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。