第11章

WhenWhisperingWindsraisedherdarkeyestheyshowedradiantasalonestar;

whenshespokelowhervoicemademusic。

"Beloved,"shewhisperedonedaytohim,"teachtheIndianmaidenmoreloveforyou,andtruth,andGod。WhisperingWindsyearnstogototheChristians,butshefearshersternfather。WingenundwouldburntheVillageofPeace。TheIndiantribestremblebeforethethunderofhiswrath。Bepatient,mychief。

Timechangestheleaves,soitwilltheangerofthewarriors。WhisperingWinds"willsetyoufree,andbefreeherselftogofarwithyoutowardtherisingsun,wheredwellyourpeople。Shewilllove,andbeconstant,asthenorthernstar。Herlovewillbeaneternalspringwhereblossomsbloomeveranew,andfresh,andsweet。Shewillloveyourpeople,andraiseChristianchildren,andsiteverinthedoorofyourhomeprayingforthewestwindtoblow。Or,ifmychiefwills,weshalllivetheIndianlife,freeastwoeaglesontheirlonelycrag。"

AlthoughJoegavehimselfupcompletelytohisloveforhisbride,hedidnotforgetthatKatewasinthepoweroftherenegade,andthathemustrescueher。KnowingGirtyhadtheunfortunategirlssomewhereneartheDelawareencampment,heresolvedtofindtheplace。Plansofallkindsheresolvedinhismind。ThebestonehebelievedlaythroughWhisperingWinds。FirsttofindthewhereaboutsofGirty;killhimifpossible,oratleastfreeKate,andthengetawaywithherandhisIndianbride。Sanguineasheinvariablywas,hecouldnotbutrealizetheperilofthisundertaking。IfWhisperingWindsbetrayedherpeople,itmeantdeathtoheraswellastohim。HewouldfarratherspendtheremainingdaysofhislifeintheIndianvillage,thandoomthemaidenwhoselovehadsavedhim。Yethethoughthemightsucceedingettingawaywithher,andplannedtothatend。Hisnaturalspirit,daring,reckless,hadgainedwhilehewasassociatedwithWetzel。

MeanwhilehemingledfreelywiththeIndians,andhere,aselsewhere,hiswinningpersonality,combinedwithhisathleticprowess,soonmadehimwellliked。HewasevenonfriendlytermswithPipe。TheswarthywarchieflikedJoebecause,despitetheanimosityhehadarousedinsomeformerloversofWhisperingWinds,heactuallyplayedjokesonthem。Infact,Joe"spranksraisedmanyastorm;buttheyoungbraveswhohadbeensuitorsforWingenund"slovelydaughter,fearedthemuscularpaleface,andthetribe"sridiculemore;

sohecontinuedhistrickeryunmolested。Joe"sideawastoleadthesavagestobelievehewasthoroughlyhappyinhisnewlife,andsohewas,butitsuitedhimbettertobefree。Hesucceededinmisleadingthesavages。Atfirsthewascloselywatched,thethevigilancerelaxed,andfinallyceased。

Thislastcircumstancewasowing,nodoubt,toafermentofexcitementthathadsuddenlypossessedtheDelawares。Councilaftercouncilwasheldinthebiglodge。Theencampmentwasvisitedbyrunnerafterrunner。Someimportantcrisiswaspending。

Joecouldnotlearnwhatitallmeant,andthefactthatWhisperingWindssuddenlylosthergladsomespiritandbecamesadcausedhimfurtheranxiety。

Whenheaskedherthereasonforherunhappiness,shewassilent。Moreover,hewassurprisedtolearn,whenhequestionedheruponthesubjectoftheirfleeingtogether,thatshewaseagertogoimmediately。WhileallthismysterypuzzledJoe,itdidnotmakeanydifferencetohimorinhisplans。Itratherfavoredthelatter。HeunderstoodthatthepresenceofSimonGirtyandElliott,withseveralotherrenegadesunknowntohim,wassignificantofunrestamongtheIndians。Thesepresagersofevilwereaccustomedtogofromvillagetovillage,excitingthesavagestoactsofwar。Peacemeantthedownfallanddeathofthesemen。Theywerebusyalldayandfarintothenight。OftenJoeheardGirty"shoarsevoiceliftedinthecouncillodge。Pipethunderedincessantlyforwar。ButJoecouldnotlearnagainstwhom。

Elliott"ssuave,oilyoratoryexhortedtheIndianstovengeance。ButJoecouldnotguessuponwhom。Hewas,however,destinedtolearn。

ThethirddayofthecouncilsahorsemanstoppedbeforeWhisperingWinds"

lodge,andcalledout。Steppingtothedoor,Joesawawhiteman,whosedark,keen,handsomefaceseemedfamiliar。YetJoeknowhehadneverseenthisstalwartman。

"Awordwithyou,"saidthestranger。Histonewascurt,authoritative,asthatofamanusedtopower。

"Asmanyasyoulike。Whoareyou？"

"IamIsaacZane。AreyouWetzel"scompanion,ortherenegadeDeering？"

"Iamnotarenegadeanymorethanyouare。IwasrescuedbytheIndiangirl,whotookmeasherhusband,"saidJoecoldly。Hewassurprised,anddidnotknowwhattomakeofZane"smanner。

"Good！I"mgladtomeetyou,"instantlyrepliedZane,histoneandexpressionchanging。HeextendedhishandtoJoe。"Iwantedtobesure。IneversawtherenegadeDeering。Heisherenow。IamonmywaytotheWyandottown。IhavebeentoFortHenry,wheremybrothertoldmeofyouandthemissionaries。WhenIarrivedhereIheardyourstoryfromSimonGirty。Ifyoucan,youmustgetawayfromhere。IfIdaredI"dtakeyoutotheHuronvillage,butit"simpossible。Go,whileyouhaveachance。"

"Zane,Ithankyou。I"vesuspectedsomethingwaswrong。Whatisit？"

"Couldn"tbeworse,"whisperedZane,glancingroundtoseeiftheywereoverheard。"GirtyandElliott,backedbythisDeering,aregrowingjealousoftheinfluenceofChristianityontheIndians。TheyareplottingagainsttheVillageofPeace。Tarhe,theHuronchief,hasbeenapproached,andaskedtojoininaconcertedmovementagainstreligion。SeeminglyitisnotsomuchthemissionariesastheconvertedIndians,thattherenegadesarefumingover。

TheyknowiftheChristiansavagesarekilled,thestrengthofthemissionaries"holdwillbeforeverbroken。Pipeiswildforblood。Theserenegadesareslowlypoisoningthemindsofthefewchiefswhoarefavorablydisposed。Theoutlookisbad！bad！"

"WhatcanIdo？"

"Cutoutforyourself。Getaway,ifyoucan,withagun。Takethecreekbelow,followthecurrentdowntotheOhio,andthenmakeeastforFortHenry。

"ButIwanttorescuethewhitegirlJimGirtyhasconcealedheresomewhere。"

"Impossible！Don"tattemptitunlessyouwanttothrowyourlifeaway。

BuzzardJim,aswecallGirty,isabutcher;hehasprobablymurderedthegirl。"

"Iwon"tleavewithouttrying。Andthere"smywife,theIndiangirlwhosavedme。Zane,she"saChristian。Shewantstogowithme。Ican"tleaveher。"

"Iamwarningyou,that"sall。IfIwereyouI"dneverleavewithoutatrytofindthewhitegirl,andI"dneverforsakemyIndianbride。I"vebeenthroughthesamething。Youmustbeagoodwoodsman,orWetzelwouldn"thaveletyoustaywithhim。Pickoutafavorabletimeandmaketheattempt。IsuggestyoumakeyourIndiangirlshowyouwhereGirtyis。Sheknows,butisafraidtotellyou,forshefearsGirty。GetyourdogandhorsefromtheShawnee。That"safinehorse。Hecancarryyoubothtosafety。TakehimawayfromSilvertip。"

"How？"

"Gorightupanddemandyourhorseanddog。MostoftheseDelawaresarehonest,foralltheirblood—sheddingandcruelty。Withthemmightisright。

TheDelawareswon"ttrytogetyourhorseforyou;butthey"llsticktoyouwhenyouassertyourrights。Theydon"tliketheShawnee,anyhow。IfSilvertiprefusestogiveyouthehorse,grabhimbeforehecandrawaweapon,andbeathimgood。You"rebigenoughtodoit。TheDelawareswillbetickledtoseeyoupoundhim。He"sthickwithGirty;that"swhyhelaysroundhere。Takemyword,it"sthebestway。Doitopenly,andnoonewillinterfere。"

"ByHeavens,Zane,I"llgivehimadrubbing。Iowehimone,andamitchingtogetholdofhim。"

"Imustgonow。IshallsendaWyandotrunnertoyourbrotheratthevillage。

Theyshallbewarned。Good—by。Goodluck。Maywemeetagain。"

JoewatchedZanerideswiftlydownthelandanddisappearintheshrubbery。

WhisperingWindscametothedoorofthelodge。Shelookedanxiouslyathim。

Hewentwithin,drawingheralongwithhim,andquicklyinformedherthathehadlearnedthecauseofthecouncil,thathehadresolvedtogetaway,andshemustfindoutGirty"shidingplace。WhisperingWindsthrewherselfintohisarms,declaringwithanenergyandpassionunusualtoher,thatshewouldriskanythingforhim。SheinformedJoethatsheknewthedirectionfromwhichGirtyalwaysreturnedtothevillage。Nodoubtshecouldfindhisretreat。

WithacunningthatshowedherIndiannature,shesuggestedaplanwhichJoeatoncesawwasexcellent。AfterJoegothishorse,shewouldridearoundthevillage,thenoffintothewoods,whereshecouldleavethehorseandreturntosayhehadrunawayfromher。Aswastheircustomduringafternoons,theywouldwalkleisurelyalongthebrook,and,trustingtotheexcitementcreatedbythecouncils,getawayunobserved。Findthehorse,ifpossiblerescuetheprisoner,andthentraveleastwithallspeed。

Joeleftthelodgeatoncetobegintheworkingoutoftheplan。Luckfavoredhimattheoutset,forhemetSilvertipbeforethecouncillodge。TheShawneewasleadingLance,andthedogfollowedathisheels。ThespiritofMosehadbeenbroken。Poordog,Joethought,hehadbeenbeatenuntilhewasafraidtowaghistailathisoldmaster。Joe"sresentmentblazedintofury,buthekeptcooloutwardly。

RightbeforeacrowdofIndianswaitingforthecounciltobegin,JoeplantedhimselfinfrontoftheShawnee,barringhisway。

"Silvertiphasthepaleface"shorseanddog,"saidJoe,inaloudvoice。

ThechiefstaredhaughtilywhiletheotherIndianssaunterednearer。TheyallknewhowtheShawneehadgottheanimals,andnowawaitedtheoutcomeofthewhiteman"schallenge。

"Paleface——heap——liar,"growledtheIndian。Hisdarkeyesglowedcraftily,whilehishanddropped,apparentlyincarelesshabit,tothehaftofhistomahawk。

Joeswunghislongarm;hisbigfistcaughttheShawneeonthejaw,sendinghimtotheground。Utteringafrightfulyell,Silvertipdrewhisweaponandattemptedtorise,butthemoment"sdelayinseizingthehatchet,wasfataltohisdesign。Joewasuponhimwithtigerlikesuddenness。Onekicksentthetomahawkspinning,anotherlandedtheShawneeagainontheground。Blindwithrage,Silvertipleapedup,andwithoutaweaponrushedathisantagonist;buttheIndianwasnotaboxer,andhefailedtogethishandsonJoe。Shiftyandelusive,theladdodgedaroundthestrugglingsavage。One,two,threehardblowsstaggeredSilvertip,andafourth,deliveredwiththeforceofJoe"spowerfularm,caughttheIndianwhenhewasoffhisbalance,andfelledhim,batteredandbloody,onthegrass。ThesurroundingIndianslookeddownatthevanquishedShawnee,expressingtheirapprovalincharacteristicgrunts。

WithLanceprancingproudly,andMoseleapinglovinglybesidehim,Joewalkedbacktohislodge。WhisperingWindssprangtomeethimwithjoyfulface。ShehadfearedtheoutcomeoftroublewiththeShawnee,butnoqueeneverbestoweduponreturningvictoriouslordaloftierlookofpride,asweeterglanceoflove,thantheIndianmaidenbentuponherlover。

WhisperingWindsinformedJoethatanimportantcouncilwastobeheldthatafternoon。Itwouldbewiseforthemtomaketheattempttogetawayimmediatelyaftertheconveningofthechiefs。AccordinglyshegotuponLanceandrodehimupanddownthevillagelane,muchtothepleasureofthewatchingIndians。Shescatteredtheidlecrowdsonthegrassplots,shedashedthroughthesidestreets,andleteveryoneintheencampmentseeherclingingtotheblackstallion。Thensherodehimoutalongthecreek。Accustomedtoherimperiouswill,theIndiansthoughtnothingunusual。Whenshereturnedanhourlater,withflyinghairanddisheveledcostume,noonepaidparticularattentiontoher。

ThatafternoonJoeandhisbridewerethefavoredoffortune。WithMoserunningbeforethem,theygotclearoftheencampmentandintothewoods。

OnceintheforestWhisperingWindsrapidlyledthewayeast。Whentheyclimbedtothetopofarockyridgeshepointeddownintoathicketbeforeher,sayingthatsomewhereinthisdensehollowwasGirty"shut。JoehesitatedabouttakingMose。Hewantedthedog,butincasehehadtorunitwasnecessaryWhisperingWindsshouldfindhistrail,andforthisheleftthedogwithher。

Hestarteddowntheridge,andhadnotgoneahundredpaceswhenoversomegraybouldershesawthethatchedroofofahut。Sowildandsecludedwasthespot,thathewouldneverhavediscoveredthecabinfromanyotherpointthanthis,whichhehadbeensofortunateastofind。

HisstudyandpracticeunderWetzelnowstoodhimingoodstead。Hepickedoutthebestpathovertheroughstonesandthroughthebrambles,alwayskeepingundercover。Hesteppedascarefullyasifthehunterwasbehindhim。Soonhereachedlevelground。Adenselaurelthickethidthecabin,butheknewthedirectioninwhichitlay。Throwinghimselfflatontheground,hewormedhiswaythroughthethicket,carefully,yetswiftly,becauseheknewtherewasnotimetolose。Finallytherearofthecabinstoodinfrontofhim。

Itwasmadeoflogs,rudelyhewn,andasrudelythrowntogether。Inseveralplacesclayhadfallenfromchinksbetweenthetimbers,leavingsmallholes。

LikeasnakeJoeslippedclosetothehut。Raisinghisheadhelookedthroughoneofthecracks。

Instantlyheshrankbackintothegrass,shiveringwithhorror。Healmostchokedinhisattempttopreventanoutcry。

ChapterXVIII。

ThesightwhichJoehadseenhorrifiedhim,forseveralmoments,intohelplessinaction。Helaybreathingheavily,impotent,inanawfulrage。Asheremainedtherestunnedbytheshock,hegazedupthroughtheopenspaceintheleaves,tryingtostillhisfury,torealizethesituation,tomakenohastymove。Thesoftblueofthesky,thefleecycloudsdriftingeastward,theflutteringleavesandthetwitteringbirds——allassuredhimhewaswideawake。

HehadfoundGirty"sdenwheresomanywhitewomenhadbeenhidden,toseefriendsandhomenomore。Hehadseentherenegadesleeping,calmlysleepinglikeanyotherman。Howcouldthewretchsleep！HehadseenKate。Ithadbeenthesightofherthathadparalyzedhim。Tomakeacertaintyofhisfears,heagainraisedhimselftopeepintothehole。Ashedidsoafaintcrycamefromwithin。

Girtylayonabuffalorobenearabarreddoor。BeyondhimsatKate,huddledinonecornerofthecabin。Alongbuckskinthongwasknottedroundherwaist,andtiedtoalog。Herhairwasmattedandtangled,andonherfaceandarmsweremanydiscoloredbruises。Worsestill,inherplaintivemoaning,inthemeaninglessmovementofherhead,inhervacantexpression,wasproofthathermindhadgone。Shewasmad。EvenasanagonizingpitycameoverJoe,tobefollowedbythesurgingfireofrage,blazingupinhisbreast,hecouldnotbutthankGodthatshewasmad！ItwasmercifulthatKatewasnolongerconsciousofhersuffering。

LikeleavesinastormwaveredJoe"shandsasheclenchedthemuntilthenailsbroughtblood。"Becalm,becool,"whisperedhismonitor,Wetzel,everwithhiminspirit。ButGod！Couldhebecool？Boundingwithlion—springhehurledhisheavyframeagainstthedoor。

Crash！Thedoorwasburstfromitsfastenings。

Girtyleapedupwithstartledyell,drawinghisknifeasherose。IthadnottimetodescendbeforeJoe"ssecondspring,morefierceeventhantheother,carriedhimdirectlyontopoftherenegade。AsthetwowentdownJoecaughtthevillain"swristwithagripthatliterallycrackedthebones。Theknifefellandrolledawayfromthestrugglingmen。Foraninstanttheytumbledaboutonthefloor,claspedinacrushingembrace。Therenegadewasstrong,supple,slipperyasaneel。Twicehewriggledfromhisfoe。Gnashinghisteeth,hefoughtlikeahyena。Hewasfightingforlife——life,whichisneversodearastoacowardandamurderer。DoomglaredfromJoe"sbigeyes,andscreamafterscreamissuedfromtherenegade"swhitelips。

Terriblewasthisstruggle,butbrief。Joeseeminglyhadthestrengthoftenmen。TwicehepulledGirtydownasawolfdragsadeer。Hedashedhimagainstthewall,throwinghimnearingandnearertheknife。OncewithinreachofthebladeJoestrucktherenegadeasevereblowonthetempleandthevillain"swrestlingbecameweaker。PlantinghisheavykneeonGirty"sbreast,Joereachedfortheknife,andswungithigh。Exultantlyhecried,madwithlustforthebrute"sblood。

ButtheslightdelaysavedGirty"slife。

TheknifewasknockedfromJoe"shandandheleapederecttofindhimselfconfrontedbySilvertip。Thechiefheldatomahawkwithwhichhehadstrucktheweaponfromtheyoungman"sgrasp,and,tojudgefromhisburningeyesandmalignantsmile,hemeanttobrainthenowdefenselesspaleface。

InasinglefleetinginstantJoesawthatGirtywashelplessforthemoment,thatSilvertipwasconfidentofhisrevenge,andthatthesituationcalledforWetzel"scharacteristicadvice,"actlikelightnin"。"

SwifterthanthethoughtwastheleaphemadepastSilvertip。Itcarriedhimtoawoodenbarwhichlayonthefloor。Escapewaseasy,forthedoorwasbeforehimandtheShawneebehind,butJoedidnotflee！HeseizedthebarandrushedattheIndian。Thenbeganaduelinwhichthesavage"squicknessandcunningmatchedthewhiteman"sstrengthandfury。SilvertipdodgedtheviciousswingsJoeaimedathim;heparriedmanyblows,anyoneofwhichwouldhavecrushedhisskull。Nimbleasacat,heavoidedeveryrush,whilehisdarkeyeswatchedforanopening。Hefoughtwhollyonthedefensive,craftilyreservinghisstrengthuntilhisopponentshouldtire。

Atlast,catchingthebaronhishatchet,hebroketheforceoftheblow,andthen,withagilemovement,droppedtothegroundandgrappledJoe"slegs。Longbeforethishehaddrawnhisknife,andnowheusedit,plungingthebladeintotheyoungman"sside。

Cunningandsuccessfulaswasthesavage"sruse,itfailedsignally,fortogetholdoftheShawneewasallJoewanted。Feelingthesharppainastheyfelltogether,hereachedhishandbehindhimandcaughtSilvertip"swrist。

Exertingallhispower,hewrenchedtheIndian"sarmsothatitwasnotonlydislocated,butthebonescracked。

Silvertipsawhisfatalmistake,butheutterednosound。Crippled,thoughhewas,heyetmadeasupremeeffort,butitwasasifhehadbeeninthehandsofagiant。Theladhandledhimwithremorselessandresistlessfury。Suddenlyhegraspedtheknife,whichSilvertiphadbeenunabletoholdwithhiscrippledhand,andthrustitdeeplyintotheIndian"sside。

AllSilvertip"smusclesrelaxedasifastrongtensionhadbeenremoved。

Slowlyhislegsstraightened,hisarmsdropped,andfromhissidegushedadarkflood。Ashadowcreptoverhisface,notdarknorwhite,butjustashadow。Hiseyeslosttheirhate;theynolongersawthefoe,theylookedbeyondwithgloomyquestion,andthenwerefixedcoldindeath。Silvertipdiedashehadlived——achief。

JoeglaredroundforGirty。Hewasgone,havingslippedawayduringthefight。

Theladturnedtoreleasethepoorprisoner,whenhestartedbackwithacryoffear。Katelaybathedinapoolofblood——dead。Therenegade,fearingshemightberescued,hadmurderedher,andthenfledfromthecabin。

Almostblindedbyhorror,andstaggeringwithweakness,Joeturnedtoleavethecabin。Realizingthathewasseriously,perhapsdangerously,woundedhewiselythoughthemustnotleavetheplacewithoutweapons。Hehadmarkedthepegswheretherenegade"sriflehung,andhadbeencarefultokeepbetweenthatandhisenemies。Hetookdownthegunandhorns,whichwereattachedtoit,and,withonelastshudderingglanceatpoorKate,lefttheplace。

Hewasconsciousofaqueerlightnessinhishead,buthesufferednopain。

Hisgarmentsweredrippingwithblood。Hedidnotknowhowmuchofitwashis,ortheIndian"s。Instinctratherthansightwashisguide。Hegrewweakerandweaker;hisheadbegantowhirl,yethekepton,knowingthatlifeandfreedomwerehisifhefoundWhisperingWinds。Hegainedthetopoftheridge;hiseyeswereblurred,hisstrengthgone。Hecalledaloud,andthenplungedforwardonhisface。Hehearddimly,asthoughthesoundwereafaroff,thewhineofadog。Hefeltsomethingsoftandwetonhisface。Thenconsciousnesslefthim。

Whenheregainedhissenseshewaslyingonabedoffernsunderaprojectingrock。Heheardthegurgleofrunningwaterminglingwiththesongofbirds。

NearhimlayMose,andbeyondroseawallofgreenthicket。NeitherWhisperingWindsnorhishorsewasvisible。

Hefeltadreamylassitude。Hewastired,buthadnopain。Findinghecouldmovewithoutdifficulty,heconcludedhisweaknesswasmorefromlossofbloodthanadangerouswound。Heputhishandontheplacewherehehadbeenstabbed,andfeltasoft,warmcompresssuchasmighthavebeenmadebyabunchofwetleaves。Someonehadunlacedhishunting—shirt——forhesawthestringswerenotasheusuallytiedthem——andhaddressedthewound。Joedecided,aftersomedeliberation,thatWhisperingWindshadfoundhim,madehimascomfortableaspossible,and,leavingMoseonguard,hadgoneouttohuntforfood,orperhapsbacktotheIndianencampment。TherifleandhornshehadtakenfromGirty"shut,togetherwithSilvertip"sknife,laybesidehim。

AsJoelaytherehopingforWhisperingWinds"return,hisreflectionswerenotpleasant。Fortunate,indeed,hewastobealive;buthehadnohopehecouldcontinuetobefavoredbyfortune。Oddswerenowagainsthisescape。GirtywouldhavetheDelawaresonhistraillikeapackofhungrywolves。HecouldnotunderstandtheabsenceofWhisperingWinds。Shewouldhavediedsoonerthandeserthim。Girtyhad,perhaps,capturedher,andwasnowscouringthewoodsforhim。

"I"llgethimnexttime,orhe"llgetme,"mutteredJoe,inbitterwrath。Hecouldneverforgivehimselfforhisfailuretokilltherenegade。

TherecollectionofhownearlyhehadforeverendedGirty"sbrutalcareerbroughtbeforeJoe"smindthesceneofthefight。HesawagainBuzzardJim"sface,revolting,unlikeanythinghuman。TherestretchedSilvertip"sdarkfigure,lyingstillandstark,andtherewasKate"swhiteforminitswinding,crimsonwreathofblood。Hauntinglyherfacereturned,sad,sterninitscoldrigidity,。

"Poorgirl,betterforhertobedead,"hemurmured。"Notlongwillshebeunavenged！"

Histhoughtsdriftedtothefuture。Hehadnofearofstarvation,forMosecouldcatcharabbitorwoodchuckatanytime。Whenthestripsofmeathehadhiddeninhiscoatweregone,hecouldstartafireandroastmore。Whatconcernedhimmostwaspursuit。Histrailfromthecabinhadbeenabloodyone,whichwouldrenderiteasilyfollowed。Hedarednotriskexertionuntilhehadgivenhiswoundtimetoheal。Then,ifhedidescapefromGirtyandtheDelawares,hisfuturewasnotbright。Hisexperiencesofthelastfewdayshadnotonlysobered,butbroughthometohimthisrealborderlife。Withallhisfireanddaringhenewhewasnofool。Hehadeagerlyembracedacareerwhich,atthepresentstageofhistraining,wasbeyondhisscope——notthathedidnotknowhowtoactinsuddencrises,butbecausehehadnothadthenecessarypracticetoquicklyandsurelyusehisknowledge。

Bitter,indeed,washisself—scornwhenherecalledthatoftheseveralcriticalpositionshehadbeeninsincehisacquaintancewithWetzel,hehadfailedinallbutone。TheexceptionwasthekillingofSilvertip。HerehisfuryhadmadehimfightasWetzelfoughtwithonlyhiseverydayincentive。Herealizedthattheborderwasnoplaceforanysavetheboldestandmostexperiencedhunters——menwhohadbecomeinuredtohardship,callousastodeath,keenasIndians。FearwasnotinJoenorlackofconfidence;buthehadgoodsense,andrealizedhewouldhavedoneawiserthinghadhestayedatFortHenry。ColonelZanewasright。TheIndiansweretigers,therenegadesvultures,thevastuntrammeledforestsandplainstheircovert。Tenyearsofwarhadrenderedthiswildernessaplacewherethosefewwhitemenwhohadsurvivedwerehardenedtothespillingofblood,sterneveninthosefewquiethourswhichperilallowedthem,strongintheirsacrificeofallforfuturegenerations。

AlowgrowlfromMosebrokeintoJoe"sreflections。Thedoghadraisedhisnosefromhispawsandsniffedsuspiciouslyattheair。Theladheardaslightrustlingoutside,andinanothermomentwasoverjoyedatseeingWhisperingWinds。Shecameswiftly,withalithe,gracefulmotion,andflyingtohimlikearushofwind,kneltbesidehim。Shekissedhimandmurmuredwordsofendearment。

"Winds,wherehaveyoubeen？"heaskedher,inthemixedEnglishandIndiandialectinwhichtheyconversed。

Shetoldhimthedoghadledhertohimtwoeveningsbefore。Hewasinsensible。Shehadbathedandbandagedhiswound,andremainedwithhimallthatnight。Thenextday,findinghewasillanddelirious,shedecidedtoriskreturningtothevillage。Ifanyquestionsarose,shecouldsayhehadlefther。Thenshewouldfindawaytogetbacktohim,bringinghealingherbsforhiswoundandasoothingdrink。AsitturnedoutGirtyhadreturnedtothecamp。Hewasbatteredandbruised,andinawhiteheatofpassion。GoingatoncetoWingenund,therenegadeopenlyaccusedWhisperingWindsofaidingherpalefacelovertoescape。Wingenundcalledhisdaughterbeforehim,andquestionedher。Sheconfessedalltoherfather。

"WhyisthedaughterofWingenundatraitortoherrace？"demandedthechief。

"WhisperingWindsisaChristian。"

Wingenundreceivedthisintelligenceasablow。HedismissedGirtyandsenthisbravesfromhislodge,facinghisdaughteralone。Gloomyandstern,hepacedbeforeher。

"Wingenund"sbloodmightchange,butwouldneverbetray。WingenundistheDelawarechief,"hesaid。"Go。DarkennomorethedoorofWingenund"swigwam。

LetthefloweroftheDelawaresfadeinalienpastures。Go。WhisperingWindsisfree！"

TearsshonebrightlyintheIndiangirl"seyeswhileshetoldJoeherstory。

Shelovedherfather,andshewouldseehimnomore。

"Windsisfree,"shewhispered。"Whenstrengthreturnstohermastershecanfollowhimtothewhitevillages。Windswillliveherlifeforhim。"

"Thenwehavenoonetofear？"askedJoe。

"Noredman,nowthattheShawneechiefisdead。"

"WillGirtyfollowus？Heisacoward;hewillfeartocomealone。"

"Thewhitesavageisasnakeinthegrass。"

Twolongdaysfollowed,duringwhichtheloverslayquietlyinhiding。OnthemorningofthethirddayJoefeltthathemightriskthestartfortheVillageofPeace。WhisperingWindsledthehorsebelowastoneuponwhichtheinvalidstood,thusenablinghimtomount。Thenshegotonbehindhim。

Thesunwasjustgildingthehorizonwhentheyrodeoutofthewoodsintoawideplain。Nolivingthingcouldbeseen。Alongtheedgeoftheforestthegroundwaslevel,andthehorsetraveledeasily。SeveraltimesduringthemorningJoedismountedbesideapileofstonesorafallentree。Themilesweretraversedwithoutseriousinconveniencetotheinvalid,exceptthathegrewtired。Towardthemiddleoftheafternoon,whentheyhadriddenperhapstwenty—fivemiles,theycrossedaswift,narrowbrook。Thewaterwasabeautifulclearbrown。Joemadenoteofthis,asitwasanunusualcircumstance。Nearlyallthestreams,whennotflooded,weregreenincolor。

HerememberedthatduringhiswanderingswithWetzeltheyhadfoundonestreamofthisbrown,copper—coloredwater。TheladknewhemusttakearoundaboutwaytothevillagesothathemightavoidIndianrunnersorscouts,andhehopedthisstreamwouldprovetobetheonehehadoncecampedupon。

Astheywereridingtowardagentleswellorknollcoveredwithtreesandshrubbery,WhisperingWindsfeltsomethingwarmonherhand,and,looking,washorrifiedtofinditcoveredwithblood。Joe"swoundhadopened。Shetoldhimtheymustdismounthere,andremainuntilhewasstronger。Theinvalidhimselfthoughtthisconclusionwaswise。Theywouldbepracticallysafenow,sincetheymustbeoutoftheIndianpath,andmanymilesfromtheencampment。

Accordinglyhegotoffthehorse,andsatdownonalog,whileWhisperingWindssearchedforasuitableplaceinwhichtoerectatemporaryshelter。

Joe"swanderinggazewasarrestedbyatreewithahugeknottyformationneartheground。Itwaslikemanytrees,butthispeculiaritywasnotwhatstruckJoe。Hehadseenitbefore。Heneverforgotanythinginthewoodsthatonceattractedhisattention。Helookedaroundonallsides。Justbehindhimwasanopeningintheclumpoftrees。Withinthiswasaperpendicularstonecoveredwithmossandlichens;aboveitabeechtreespreadlong,gracefulbranches。Hethrilledwiththeremembrancethesefamiliarmarksbrought。ThiswasBeautifulSpring,theplacewhereWetzelrescuedNell,wherehehadkilledtheIndiansinthatnightattackhewouldneverforget。

ChapterXIX。

OneeveningaweekormoreafterthedisappearanceofJimandthegirls,GeorgeYoungandDavidEdwards,themissionaries,satonthecabinsteps,gazingdisconsolatelyupontheforestscenery。HardashadbeenthetenyearsoftheirlaboramongtheIndians,nothinghadshakenthemasthelossoftheiryoungfriends。

"Dave,Itellyouyourtheoryaboutseeingthemagainisabsurd,"assertedGeorge。"I"llneverforgetthatwretch,Girty,ashespoketoNell。Why,shejustwiltedlikeaflowerblastedbyfire。Ican"tunderstandwhyheletmego,andkeptJim,unlesstheShawneehadsomethingtodowithit。IneverwisheduntilnowthatIwasahunter。I"dgoafterGirty。You"veheardaswellasIofhismanyatrocities。I"dratherhaveseenKateandNelldeadthanhavethemfallintohispower。I"dratherhavekilledthemmyself！"

Younghadagedperceptiblyintheselastfewdays。Theblueveinsshowedathistemples;hisfacehadbecomethinnerandpaler,hiseyeshadalookofpain。Theformerexpressionofpatience,whichhadsatsowellonhim,wasgone。

"George,Ican"taccountformyfanciesorfeelings,else,perhaps,I"dbeeasierinmind,"answeredDave。Hisface,too,showedtheravagesofgrief。

"I"vehadqueerthoughtslately,anddreamssuchasIneverhadbefore。

Perhapsit"sthistroublewhichhasmademesonervous。Idon"tseemabletopullmyselftogether。Icanneitherpreachnorwork。"

"NeithercanI！Thistroublehashityouashardasithasme。But,Dave,we"vestillourduty。Toendure,toendure——thatisourlife。Becauseabeamofsunshinebrightened,forabrieftime,thegrayofourlives,andthenfadedaway,wemustnotshirknorgrowsouranddiscontented。"

"Buthowcruelisthisborderlife！"

"Natureitselfisbrutal。"

"Yes,Iknow,andwehaveelectedtospendourliveshereinthemidstofthisceaselessstrife,tofarepoorly,tohavenopleasure,nevertofeelthecomfortofawoman"ssmiles,northejoyofachild"scaress,allbecauseoutinthewoodsaretenortwentyorahundredsavageswemayconvert。"

"Thatiswhy,anditisenough。Itishardtogiveupthewomenyoulovetoablack—souledrenegade,butthatisnotformythought。Whatkillsmeisthehorrorforher——forher。"