Glickhicanwounduphislongdiscoursesbydeclaringhehadneverliedinthewholecourseofhisseventyyears,hadneverstolen,neverbetrayed,nevermurdered,neverkilled,saveinself—defence。Gazingatthechief'sfinefeatures,nowcalm,yetshowingtracesofpaststorms,Jimbelievedhespokethetruth。
　　Whentheyoungministercame,however,tostudythehostileIndiansthatflockedtothevillage,anyconclusivedelineationofcharacter,oranysatisfactoryanalysisoftheirmentalstateinregardtothepalefacereligion,eludedhim。Theirpassive,silent,sphinx—likesecretivenesswasbaffling。Glickhicanhadtaughthimhowtopropitiatethefriendlybraves,andwiththesehewassuccessful。Littlehelearned,however,fromtheunfriendlyones。Whenmakinggiftstotheseredmenhecouldneverbecertainthathisofferingswereappreciated。ThejewelsandgoldhehadbroughtwestwithhimwenttotheFrenchtraders,whoinexchangegavehimtrinkets,baubles,braceletsandweapons。Jimmadehundredsofpresents。Boldlygoinguptobefeatheredandbefringedchieftains,heofferedthemknives,hatchets,orstringsofsilverybeads。Sometimeshiskindlyofferingswererepelledwithahaughtystare;atothertimestheywouldbeacceptedcoldly,suspiciously,asifthegiftsbroughtsomeunknownobligation。
　　Forawhitemanitwasanever—to—be—forgottenexperiencetoseeeightortenofthesegrim,slowlysteppingforestkings,arrayedinalltherichsplendoroftheircostume,stalkingamongtheteepeesoftheVillageofPeace。Somehow,suchaprocessionalwaysmadeJimshiver。Thesinging,prayingandpreachingtheyheardunmoved。Noemotionwasvisibleontheirbronzedfaces;nothingchangedtheirunalterablemien。Hadtheynotmoved,orgazedwithburningeyes,theywouldhavebeenstatues。WhenthesechieftainslookedattheconvertedIndians,someofwhomwerebravesoftheirnations,thecontemptintheirglancesbetrayedthattheynowregardedtheseChristianIndiansasbelongingtoanalienrace。
　　AmongthechiefsGlickhicanpointedouttoJimwereWingenund,theDelaware;
　　Tellane,theHalf—King;ShingissandKotoxen——alloftheWolftribeoftheDelawares。
　　GlickhicanwascarefultoexplainthattheDelawarenationhadbeendividedintotheWolfandTurtletribes,theformerwarlikepeople,andthelatterpeaceable。FewoftheWolftribehadgoneovertothenewfaith,andthosewhohadwerescorned。Wingenund,thegreatpoweroftheDelawares——indeed,thegreatestofallthewesterntribes——maintainedaneutralattitudetowardtheVillageofPeace。Butitwaswellknownthathisright—handwar—chiefs,PipeandWishtonah,remainedcoldlyopposed。
　　Jimturnedallhehadlearnedoverandoverinhismind,tryingtoconstructpartofittofitintoasermonthatwouldbedifferentfromanytheIndianshadeverheard。Hedidnotwanttopreachfarovertheirheads。Ifpossible,hedesiredtokeeptotheirideals——forhedeemedthemmorebeautifulthanhisown——andtoconducthisteachingalongthesimplelinesoftheirbelief,sothatwhenhestimulatedanddevelopedtheirmindshecouldpassfromwhattheyknewtotheunknownChristianityofthewhiteman。
　　HisfirstaddresstotheIndianswasmadeonedayduringtheindispositionofMr。Wells——whohadbeenover—workinghimself—andtheabsenceoftheothermissionaries。Hedidnotconsiderhimselfatallreadyforpreaching,andconfinedhiseffortstosimple,earnesttalk,arecitalofthethoughtshehadassimilatedwhilelivinghereamongtheIndians。
　　Amazementwouldnothavedescribedthestateofhisfeelingswhenhelearnedthathehadmadeapowerfulimpression。Theconvertswereloudinhispraise;
　　theunbelieverssilentandthoughtful。Inspiteofhimself,longbeforehehadbeenprepared,hewaslaunchedonhisteaching。Everydayhewascalledupontospeak;everydayonesavage,atleast,wasconvinced;everydaythethrongofinterestedIndianswasaugmented。Theeldermissionarieswerequiteovercomewithjoy;theypressedhimdayafterdaytospeak,untilatlengthhealonepreachedduringtheafternoonservice。
　　Thenewsflewapace;theVillageofPeaceentertainedmoreredmenthaneverbefore。Daybydaythefaithgainedastrongerfoothold。AkindofreligioustranceaffectedsomeoftheconvertedIndians,andthisgreatlyinfluencedthedoubtingones。ManyofthemhalfbelievedtheGreatManitouhadcome。
　　Heckewelder,theacknowledgedleaderofthewesternMoravianMission,visitedthevillageatthistime,and,struckbytheyoungmissionary'ssuccess,arrangedathreedays'religiousfestival。Indianrunnerswereemployedtocarryinvitationstoallthetribes。TheWyandotsinthewest,theShawneesinthesouth,andtheDelawaresinthenorthwereespeciallyrequestedtocome。
　　NodeceptionwaspracticedtolurethedistantsavagestotheVillageofPeace。Theywereaskedtocome,partakeofthefeasts,andlistentothewhiteman'steaching。
　　ChapterXII。
　　"TheGrovesWereGod'sFirstTemples。"
　　FromdawnuntilnoononSundaybandsofIndiansarrivedattheVillageofPeace。Hundredsofcanoesglideddowntheswiftstreamandbumpedtheirprowsintothepebblybeach。Groupsofmountedwarriorsrodeoutoftheforestsintotheclearing;squawswithpapooses,maidenscarryingwickerbaskets,andchildrenplayingwithrudetoys,cametroopingalongthebridle—paths。
　　Giftswerepresentedduringthemorning,afterwhichthevisitorswerefeasted。Intheafternoonallassembledinthegrovetohearthepreaching。
　　ThemaplegrovewhereintheservicewastobeconductedmighthavebeenintendedbyNatureforjustsuchapurposeasitnowfulfilled。Thesetreeswerelarge,spreading,andsituatedfarapart。Mossystonesandthethickcarpetofgrassaffordedseatsforthecongregation。
　　Heckewelder——atall,spare,andkindlyappearingman——directedthearrangingofthecongregation。HeplacedtheconvertedIndiansjustbehindtheknolluponwhichthepresidingministerwastostand。Inahalfcirclefacingtheknollheseatedthechieftainsandimportantpersonagesofthevarioustribes。
　　HethenmadeashortaddressintheIndianlanguage,speakingoftheworkofthemission,whatwondersithadaccomplished,whatmoregoodworkithopedtodo,andconcludedbyintroducingtheyoungmissionary。
　　WhileHeckewelderspoke,Jim,whostoodjustbehind,employedthefewmomentsinrunninghiseyeoverthemultitude。Thesightwhichmethisgazewasonehethoughthewouldneverforget。Aninvoluntarywordescapedhim。
　　"Magnificent！"heexclaimed。
　　Theshadygladehadbeentransformedintoatheater,fromwhichgazedathousanddark,stillfaces。Athousandeagleplumeswaved,andtenthousandbright—huedfeathersquiveredinthesoftbreeze。Thefantasticallydressedscalpspresentedacontrasttothesmooth,unadornedheadsoftheconvertedredmen。TheseproudplumesanddefiantfeatherstoldthedifferencebetweensavageandChristian。
　　Infrontoftheknollsatfiftychiefs,attentiveanddignified。
　　RepresentativesofeverytribeasfarwestastheSciotoRiverwerenumberedinthatcircle。Therewerechiefsrenownedforwar,forcunning,forvalor,forwisdom。Theirstatelypresencegavethemeetingtenfoldimportance。Couldthesechiefsbeinterested,moved,thewholewesternworldofIndiansmightbecivilized。
　　Hepote,aMaumeechief,ofwhomitwassaidhehadneverlistenedtowordsofthepaleface,hadthecentralpositioninthiscircle。Onhisrightandleft,respectively,satShaushotoandPipe,implacablefoesofallwhitemen。Thelatter'saspectdidnotbeliehisreputation。Hiscopper—colored,repulsivevisagecompelledfear;itbreathedvindictivenessandmalignity。Asingularactionofhiswasthathealways,inwhatmusthavebeenhisarrogantvanity,turnedhisprofiletothosewhowatchedhim,anditwasaremarkableone;itslopedinanobliquelinefromthetopofhisforeheadtohisprotrudingchin,resemblingsomewhatthecarvedbowlofhispipe,whichwasofflintandafamedinheritancefromhisancestors。Fromithetookhisname。Onesolitaryeagleplume,itstipstainedvermilion,stuckfromhisscalp—lock。Itslatedbackwardonalinewithhisprofile。
　　Amongallthesechiefs,strikingastheywere,thefigureofWingenund,theDelaware,stoodoutalone。
　　Hispositionwasattheextremeleftofthecircle,whereheleanedagainstamaple。Along,blackmantle,trimmedwithspotlesswhite,envelopedhim。Onebronzedarm,circledbyaheavybraceletofgold,heldthemantlecloseabouthisloftyform。Hisheaddress,whichtrailedtotheground,wasexceedinglybeautiful。Theeagleplumeswereofuniformlengthandpurewhite,excepttheblack—pointedtips。
　　Athisfeetsathisdaughter,WhisperingWinds。Hermaidensweregatheredroundher。Sheraisedhersoft,blackeyes,shiningwithawondrouslightofsurpriseandexpectation,totheyoungmissionary'sface。
　　BeyondthecircletheIndiansweremassedtogether,evenbeyondthelimitsoftheglade。Underthetreesoneverysidesatwarriorsastridetheirsteeds;
　　someloungedonthegreenturf;manyreclinedinthebranchesoflow—spreadingmaples。
　　AsJimlookedoutovertheseaoffaceshestartedinsurprise。Thesuddenglanceoffieryeyeshadimpelledhisgaze。HerecognizedSilvertip,theShawneechief。TheIndiansatmotionlessonapowerfulblackhorse。Jimstartedagain,forthehorsewasJoe'sthoroughbred,Lance。ButJimhadnofurthertimetothinkofJoe'senemy,forHeckeweldersteppedback。
　　Jimtookthevacatedseat,and,withafar—reaching,resonantvoicebeganhisdiscoursetotheIndians。
　　"Chieftains,warriors,maidens,childrenoftheforest,listen,andyourearsshallhearnolie。IamcomefromwherethesunrisestotellyouoftheGreatSpiritofthewhiteman。
　　"Many,manymoonsago,asmanyasbladesofgrassgrowonyonderplain,theGreatSpiritofwhomIshallspeakcreatedtheworld。Hemadethesparklinglakesandswiftrivers,theboundlessplainsandtangledforests,overwhichHecausedthesuntoshineandtheraintofall。Hegavelifetothekinglyelk,thegracefuldeer,therollingbison,thebear,thefox——allthebeastsandbirdsandfishes。ButHewasnotcontentfornothingHemadewasperfectinHissight。HecreatedthewhitemaninHisownimage,andfromthisfirstman'sribHecreatedhismate——awoman。Heturnedthemfreeinabeautifulforest。
　　"Lifewasfairinthebeautifulforest。Thesunshonealways,thebirdssang,thewatersflowedwithmusic,theflowerscastsweetfragranceontheair。Inthisforest,wherefruitbloomedalways,wasonetree,theTreeofLife,theappleofwhichtheymustnoteat。Inallthisbeautifulforestofabundancethisapplealonewasforbiddenthem。
　　"Nowevilwasbornwithwoman。AserpenttemptedhertoeatoftheappleofLife,andshetemptedthemantoeat。FortheirsintheGreatSpiritcommandedtheserpenttocrawlforeveronhisbelly,andHedrovethemfromthebeautifulforest。Thepunishmentfortheirsinwastobevisitedontheirchildren'schildren,always,untiltheendoftime。Thetwowentafarintothedarkforest,tolearntoliveasbesttheymight。Fromthemalltribesdescended。Theworldiswide。Awarriormightrunallhisdaysandnotreachthesettingsun,wheretribesofyellow—skinslive。Hemighttravelhalfhisdaystowardthesouth—wind,wheretribesofblack—skinsabound。Peopleofallcolorsinhabitedtheworld。Theylivedinhatredtowardoneanother。Theyshedeachother'sblood;theystoleeachother'slands,gold,andwomen。Theysinned。
　　"ManymoonsagotheGreatSpiritsorrowedtoseeHischosentribe,thepalefaces,livinginignoranceandsin。HesentHisonlySontoredeemthem,andsaidiftheywouldlistenandbelieve,andteachtheothertribes,Hewouldforgivetheirsinandwelcomethemtothebeautifulforest。
　　"Thatwasmoonsandmoonsago,whenthepalefacekilledhisbrotherforgoldandlands,andbeathiswomenslavestomakethemplanthiscorn。TheSonoftheGreatSpiritliftedthecloudfromthepalefaces'eyes,andtheysawandlearned。SopleasedwastheGreatSpiritthatHemadethepalefaceswiserandwiser,andmasteroftheworld。Hebidthemgoafartoteachtheignoranttribes。
　　"Toteachyouiswhytheyoungpalefacejourneyedfromtherisingsun。Hewantsnolandsorpower。Hehasgivenallthathehad。Hewalksamongyouwithoutgunorknife。Hecangainnothingbutthehappinessofopeningtheredmen'seyes。
　　"TheGreatSpiritofwhomIteachandtheGreatManitou,youridol,arethesame;thehappyhuntinggroundoftheIndianandthebeautifulforestofthepalefacearethesame;thepalefaceandtheredmanarethesame。ThereisbutoneGreatSpirit,thatisGod;butoneeternalhome,thatisheaven;butonehumanbeing,thatisman。
　　"TheIndianknowsthehabitsofthebeaver;hecanfollowthepathsoftheforests;hecanguidehiscanoethroughthefoamingrapids;heishonest,heisbrave,heisgreat;butheisnotwise。Hiswisdomiscloudedwiththeoriginalsin。Helivesinidleness;hepaintshisface;hemakeshissquawlaborforhim,insteadoflaboringforher;hekillshisbrothers。Heworshipsthetreesandrocks。Ifhewerewisehewouldnotmakegodsoftheswiftarrowandboundingcanoe;ofthefloweringashandtheflamingflint。Forthesethingshavenotlife。Inhisdreamsheseeshisarrowspeedtothereelingdeer;inhisdreamsheseeshiscanoeshootoverthecrestofshiningwaves;
　　andinhismindhegivesthemlife。Whenhiseyesareopenedhewillseetheyhavenospirit。Thespiritisinhisownheart。Itguidesthearrowtotherunningdeer,andsteersthecanoeovertheswirlingcurrent。Thespiritmakeshimfindtheuntroddenpaths,anddobravedeeds,andlovehischildrenandhishonor。Itmakeshimmeethisfoefacetoface,andifheistodieitgiveshimstrengthtodie——aman。Thespiritiswhatmakeshimdifferentfromthearrow,thecanoe,themountain,andallthebirdsandbeasts。ForitisbornoftheGreatSpirit,thecreatorofall。Himyoumustworship。
　　"Redmen,thisworshipisunderstandingyourspiritandteachingittodogooddeeds。ItiscalledChristianity。Christianityislove。IfyouwilllovetheGreatSpirityouwillloveyourwives,yourchildren,yourbrothers,yourfriends,yourfoes——youwilllovethepalefaces。Nomorewillyouidleinwinterandwagewarsinsummer。Youwillwearyourknifeandtomahawkonlywhenyouhuntformeat。Youwillbekind,gentle,loving,virtuous——youwillhavegrownwise。Whenyourdaysaredoneyouwillmeetallyourlovedonesinthebeautifulforest。There,wheretheflowersbloom,thefruitsripenalways,wherethepleasantwaterglidesandthesummerwindswhispersweetly,therepeacewilldwellforever。
　　"Comrades,bewise,thinkearnestly。Forgetthewickedpaleface;fortherearemanywickedpalefaces。Theyselltheserpentfirewater;theylieandstealandkill。Thesepalefaces'eyesarestillclouded。Iftheydonotopentheywillneverseethebeautifulforest。Youhavemuchtoforgive,butthosewhoforgivepleasetheGreatSpirit;youmustgiveyourselvestolove,butthosewholoveareloved;youmustwork,butthosewhoworkarehappy。
　　"BeholdtheVillageofPeace！Onceitcontainedfew;nowtherearemany。
　　Whereoncethedarkforestshadedtheland,seethecabins,thefarms,thehorses,thecattle！Fieldonfieldofwaving,goldengrainshinethereunderyoureyes。Theearthhasblossomedabundance。Idlingandfightingmadenottheserichharvests。Beliefmadelove;lovemadewiseeyes;wiseeyessaw,andlo！therecameplenty。
　　"Theproofofloveishappiness。TheseChristianIndiansarehappy。Theyareatpeacewiththeredmanandthepaleface。Theytillthefieldsandworkintheshops。Indaystocomecabinsandfarmsandfieldsofcornwillbetheirs。
　　Theywillbringuptheirchildren,nottohideintheforesttoslay,buttowalkhandinhandwiththepalefacesasequals。
　　"Oh,openyourears！Godspeakstoyou;peaceawaitsyou！Castthebitternessfromyourhearts;itistheserpent—poison。Whileyouhate,GodshutsHiseyes。Youaregreatonthetrail,inthecouncil,inwar;nowbegreatinforgiveness。Forgivethepalefaceswhohaverobbedyouofyourlands。Thenwillcomepeace。Ifyoudonotforgive,thewarwillgoon;youwillloselandsandhomes,tofindunmarkedgravesundertheforestleaves。Revengeissweet;butitisnotwise。Thepriceofrevengeisbloodandlife。Rootitoutofyourhearts。LovetheseChristianIndians;lovethemissionariesastheyloveyou;lovealllivingcreatures。Yourdaysarebutfew;therefore,ceasethethestrife。Letussay,'Brothers,thatisGod'sword,Hislaw;thatislove;thatisChristianity！'Ifyouwillsayfromyourheart,brother,youareaChristian。
　　"Brothers,thepalefaceteacherbeseechesyou。Thinknotofthislong,bloodywar,ofyourdishonoreddead,ofyoursilencedwigwams,ofyournamelessgraves,ofyourhomelesschildren。Thinkofthefuture。Onewordfromyouwillmakepeaceoverallthisbroadland。ThepalefacemusthonoraChristian。HecanstealnoChristian'sland。Allthepalefaces,asmanyasthestarsofthegreatwhitepath,darenotinvadetheVillageofPeace。ForGodsmileshere。
　　ListentoHiswords:'Comeuntomeallthatarewearyandheavyladen,andI
　　willgiveyourest。'"
　　Overthemultitudebroodedanimpressive,solemnsilence。ThenanagedDelawarechiefrose,withamienofprofoundthought,andslowlypacedbeforethecircleofchiefs。Presentlyhestopped,turnedtotheawaitingIndians,andspoke:
　　"NetawatweesisalmostpersuadedtobeaChristian。"Heresumedhisseat。
　　Anotherintervalofpenetratingquietensued。Atlengthavenerable—lookingchieftaingotup:
　　"WhiteEyeshearstherumblingthunderinhisears。Thesmokeblowsfromhiseyes。WhiteEyesistheoldestchiefoftheLenni—Lenape。Hisdaysaremany;
　　theyarefull;theydrawneartheeveningofhislife;herejoicesthatwisdomiscomebeforehissunisset。
　　"WhiteEyesbelievestheyoungWhiteFather。ThewaysoftheGreatSpiritaremanyastheflutteringleaves;theyarestrangeandsecretastheflightofaloon;WhiteEyesbelievestheredman'shappyhuntinggroundsneednotbeforgottentolovethepalefaces'God。Asayoungbravepantsandpuzzlesoverhisfirsttrail,sothegrownwarriorfeelsinhisunderstandingofhisGod。
　　Hegropesblindlythroughdarkravines。
　　"WhiteEyesspeaksfewwordsto—day,forheislearningwisdom;hebidshispeoplehearkentothevoiceoftheWhiteFather。Wariswrong;peaceisbest。
　　Loveisthewaytopeace。ThepalefaceadvancesonestepnearerhisGod。Helaborsforhishome;hekeepsthepeace;heasksbutlittle;hefreeshiswomen。Thatiswell。WhiteEyeshasspoken。"
　　TheoldchiefslowlyadvancedtowardtheChristianIndians。Helaidasidehisknifeandtomahawk,andthenhiseagleplumesandwar—bonnet。Bareheaded,heseatedhimselfamongtheconvertedredmen。Theybeganchantinginlow,murmuringtones。
　　Amidthebreathlesssilencethatfollowedthisactofsuchgreatsignificance,Wingenundadvancedtowardtheknollwithslow,statelystep。Hisdarkeyesweptthegladewithlightningscorn;hisglancealonerevealedthepassionthatswayedhim。
　　"Wingenund'searsarekeen;theyhaveheardafeatherfallinthestorm;nowtheyhearasoft—voicedthrush。Wingenundthunderstohispeople,tohisfriends,tothechiefsofothertribes:'Donotburythehatchet！'TheyoungWhiteFather'stonguerunssmoothliketheglidingbrook;itsingsasthethrushcallsitsmate。Listen;butwait,wait！Lettimeprovehisbeautifultale;letthemoonsgobyovertheVillageofPeace。
　　"Wingenunddoesnotflaunthiswisdom。Hehasgrownoldamonghiswarriors;helovesthem;hefearsforthem。Thedreamofthepalefaces'beautifulforestglimmersastherainbowglowsoverthelaughingfallsoftheriver。Thedreamofthepalefaceistoobeautifultocometrue。Inthedaysoflongago,whenWingenund'sforefathersheardnotthepaleface'sax,theylivedinloveandhappinesssuchastheyoungWhiteFatherdreamsmaycomeagain。Theywagednowars。Awhitedovesatineverywigwam。Thelandsweretheirsandtheywererich。Thepalefacecamewithhisleadendeath,hisburningfirewater,hisringingax,andthegloryoftheredmenfadedforever。
　　"Wingenundseeksnottoinflamehisbravestoanger。Heissickofblood—spilling——notfromfear;forWingenundcannotfeelfear。Butheaskshispeopletowait。Remember,thegiftsofthepalefaceevercontainedapoisonedarrow。Wingenund'sheartissore。Thedayoftheredmanisgone。Hissunissetting。Wingenundfeelsalreadythegrayshadesofevening。"
　　Hestoppedonelongmomentasiftogatherbreathforhisfinalchargetohislisteners。Thenwithamagnificentgesturehethundered:
　　"IstheDelawareafool？WhenWingenundcancrossunarmedtotheBigWaterheshallchangehismind。WhenDeathwindceasestoblowhisbloodytrailoverthefallenleavesWingenundwillbelieve。"
　　ChapterXIII。
　　Asthesummerwaned,eachsucceedingday,withitsmelancholycalm,itschanginglightsandshades,itscool,dampeveningwinds,growingmoreandmoresuggestiveofautumn,thelittlecolonyofwhitepeopleintheVillageofPeaceledbusy,eventfullives。
　　UpwardsoffiftyIndians,severalofthemimportantchiefs,hadbecomeconvertedsincetheyoungmissionarybeganpreaching。Heckewelderdeclaredthatthiswasawonderfulshowing,andifitcouldbekeptupwouldresultingainingaholdontheIndiantribeswhichmightnotbeshaken。HeckewelderhadsucceededininterestingthesavageswestoftheVillageofPeacetotheextentofpermittinghimtoestablishmissionarypostsintwootherlocalities——onenearGoshhocking,aDelawaretown;andoneontheMuskingong,theprincipalriverrunningthroughcentralOhio。Hehad,withhishelpers,YoungandEdwards,journeyedfromtimetotimetothesepoints,preaching,makinggifts,andsolicitinghelpfromchiefs。
　　Themostinterestingfeature,perhaps,ofthevariedlifeofthemissionarypartywasarivalrybetweenYoungandEdwardsfortheelderMissWells。
　　UsuallyNell'sattractivenessappealedmoretomenthanKate's;however,inthisinstance,althoughthesoberteachersofthegospeladmiredNell'swinsomebeauty,theyfellinlovewithKate。Themissionarieswerebothunderforty,andgood,honestmen,devotedtotheworkwhichhadengrossedthemforyears。Althoughtheywereardentlovers,certainlytheywerenotpicturesque。
　　Twohomeliermencouldhardlyhavebeenfound。Moreover,thesacrificeoftheirlivestomissionaryworkhadtakenthemfarfromthecompanionshipofwomenoftheirownrace,sothattheylackedtheeaseofmannerwhichwomenliketoseeinmen。YoungandEdwardswereawkward,almostuncouth。
　　EmbarrassmentwouldnothavedonejusticetotheirstateoffeelingwhilebaskingintheshineofKate'squietsmile。Theywerehappy,foolish,andspeechless。
　　IfKatesharedinthemerrimentoftheothers——Heckeweldercouldnotconcealhis,andNelldidnottryveryhardtohidehers——sheneverallowedasuspicionofittoescape。Shekepttheeasy,eventenorofherlife,alwayskindandgraciousinherquaintway,andpreciselythesametobothherlovers。Nodoubtshewellknewthateachpossessed,underallhisroughexterior,aheartofgold。
　　OnedaythegenialHeckewelderlost,orpretendedtolose,hispatience。
　　"Say,youworthygentlemenarebecomingornamentalinsteadofuseful。Allthischangingofcoats,trimmingofmustaches,andeloquentsighingdoesn'tseemtohaveaffectedtheyounglady。I'veanotiontosendyoubothtoMaumeetown,onehundredmilesaway。Thisyoungladyischarming,Iadmit,butifsheistokeeponseriouslyhinderingtheworkoftheMoravianMissionImustobject。Asforthatmatter,Imighttryconclusionsmyself。I'masyoungaseitherofyou,and,Iflattermyself,muchhandsomer。You'llhaveadangerousrivalpresently。Settleit！Youcan'tbothhaveher;settleit！"
　　Thisoutburstfromtheirusuallykindleaderplacedtheearnestbutawkwardgentlemeninaterribleplight。
　　OntheafternoonfollowingthecrisisHeckeweldertookMr。WellstooneoftheIndianshops,andJimandNellwentcanoeing。YoungandEdwards,afterconferringforonelong,tryinghour,determinedonsettlingthequestion。
　　Youngwasapale,slightman,veryhomelyexceptwhenhesmiled。Hissmilenotonlybrokeuptheplainnessofhisface,butseemedtochaseawayaseriousshadow,allowinghiskindly,gentlespirittoshinethrough。Hewasnervous,andhadatimidmanner。Edwardswashisopposite,beingamanofrobustframe,withaheavyface,andamannerthatwouldhavesuggestedself—confidenceinanotherman。
　　Theyweretrueandtriedfriends。
　　"Dave,Icouldn'taskher,"saidYoung,tremblingattheverythought。
　　"Besides,there'snohopeforme。Iknowit。That'swhyI'mafraid,whyI
　　don'twanttoaskher。What'dsuchagloriouscreatureseeinapoor,punylittlethinglikeme？"
　　"George,you'renotover—handsome,"admittedDave,shakinghishead。"Butyoucannevertellaboutwomen。Sometimestheylikeevenlittle,insignificantfellows。Don'tbetooscaredaboutaskingher。Besides,itwillmakeiteasierforme。Youmighttellheraboutme——youknow,sortoffeelherout,soI'd———"
　　Dave'svoicefailedhimhere;buthehadsaidenough,andthatwasmostdiscouragingtopoorGeorge。Davewassobusyscrewinguphiscouragethatheforgotallabouthisfriend。
　　"No;Icouldn't,"gaspedGeorge,fallingintoachair。Hewasghastlypale。"I
　　couldn'taskhertoacceptme,letalonedoanotherman'swooing。Shethinksmoreofyou。She'llacceptyou。"
　　"Youreallythinkso？"whisperedDave,nervously。
　　"Iknowshewill。You'resuchafine,bigfigureofaman。She'lltakeyou,andI'llbeglad。Thisfeverandfrettinghasaboutfinishedme。Whenshe'syoursI'llnotbesobad。I'llbehappyinyourhappiness。But,Dave,you'llletmeseeheroccasionally,won'tyou？Go！Hurry——getitover！"
　　"Yes;wemusthaveitover,"repliedDave,gettingupwithabrave,effort。
　　Truly,ifhecarriedthatdeterminedfronttohislady—lovehewouldlooklikeamasterfullover。Butwhenhegottothedoorhedidnotatallresembleaconqueror。
　　"You'resureshe——caresforme？"askedDave,forthehundredthtime。Thistime,asalways,hisfriendwasfaithfulandconvincing。
　　"Iknowshedoes。Go——hurry。ItellyouIcan'tstandthisanylonger,"criedGeorge,pushingDaveoutofthedoor。
　　"Youwon'tgo——first？"whisperedDave,clingingtothedoor。
　　"Iwon'tgoatall。Icouldn'taskher——Idon'twanther——go！Getout！"
　　Davestartedreluctantlytowardtheadjoiningcabin,fromtheopenwindowofwhichcamethesongoftheyoungwomanwhowasresponsibleforallthistrouble。Georgeflunghimselfonhisbed。Whatarelieftofeelitwasallover！Helaytherewithevesshutforhours,asitseemed。AfteratimeDavecamein。Georgeleapedtohisfeetandsawhisfriendstumblingoverachair。
　　Somehow,Davedidnotlookasusual。Heseemedchanged,orshrunken,andhisfaceworeadiscomfited,miserableexpression。
　　"Well？"criedGeorge,sharply。Eventohishighlyexcitedimaginationthisdidnotseemtheproperconditionforavictoriouslover。
　　"Sherefused——refusedme,"falteredDave。"Shewasverysweetandkind;saidsomethingaboutbeingmysister——Idon'trememberjustwhat——butshewouldn'thaveme。"
　　"Whatdidyousaytoher？"whisperedGeorge,aparalyzinghopealmostrenderinghimspeechless。
　　"I——ItoldhereverythingIcouldthinkof,"repliedDave,despondently;"evenwhatyousaid。"
　　"WhatIsaid？Dave,whatdidyoutellherIsaid？"
　　"Why,youknow——aboutshecaredforme——thatyouweresureofit,andthatyoudidn'twanther———"
　　"Jackass！"roaredGeorge,risingoutofhismeeknesslikealionrousedfromslumber。
　　"Didn'tyou——sayso？"inquiredDave,weakly。
　　"No！No！No！Idiot！"
　　Asonepossessed,Georgerushedoutofthecabin,andamomentlaterstooddisheveledandfranticbeforeKate。
　　"DidthatfoolsayIdidn'tloveyou？"hedemanded。
　　Katelookedup,startled;butasanunderstandingofGeorge'swildaspectandwilderwordsdawneduponher,sheresumedherusualcalmdemeanor。LookingagaintoseeifthispassionateyoungmanwasindeedGeorge,sheturnedherfaceasshesaid:
　　"IfyoumeanMr。Edwards,yes;Ibelievehedidsayasmuch。Indeed,fromhismanner,heseemedtohavemonopolizedalltheloveneartheVillageofPeace。"
　　"Butit'snottrue。Idoloveyou。Iloveyoutodistraction。IhavelovedyoueversinceIfirstsawyou。ItoldDavethat。Heckewelderknowsit;eventheIndiansknowit,"criedGeorge,protestingvehementlyagainstthedisparagingallusiontohisaffections。Hedidnotrealizehewasmakingamostimpassioneddeclarationoflove。Whenhewasquiteoutofbreathhesatdownandwipedhismoistbrow。
　　ApinkbloomtingedKate'scheeks,andhereyesglowedwithahappylight;butGeorgeneversawthesewomanlyevidencesofpleasure。
　　"OfcourseIknowyoudon'tcareforme———"
　　"DidMr。Edwardstellyouso？"askedKate,glancingupquickly。
　　"Why,yes,hehasoftensaidhethoughtthat。Indeed,healwaysseemedtoregardhimselfasthefortunateobjectofyouraffections。Ialwaysbelievedhewas。"
　　"Butitwasn'ttrue。"
　　"What？"
　　"It'snottrue。"
　　"What'snottrue？"
　　"Oh——aboutmy——notcaring。"
　　"Kate！"criedGeorge,quiteovercomewithrapture。Hefellovertwochairsgettingtoher;buthesucceeded,andfellonhiskneestokissherhand。
　　"Foolishboy！Ithasbeenyouallthetime,"whisperedKate,withherquietsmile。
　　"Lookhere,Downs;cometothedoor。Seethere,"saidHeckeweldertoJim。
　　SomewhatsurprisedatHeckewelder'sgravetone,Jimgotupfromthesupper—tableandlookedoutofthedoor。HesawtwotallIndianspacingtoandfrounderthemaples。Itwasstillearlytwilightandlightenoughtoseeclearly。OneIndianwasalmostnaked;thelithe,gracefulsymmetryofhisdarkfigurestandingoutinsharpcontrasttothegaunt,gaudily—costumedformoftheother。
　　"Silvertip！Girty！"exclaimedJim,inalowvoice。