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。