentsdragged,eachoneanhour。Heheardawhippoorwillcall,lonelyanddismal;

thenanowlhootmonotonously。Astealthyfootedanimalranalongthelog,sniffedattheboughs,andthenscurriedawayoverthedryleaves。Byandbythedeadsilenceofnightfelloverall。StillJoelaytherewideawake,listening——hisheartonfire。HewasabouttorescueNell;tokillthathawk—nosedrenegade;tofightSilvertiptothedeath。

Thehourspassed,butnotJoe"spassionateeagerness。Whenatleasthesawthecrescentmoongleamsilver—whiteovertheblackhilltopheknewthetimewasnigh,andoverhimranthrillonthrill。

ChapterXVI。

Whenthewaningmoonrosehighenoughtoshedapalelightoverforestandfield,twodarkfigures,movingsilentlyfromtheshadeofthetrees,crossedthemoonlitpatchesofground,outtotheopenplainwherelowonthegrasshungsilvermists。

Atimberwolf,grayandgaunt,camelopingalongwithlowerednose。Anewscentbroughttheanimaltoastandstill。Hisnosewentup,hisfieryeyesscannedtheplain。Twomenhadinvadedhisdomain,and,withashort,dismalbark,hedashedaway。

Likespectres,glidingswiftlywithnoiselesstread,thetwovanished。Thelonggrasshadswallowedthem。

Desertedonceagainseemedtheplain。Itbecameunutterablylonely。Nostir,nosound,nolife;nothingbutawideexpansebathedinsad,graylight。

Themoonshonesteadily;thesilverradiancemellowed;thestarspaledbeforethisbrighterglory。

Slowlythenighthoursworeaway。

Ontheothersideoftheplain,nearwheretheadjoiningforestloomeddarkling,thetallgrasspartedtodiscloseablackform。Wasitonlyadeceivingshadecastbyaleafybranch——onlyashadow？Slowlyitsank,andwaslost。Oncemorethegray,unwaveringlineofsilver—crestedgrasstuftswasunbroken。

Onlythenightbreeze,wanderingcaressinglyoverthegrass,mighthavetoldoftwodarkformsgliding,gliding,glidingsosoftly,sosurely,sosurelytowardtheforest。Onlythemoonandthepalestarshadeyestoseethesecreepingfigures。

Likeavengerstheymoved,onamissiontoslayandtosave！

Onoverthedarklinewhereplainmergedintoforesttheycrawled。Nowhispering,nohesitating;butasilent,slow,certainprogressshowedtheirpurpose。Insinglefiletheyslippedoverthemoss,theleaderclearingthepath。Inchbyinchtheyadvanced。Tediouswasthisslowmovement,difficultandpainfulthisjourneywhichmustendinlightninglikespeed。Theyrustlednoleaf,norsnappedatwig,norshookafern,butpassedonwardslowly,liketheapproachofDeath。Thesecondspassedasminutes;minutesashours;anentirehourwasspentinadvancingtwentyfeet！

Atlastthetopoftheknollwasreached。TheAvengerplacedhishandonhisfollower"sshoulder。Thestrongpressurewasmeanttoremind,towarn,toreassure。Then,likeahugesnake,thefirstglidedaway。

HewhowasleftbehindraisedhisheadtolookintotheopenplacecalledthegladeoftheBeautifulSpring。Anovalspacelaybeforehim,exceedinglylovelyinthemoonlight;aspring,asifapearl,gemmedthecenter。AnIndianguardstoodstatuelikeagainstastone。Othersavageslayinarow,theirpolishedheadsshining。Oneslumberingformwasbedeckedwithfeathersandfrills。NearhimlayanIndianblanket,fromtheborderofwhichpeeredtwofaces,gleamingwhiteandsadinthepityingmoonlight。

Thewatcherquiveredatthesightofthosepalefaces;buthemustwaitwhilelongmomentspassed。HemustwaitfortheAvengertocreepup,silentlykilltheguard,andreleasetheprisonerswithoutawakeningthesavages。Ifthatplanfailed,hewastorushintotheglade,andintheexcitementmakeoffwithoneofthecaptives。

Helaytherewaiting,listening,wroughtuptotheintensestpitchoffiercepassion。Everynervewasalert,everytendonstrung,andeverymusclestrainedreadyfortheleap。

Onlythefaintrustlingofleaves,thelowswishofswayingbranches,thesoftmurmuroffallingwater,andoverallthesighofthenightwind,provedtohimthatthispicturewasnotanevildream。Hisgazesoughtthequietfigures,lingeredhopefullyonthecaptives,menacinglyonthesleepingsavages,andgloweredoverthegaudilyarrayedform。Hisglancesoughttheuprightguard,ashestoodadarkblotagainstthegraystone。HesawtheIndian"splume,asinglefeatherwavingsilver—white。Thenitbecamerivetedonthebubbling,refulgentspring。Thepoolwasround,perhapsfivefeetacross,andshonelikeaburnishedshield。Itmirroredthemoon,thetwinklingstars,thespectretrees。

Anunaccountablehorrorsuddenlysweptoverthewatchingman。Hishairstoodstraightup;asensationasofcoldstolechillinglyoverhim。Whetheritwastheclimaxofthislongnight"sexcitement,oranticipationofthebloodystrugglesoontocome,heknewnot。Didthisboilingspring,shimmeringintheslivermoon—rays,holdinitsmurkydepthsasecret？Didtheselonesome,shadowingtrees,withtheirsaddroopingbranches,harboramystery？Ifafuturetragedywastobeenactedhereinthisquietglade,couldthemurmuringwaterorleaveswhisperitsportent？No;theywereonlysilent,onlyunintelligiblewithnature"smystery。

Thewaitingmancursedhimselfforacravencoward;hefoughtbackthebenumbingsense;hesteeledhisheart。WasthishisvauntedwillingnesstosharetheAvenger"sdanger？Hisstrongspiritroseupinarms;oncemorehewasbraveandfierce。

Hefastenedapiercinggazeontheplumedguard。TheIndian"sloungingpostureagainsttherockwasthesameasithadbeenbefore,yetnowitseemedtohaveakindofstrainedattention。Thesavage"sheadwaspoised,likethatofalisteningdeer。ThewaryIndianscenteddanger。

Afaintmoanbreathedlowabovethesoundofgentlysplashingwatersomewherebeyondtheglade。

"Woo—o—oo。"

Theguard"sfigurestiffened,andbecamerigidlyerect;hisblanketslowlyslidtohisfeet。

"Ah—oo—o,"sighedthesoftbreezeinthetreetops。

Louderthen,withadeepwail,amoanaroseoutofthedarkgrayshadows,swelledthrillingonthestillair,anddiedawaymournfully。

"Um—m—mmwoo—o—o—o！"

Thesentinel"sformmeltedintotheshade。Hewasgonelikeaphantom。

AnotherIndianrosequickly,andglancedfurtivelyaroundtheglade。Hebentoveracomradeandshookhim。InstantlythesecondIndianwasonhisfeet。

Scarcelyhadhegainedastandingposturewhenanobject,boundinglikeadarkball,shotoutofthethicketandhurledbothwarriorstotheearth。A

moonbeamglinteduponsomethingbright。Itflashedagainonaswift,sweepingcircle。Ashort,chokingyellarousedtheothersavages。Uptheysprang,alarmed,confused。

Theshadow—formdartedamongthem。Itmovedwithinconceivablerapidity;itbecameamonster。Terriblewastheconvulsiveconflict。Dullblows,theclickofsteel,angryshouts,agonizedyells,andthrashing,wrestlingsoundsmingledtogetherandhalfdrownedbyanawfulroarlikethatofamadbull。

Thestrifeceasedassuddenlyasithadbegun。Warriorslaystillonthegrass;otherswrithedinagony。Foraninstantafleetingshadowcrossedtheopenlaneleadingoutoftheglade;thenitvanished。

Threesavageshadsprungtowardtheirrifles。Ablindingflash,aloudreportburstfromthethicketoverhead。Theforemostsavagesanklifelessly。Theotherswereinterceptedbyagiantshadowwithbrandishedrifle。Thewatcherontheknollhadenteredtheglade。Hestoodbeforethestackedriflesandswunghisheavygun。Crash！AnIndianwentdownbeforethatsweep,butroseagain。Thesavagesbackedawayfromthisthreateningfigure,andcircledaroundit。

Thenoiseoftheotherconflictceased。Moresavagesjoinedthethreewhoglidedtoandfrobeforetheirdesperatefoe。Theyclosedinuponhim,onlytobebeatenback。Onesavagethrewaglitteringknife,anotherhurledastone,athirdflunghistomahawk,whichstruckfirefromtheswingingrifle。

Heheldthematbay。Whiletheyhadnofirearmshewasmasterofthesituation。Witheverysweepofhisarmshebroughtthelongrifledownandknockedaflintfromthefirelockofanenemy"sweapon。SoontheIndians"gunswereuseless。Slowlythenhebegantoedgeawayfromthestone,towardthe,openingwherehehadseenthefleetingformvanish。

Hisintentionwastomakeadashforlife,forhehadheardanoisebehindtherock,andrememberedtheguard。Hesawthesavagesglancebehindhim,andanticipateddangerfromthatdirection,buthemustnotturn。Asecondtheremightbefatal。Hebackeddefiantlyalongtherockuntilhegaineditsouteredge。Buttoolate！TheIndiansglidedbeforehim,nowbehindhim;hewassurrounded。Heturnedaroundandaround,withtheever—circlingriflewhirlinginthefacesofthebaffledfoe。

Onceoppositethelaneleadingfromthegladehechangedhistactics,andplungedwithfierceimpetuosityintothemidstofthepaintedthrong。Thenbeganafearfulconflict。TheIndiansfellbeforethesweepofhispowerfularms;butgrappledwithhimfromtheground。Heliterallyplowedhiswaythroughthestrugglingmass,wardingoffanhundredviciousblows。Savageaftersavageheflungoff,untilatlasthehadaclearpathbeforehim。

Freedomlaybeyondthatshinypath。Intoithebounded。

Asheleftthegladetheplumedguardsteppedfrombehindatreeneartheentranceofthepath,andcasthistomahawk。

Awhite,glitteringflash,itflewafterthefleeingrunner;itsaimwastrue。

Suddenlythemoonlightpathdarkenedintherunner"ssight;hesawamillionflashingstars;aterriblepainassailedhim;hesankslowly,slowlydown;

thenallwasdarkness。

ChapterXVII。

Joeawokeasfromafearsomenightmare。Returningconsciousnessbroughtavagueideathathehadbeendreamingofclashingweapons,ofyellingsavages,ofaconflictinwhichhehadbeenclutchedbysinewyfingers。Anacutepainpulsedthroughhistemples;abloodymistglazedhiseyes;asorepressurecrampedhisarmsandlegs。Surelyhedreamedthisdistress,aswellasthefight。Theredfilmclearedfromhiseyes。Hiswanderinggazeshowedthesternreality。

Thebrightsun,makingthedewdropsglistenontheleaves,lightedupatragedy。NearhimlayanIndianwhosevacant,sightlesseyeswerefixedindeath。Beyondlayfourmoresavages,thepeculiar,inertpositionofwhoselimbs,theformlessness,asitwere,asiftheyhadbeenthrownfromagreatheightandnevermovedagain,attestedthathere,too,lifehadbeenextinguished。Joetookinonlyonedetail——theclovenskullofthenearest——whenheturnedawaysickened。Heremembereditallnow。Theadvance,therush,thefight——allreturned。HesawagainWetzel"sshadowyformdartinglikeademonintothewhirlofconflict;heheardagainthathoarse,boomingroarwithwhichtheAvengeraccompaniedhisblows。Joe"sgazeswepttheglade,butfoundnotraceofthehunter。

HesawSilvertipandanotherIndianbathingawoundonGirty"shead。Therenegadegroanedandwrithedinpain。NearhimlayKate,withwhitefaceandclosedeyes。Shewasunconscious,ordead。Jimsatcrouchedunderatreetowhichhewastied。

"Joe,areyoubadlyhurt？"askedthelatter,indeepsolicitude。

"No,Iguessnot;Idon"tknow,"answeredJoe。"IspoorKatedead？"

"No,shehasfainted。"

"Where"sNell？"

"Gone,"repliedJim,loweringhisvoice,andglancingattheIndians。TheyweretoobusytryingtobandageGirty"sheadtopayanyattentiontotheirprisoners。"ThatwhirlwindwasWetzel,wasn"tit？"

"Yes;how"dyouknow？"

"Iwasawakelastnight。Ihadanoppressivefeeling,perhapsapresentiment。

Anyway,Icouldn"tsleep。Iheardthatwindblowthroughtheforest,andthoughtmybloodwouldfreeze。Themoanisthesameasthenightwind,thesamesoftsigh,onlylouderandsomehowpregnantwithsuperhumanpower。Tospeakofitinbroaddaylightoneseemssuperstitious,buttohearitinthedarknessofthislonelyforest,itisfearful！IhopeIamnotacoward;I

certainlyknowIwasdeathlyfrightened。NowonderIwasscared！LookatthesedeadIndians,allkilledinamoment。Iheardthemoan;IsawSilvertipdisappear,andtheothertwosavagesrise。Thensomethinghugedroppedfromtherock;abrightobjectseemedtocircleroundthesavages;theyutteredoneshortyell,andsanktorisenomore。SomehowatonceIsuspectedthatthisshadowyform,withitslightninglikemovements,itsglitteringhatchet,wasWetzel。WhenheplungedintothemidstoftheothersavagesIdistinctlyrecognizedhim,andsawthathehadabundle,possiblyhiscoat,wrappedroundhisleftarm,andhisrighthandheldtheglitteringtomahawk。IsawhimstrikethatbigIndianthere,theonelyingwithsplitskull。Hiswonderfuldaringandquicknessseemedtomakethesavagesturnatrandom。Hebrokethroughthecircle,swungNellunderhisarm,slashedatmybondsashepassedby,andthenwasgoneashehadcome。Notuntilafteryouwerestruck,andSilvertipcameuptome,wasIawaremybondswerecut。Wetzel"shatchethadseveredthem;itevencutmyside,whichwasbleeding。Iwasfreetohelp,tofight,andIdidnotknowit。FoolthatIam！"

"Imadeanawfulmessofmypartoftherescue,"groanedJoe。"IwonderifthesavagesknowitwasWetzel。"

"Dothey？Well,Iratherthinkso。DidyounothearthemscreamthatFrenchname？AsfarasIamabletojudge,onlytwoIndianswerekilledinstantly。

Theothersdiedduringthenight。Ihadtosithere,tiedandhelpless,listeningastheygroanedandcalledthenameoftheirslayer,evenintheirdeath—throes。Deathwind！Theyhavenamedhimwell。"

"IguesshenearlykilledGirty。"

"Evidently,butsurelytheeviloneprotectstherenegade。"

"JimGirty"sdoomed,"whisperedJoe,earnestly。"He"sasgoodasdeadalready。

I"velivedwithWetzel,andknowhim。HetoldmeGirtyhadmurderedasettler,afeebleoldman,wholivednearFortHenrywithhisson。Thehunterhassworntokilltherenegade;but,mindyou,hedidnottellmethat。Isawitinhiseyes。Itwouldn"tsurprisemetoseehimjumpoutofthesebushesatanymoment。I"mlookingforit。Ifheknowsthereareonlythreeleft,he"llbeafterthemlikeahoundonatrail。Girtymusthurry。Where"shetakingyou？"

"TotheDelawaretown。"

"Idon"tsupposethechiefswillletanyharmbefallyou;butKateandIwouldbebetteroffdead。Ifwecanonlydelaythemarch,Wetzelwillsurelyreturn。"

"Hush！Girty"sup。"

Therenegadestaggeredtoanuprightposition,andleanedontheShawnee"sarm。Evidentlyhehadnotbeenseriouslyinjured,onlystunned。Coveredwithbloodfromaswollen,gashedlumponhistemple,hecertainlypresentedasavageappearance。

"Where"stheyellow—hairedlass？"hedemanded,pushingawaySilvertip"sfriendlyarm。Heglaredaroundtheglade。TheShawneeaddressedhimbriefly,whereuponheragedtoandfrounderthetree,cursingwithfoam—fleckedlips,andactuallyhowlingwithbaffledrage。Hisfurywassogreatthathebecamesuddenlyweak,andwascompelledtositdown。

"She"ssafe,youvillainousrenegade！"criedJoe。

"Hush,Joe！Donotangerhim。Itcandonogood,"interposedJim。

"Whynot？Wecouldn"tbeworseoff,"answeredJoe。

"I"llgither,I"llgitheragin,"pantedGirty。"I"llkeepher,an"she"llloveme。"

Thespectacleofthispervertedwretchspeakingasifhehadbeencheatedoutoflovewassoremarkable,sopitiful,somonstrous,thatforamomentJoewasdumbfounded。

"Bah！Youwhite—liveredmurderer！"Joehissed。Hewellknewitwasnotwisetogivewaytohispassion;buthecouldnothelpit。Thisbeastinhumanguise,whiningforlove,maddenedhim。"Anywhitewomanonearthwoulddieathousanddeathsandburnforamillionyearsafterwardratherthanloveyou！"

"I"llseeyoukilledatthestake,beggin"fermercy,an"befeedferbuzzards,"croakedtherenegade。

"Thenkillmenow,oryoumayslipupononeofyourcherishedbuzzard—feasts,"criedJoe,withglintingeyeandtauntingvoice。"Thengosneakingbacktoyourholelikeahyena,andstaythere。Wetzelisonyourtrail！Hemissedyoulastnight;butitwasbecauseofthegirl。He"safteryou,Girty;he"llgetyouoneofthesedays,andwhenhedoes——MyGod！———"

Nothingcouldbemorerevoltingthanthatswarthy,evilfaceturnedpalewithfear。Girty"svisagewasaghastly,lividwhite。Soearnest,sointensewasJoe"svoice,thatitseemedtoallasifWetzelwasabouttodartintotheglade,withhisavengingtomahawkupliftedtowreakanawfulvengeanceontheabductor。Therenegade"swhite,cravenheartcontainednosuchthingascourage。Ifheeverfoughtitwaslikeawolf,backedbynumbers。Theresemblanceceasedhere,forevenacorneredwolfwillshowhisteeth,andGirty,driventobay,wouldhavecringedandcowered。EvennowatthementionofWetzel"senmityhetrembled。

"I"llshetyerwind,"hecried,catchinguphistomahawkandmakingforJoe。

Silvertipintervened,andpreventedtheassault。HeledGirtybacktohisseatandspokelow,evidentlytryingtosoothetherenegade"sfeelings。

"Silvertip,givemeatomahawk,andletmefighthim,"imploredJoe。

"Palefacebrave——likeInjunchief。PalefaceShawnee"sprisoner——nospeakmore,"answeredSilvertip,withrespectinhisvoice。

"Oh,where"sNellie？"

Agrief—strickenwhispercaughtJim"sear。HeturnedtoseeKate"swide,questioningeyesfixeduponhim。

"Nellwasrescued。"

"ThankGod！"murmuredthegirl。

"Comealong,"shoutedGirty,inhisharshvoice,as,graspingKate"sarm,hepulledthegirlviolentlytoherfeet。Then,pickinguphisrifle,heledherintotheforest。SilvertipfollowedwithJoe,whiletheremainingIndianguardedJim。

Thegreatcouncil—lodgeoftheDelawaresrangwithsavageandfieryeloquence。

Wingenundpacedslowlybeforetheorators。Wiseashewas,hewantedadvicebeforedecidingwhatwastobedonewiththemissionary。Thebrothershadbeentakentothechief,whoimmediatelycalledacouncil。TheIndianssatinahalfcirclearoundthelodge。Theprisoners,withhandsbound,guardedbytwobrawnybraves,stoodinonecornergazingwithcuriosityandapprehensionatthisformidablearray。Jimknewsomeofthebraves,butthemajorityofthosewhospokebitterlyagainstthepalefaceshadneverfrequentedtheVillageofPeace。NearlyallwereoftheWolftribeofDelawares。JimwhisperedtoJoe,interpretingthatpartofthespeechesbearinguponthedisposaltobemadeofthem。Twowhitemen,dressedinIndiangarb,heldprominentpositionsbeforeWingenund。TheboyssawaresemblancebetweenoneofthesemenandJimGirty,andaccordinglyconcludedhewasthefamousrenegade,orso—calledwhiteIndian,SimonGirty。TheothermanwasprobablyElliott,theTory,withwhomGirtyhaddesertedfromFortPitt。JimGirtywasnotpresent。Uponnearingtheencampmenthehadtakenhiscaptiveanddisappearedinaravine。

Shingiss,seldominfavorofdrasticmeasureswithprisoners,eloquentlyurgedinitiatingthebrothersintothetribe。Severalotherchiefswerefavorablyinclined,thoughnotsopositiveasShingiss。Kotoxenwasforthedeathpenalty;theimplacablePipefornothinglessthanburningatthestake。NotonewasforreturningthemissionarytohisChristianIndians。GirtyandElliott,thoughrequestedtospeak,maintainedanominoussilence。

Wingenundstrodewiththoughtfulmienbeforehiscouncil。Hehadheardallhiswisechiefsandhisfierywarriors。Supremewashispower。Freedomordeathforthecaptivesawaitedthewaveofhishand。HisimpassivefacegavenottheslightestinklingofwhattoexpectThereforetheprisonerswereforcedtostandtherewiththrobbingheartswhilethechieftainwaitedthecustomarydignifiedintervalbeforeaddressingthecouncil。

"WingenundhasheardtheDelawarewisemenandwarriors。ThewhiteIndianopensnothislips;hissilencebroodsevilforthepalefaces。Pipewantsthebloodofthewhitemen;theShawneechiefdemandsthestake。WingenundsaysfreethewhitefatherwhoharmsnoIndian。Wingenundhearsnoevilinthemusicofhisvoice。Thewhitefather"sbrothershoulddie。KillthecompanionofDeathwind！"

Aplaintivemurmur,remarkablewhencomingfromanassemblyofstern—browedchiefs,ranroundthecircleatthementionofthedreadappellation。

"Thewhitefatherisfree,"continuedWingenund。"LetoneofmyrunnersconducthimtotheVillageofPeace。"

AbraveenteredandtouchedJimontheshoulder。

JimshookhisheadandpointedtoJoe。TherunnertouchedJoe。

"No,no。Iamnotthemissionary,"criedJoe,staringaghastathisbrother。

"Jim,haveyoulostyoursenses？"

Jimsadlyshookhishead,andturningtoWingenundmadeknowninabrokenIndiandialectthathisbrotherwasthemissionary,andwouldsacrificehimself,takingthisopportunitytopracticetheChristianityhehadtaught。

"Thewhitefatherisbrave,butheisknown,"brokeinWingenund"sdeepvoice,whilehepointedtothedoorofthelodge。"LethimgobacktohisChristianIndians。"

TheIndianrunnercutJoe"sbonds,andoncemoreattemptedtoleadhimfromthelodge。Rageandmiseryshowninthelad"sface。Hepushedtherunneraside。Heexhaustedhimselftryingtoexplain,tothinkofIndianwordsenoughtoshowhewasnotthemissionary。HeevenimploredGirtytospeakforhim。

WhentherenegadesattherestolidlysilentJoe"srageburstout。

"Curseyouallforalotofignorantredskins。Iamnotamissionary。IamDeathwind"sfriend。IkilledaDelaware。IwasthecompanionofLeVentdelaMort！"

Joe"spassionatevehemence,andthetruththatspokefromhisflashingeyescompelledtherespect,ifnottheabsolutebeliefoftheIndians。Thesavagesslowlyshooktheirheads。Theybeheldthespectacleoftwobrothers,oneafriend,theotheranenemyofallIndians,eachwillingtogotothestake,tosufferanawfulagony,forloveoftheother。ChivalrousdeedsalwaysstiranIndian"sheart。Itwaslikearedmantodieforhisbrother。Theindifference,thecontemptfordeath,wontheiradmiration。

"Letthewhitefatherstandforth,"sternlycalledWingenund。

Ahundredsombereyesturnedontheprisoners。Exceptthatoneworeabuckskincoat,theotheralinseyone,therewasnodifference。Thestrongfigureswerethesame,thewhitefacesalike,thesternresolveinthegrayeyesidentical——theyweretwinbrothers。

Wingenundoncemorepacedbeforehissilentchiefs。Todealrightlywiththissituationperplexedhim。Tokillbothpalefacesdidnotsuithim。Suddenlyhethoughtofawaytodecide。

"LetWingenund"sdaughtercome,"heordered。

Aslight,girlishfigureentered。ItwasWhisperingWinds。Herbeautifulfaceglowedwhileshelistenedtoherfather。

"Wingenund"sdaughterhashermother"seyes,thatwerebeautifulasadoe"s,keenasahawk"s,far—seeingasaneagle"s。LettheDelawaremaidenshowherblood。Letherpointoutthewhitefather。"

ShylybutunhesitatinglyWhisperingWindslaidherhandJim"sarm。

"Missionary,begone！"camethechieftain"scommand。"ThankWingenund"sdaughterforyourlife,nottheGodofyourChristians！"

Hewavedhishandtotherunner。ThebravegraspedJim"sarm。

"Good—by,Joe,"brokenlysaidJim。

"Oldfellow,good—by,"cametheanswer。

Theytookonelast,longlookintoeachothers"eyes。Jim"sglancebetrayedhisfear——hewouldneverseehisbrotheragain。ThelightinJoe"seyeswastheoldsteelyflash,theindomitablespirit——whiletherewaslifetherewashope。

"LettheShawneechiefpainthisprisonerblack,"commandedWingenund。

Whenthemissionaryleftthelodgewiththerunner,WhisperingWindshadsmiled,forshehadsavedhimwhomshelovedtohearspeak;butthedreadcommandthatfollowedpaledhercheek。Blackpaintmeanthideousdeath。Shesawthismansolikethewhitefather。Herpiteousgazetriedtoturnfromthatwhiteface;butthecold,steelyeyesfascinatedher。

Shehadsavedoneonlytobetheother"sdoom！

Shehadalwaysbeendrawntowardwhitemen。Manyprisonershadsherescued。

Shehadevenbefriendedhernation"sbitterfoe,Deathwind。Shehadlistenedtotheyoungmissionarywithrapture;shehadbeenhissavior。Andnowwhenshelookedintotheeyesofthisyounggiant,whosefatehadrestedonherallunwittingwords,sheresolvedtosavehim。

Shehadbeenashy,shrinkingcreature,fearingtolifthereyestoapaleface"s,butnowtheywereraisedclearandsteadfast。

Asshesteppedtowardthecaptiveandtookhishand,herwholepersonradiatedwithconsciousprideinherpower。Itwastheknowledgethatshecouldsave。

Whenshekissedhishand,andkneltbeforehim,sheexpressedatenderhumility。

ShehadclaimedquestionablerightofanIndianmaiden;sheaskedwhatnoIndiandaredrefuseachief"sdaughter;shetookthepalefaceforherhusband。

Heractionwasfollowedbyanimpressivesilence。Sheremainedkneeling。

Wingenundresumedhisslowmarchtoandfro。Silvertipretiredtohiscornerwithgloomyface。Theothersbowedtheirheadsasifthemaiden"sdecreewasirrevocable。

Oncemorethechieftain"ssonorouscommandrangout。AnoldIndian,wrinkledandworn,weirdofaspect,fancifulofattire,enteredthelodgeandwavedhiswampumwand。Hemumbledstrangewords,anddepartedchantingalongsong。

WhisperingWindsarose,asoft,radiantsmileplayingoverherface,and,stillholdingJoe"shand,sheledhimoutofthelodge,throughlongrowsofsilentIndians,downalandborderedbyteepees,hefollowinglikeoneinadream。

Heexpectedtoawakenatanyminutetoseethestarsshiningthroughtheleaves。Yethefeltthewarm,softpressureofalittlehand。Surelythisslender,gracefulfigurewasreal。

Shebadehimenteralodgeofimposingproportions。Stillsilent,inamazementandgratitude,heobeyed。

ThemaidenturnedtoJoe。Thoughtracesofpridestilllingered,allherfirehadvanished。Herbosomrosewitheachquick—pantingbreath;herlipsquivered,shetrembledlikeatrappeddoe。

Butatlasttheflutteringlashesrose。Joesawtwovelvetyeyesdarkwithtimidfear,yetveilingintheirlustrousdepthsanunutteredhopeandlove。

"WhisperingWinds——save——paleface,"shesaid,inavoicelowandtremulous。

"Fear——father。Fear——tell——Wingenund——she——Christian。"

Indiansummer,thatenchantedtime,unfoldeditsgolden,dreamyhazeovertheDelawarevillage。Theforestsblazedwithautumnfire,themeadowsboomedinrichluxuriance。Alldaylowdowninthevalleyshungapurplesmokewhichchanged,asthecooleveningshadescreptoutofthewoodland,intoacloudofwhitemist。Alldaytheastersalongthebrooksliftedgolden—brownfacestothesunasiftocatchthewarningwarmthofhissmile。Alldaytheplainsandforestslayinmelancholyrepose。Thesadswishofthewestwindoverthetallgrasstoldthathewasslowlydyingwaybeforehisenemy,thenorthwind。Thesoundofdroppingnutswasheardunderthemotionlesstrees。

ForJoethedaysweredaysofenchantment。Hiswildhearthadfounditsmate。

Awillingcaptivehewasnow。Allhisfancyforotherwomen,allhismemoriesfadedintoloveforhisIndianbride。

WhisperingWindscharmedtheeye,mind,andheart。Everydayherbeautyseemedrenewed。Shewasasapttolearnasshewasquicktoturnherblack—crownedhead,buthersupremebeautywasherloving,innocentsoul。Untaintedastheclearestspring,itmirroredthepurityandsimplicityofherlife。Indianshemightbe,oneofaracewhosemoralsandmannerswerealientothemansheloved,yetshewouldhaveaddedhonortotheproudestname。