Betty Zane

squirrels had been busily collecting and storing away their supply of nuts for winter use, it h

r from the settlement. This admonition, kind and brotherly though it was, annoyed Isaac. Like all the Zanes he had born in him an

e practical sense of the Colonel and the cool judgment of Jonathan. Impatient of restraint, independent in spirit, and it must be

mp in the forest. This resolution was strengthened by the fact that he did not believe what the Colonel and Jonathan had told him-that it wa

tree, the thud of a falling nut, the dart of a squirrel, and the sight of a bushy tail disappearing round a limb-all these things which indicated that the little gray fellows were working in the tree-tops, and which would usually have

and tall poplars grew high over the tops of the first growth of white oaks and beeches; the wild grapevines which coiled round the trees like gigantic serpents, spread out in the upper branches and obscured

ess, unbroken save for the distant note of the hermit-thrush, the strange bird whose lonely cry, given at long intervals, pierced the stillness. Althou

and frequented only places remote from civilization. The song of the hermit and the sight of the black squirrel caused Isaac to stop and reflect, with the result that

ce was raised a moment over the clump of laurel bushes to his

se by the trunk of a tree and strained his ears. All was quiet for some moments. Then he heard the patter, patter of little hoofs coming down the stream. Nearer and nearer they came. Sometimes they were a

ed pointer. Isaac knew a doe always led the way through the woods and if there were other deer they would come up unless warned by the doe. Presently the willows parted and a magnificent buck with wide spreading antlers stepped out and stood motionless on the

ely up the bank, reached the top, and then his strength failing, slid down into the stream, where, in hi

le. With great care he poured the powder into the palm of his hand, measuring the quantity with his eye-for it was an evidence of a hunter's skill to be able to get the proper quantity for the ball. Then he

the leaves, caused him to start and turn round. But he was too late. A crushing blow o

ad been carried. From his wet clothes and the position of the sun, now low in the west, he concluded he had been brought across the river and was now miles from the fort. In front of him he saw three Indians sitting before a fire. One of them was cutting thin slices from a haunch of deer meat, another was drinking from a gourd, and the third was roasting a piece of venison which he held on a sharpened stick. Isaac knew at once the Indians were Wyandots, and he saw they were in full war paint. T

Isaac staring at him. The other Indians i

said Isaac, in the Wyandot to

ron. Crow has been five times on his trail since the moon was bright. The whit

e you been ne

warriors of Myeerah

y more India

yandots had been in the vicinity of Wheelin

Crow, the Delaware chiefs Son-of-Wingenund and Wapatomeka were among the most cunning and sagacious Ind

picked up his rifle and with a word to the Indians he stepped into

ngrossed in thoughts of the home he might never see again, he had lain there an hour without moving, when he was aroused from his meditations by low

roportion to his height. His head-dress and the gold rings which encircled his bare muscular arms indicated that he was a chief high in power. The seven eagle plumes in his scalp-lock represented seven warrior

g the belt which contained his knife and tomahawk. The weapons were raised and held before him, one in each hand, and then waved on hi

the log, and in the background Crow, holding a whispered consultation with the other Indians. Isaac heard enough of the colloquy t

much of his time in the Wyandot village and on warring expeditions which the two friendly nations made on

, threw back the hunting shirt and pointed to a small hole in his broad breas

," he said calmly, and a look of pride gleamed across his dark

his hope was short lived, however, for when he considered the probabilities of the thing he knew that pursuit would only result in his death before the settlers could come up wi

death-chant of the Hurons. His companions silently bowed their heads. When he had finished singing he slowly rose to his great height, showing a commanding fig

ingenund will be told in the wigwams of the Lenape," said the chief in a loud vo

up he straightened out his long arm and clutched wildly at the air with

eath stealing over the face of the chief. He turned his eyes away from t

orked with their tomahawks on the soft duff and soon their task was completed. A bed of moss and ferns lined the last resting place of the chief. His weapons were placed beside him, t

stood by it a moment, each speaking a few words in a low tone, while

, as the moon brightened up the spot in seeming pity, he felt he could never forget. His thoughts were interrupted by the harsh voice of Crow bidding him get up. He was told that the slightest inclination on his part to lag behind

ps left no mark, and where even a dog could not find their trail; down into the valleys and into the shallow streams where the running water wou

ever in a straight line, and yet avoiding the roughest going with that unerring instinct which was this Indian's gift. Toward dawn the moon went down, leav

made haste to avail himself of the permission, and almost instantly was wrapped in the deep slumber of exhaustion. Three of the Indian

Isaac suffered severely from the sharp and slippery stones, which in no wise bothered the Indians. His feet were cut and bruised; still he struggled on without complainin

parted the willows on the bank at this point and dragged forth a long birch-bark canoe which they ran into the stre

water. Had it not been for the cruel face of Crow, he could have imagined himself on one of those enchanted canoes in fairyland, of which he had read when a boy. Ever varying pictures presented themselves at the range, impelled by vigorous arms, flew over the shining bosom of the stream. Here, in a sharp bend, was a narrow place where the trees on each bank interlaced their branches and

he dropped to his knees and turned the head of the canoe into the middle of the stream. The roar became deafening. Looking forward Isaac saw that they were entering a dark gorge. In another moment the canoe pitched over a fall and shot between two high, rocky bluffs. These walls ran up almost perpendicularly two hundred

e black waits Isaac felt no fear, he knew the strength of that arm, now rigid and a

was becoming gray in the east, they passed into the shadow of what was called the Standing Stone. This was a peculiarly shape

espondency and resentment some other feeling that was akin to pleasure; with a quickening of the pulse came a co

the bow of the canoe. The signal was heard, for

c saw, indistinctly in the morning mist, the faint outlines of tepees an

* * * * *

at the chief had summoned him. He got up from the buffalo robes upon which he had flung

es of lodges and wigwams which dotted the little valley; they crimsoned the swift, narrow river, rushing noisily over its rocky bed. The banks of the stream were lined with rows of canoes; here and there a bridge made of a singl

res and steaming kettles and grinned as the prisoner passed. The braves who were sitting upon their blankets and smoking their long pipes, or lounging before the warm blazes maintained a stolid indifference; the dusky maidens

g tepees. These were the wigwams of the chief, and thither Isaac was conducted. The guards led him to a large and circular a

ugh Tarhe was over seventy, he walked erect; his calm face, dark as a bronze mask, showed no trace of his advanced age. Every line and feature of his face had

eer or the flight of the eagle it would avail him not. The wild geese as they fly northward are not swifter than the warriors of Tarh

ver raised my hand against a Wyandot. Crow will tell you that. If my people and friends kill your braves I am not to blame

chief and give you lands and braves and honors. He shall not ask you to raise your hand against your people, but help to bring peace. Tarhe does not love this war. He wants only justice. He wants only to keep his lands, his horses, and his people. The White Chief is known to be brave; his step is light, his eye is keen, and his bullet is true. For many long mo

ith a wild and barbaric splendor. Isaac hesitated before a bearskin curtain at the farther end of the chief's lodge. He had been there many times before

painted on the wall; bows and arrows, shields, strings of bright-colored beads and Indian scarfs hung round the room. The wall was made of dried deerskins sewed together and fastened over long poles which were planted in the ground and bent until the

s escaped her lips. Isaac disengaged himself from the clinging arms and put her from him. The face raised to his was strikingly beautiful. Oval in shape, it was

gain. This time there

led, and I do not know

r putting me to death

u not leave

d sorrowfully and proudly away from the angry

he said, in English. Her voice was music.

d back here and perhaps murdered-no, I don't welcome it. Look at this mark where Crow hit me," said

," said Mye

in great danger fr

as saved your life befor

ill me in s

Do not forget that

t did my fath

from Wingenund. But I must marry you and become one of the tribe

e became unbearable without you. Then Myeerah remembered that she was a daughter of kings. She summoned the bravest and greatest warriors of two tribes and said to them. 'Go and bring to me the paleface, White Eagle. Bring him to me alive o

that I cannot live always without seeing

ran away. They were tender words that were sweet to t

ot understand. Since I have been home this last time, I have r

old home whom you have learne

g in the wall. Myeerah had placed her hold upon his arm

l never h

hless resolve. Isaac laughed bitterly and looked up at h

epared for it, and I would not care very much. I have despaired of your ever becoming civili

m her lips. She stood before him with bowed head and wept

nife of the Shawnees. You forget her tenderness; you forget that she nursed you when you were wounded. Myeerah has a heart to break. Has she not suffered? Is she not laughed at, scorned,

will end in a tragedy some day? Can you not realize that we would be happier if you would let me go? If you love me you woul

ave taught me many of the ways of your

not you

d I will not li

me," said Isaac, taking the weeping maiden in h

and scorned," she said,

influenced him; her love wrung tenderness from him. Those dark eyes, so proud to all others, but which gazed wist

. We shall talk of this another day. Come, let us go and find my little friend, Captai