Betty Zane

ong Indian pipe from his mouth and blew great clouds of smoke over his head. Major McColloch and Capt. Boggs were there. Silas Zane half reclined on the gr

absence of three weeks, and was now answeri

se the Shawnee camp, and when he found it deserted he didn't know what to do. Slover and I both advised an immediate retreat. Crawford would not listen to us. I tried to explain to him that ever since the Guadenhutten massacre keen-eyed Indian scouts had been watching the border. The news of the present expedition had been carried by fleet runners to the different Indian tribes and they were working like hives of angry bees. The deserted Shawnee village meant to me that the alarm had been sounded in the towns of the Shawnees and the Delawares; perhaps also in the Wyandot towns to the north. Colonel Crawford was obdurate and insisted on resumi

heir rifles and ran, many of them right into the hands of the savages. I believe some of the experienced bordermen escaped but most of Crawford's force met death on the field. I hid in a hollow log. Next day when I felt that it could be done safely I crawled out. I saw scalped and mutilated bodies everywhere, but did not find Col. Crawford's body. The Indians had taken all the clothing, weapons, blankets and everything of value. The Wyandots took a northwest trail and the Delawares and the Shawnees traveled east. I followed the latter because their trail led toward home. Three days later I stood on the high bluff above Winge

hink that man Girty was once

Jonathan, with grim humor. "I got a long

u missed him,"

at will he say about t

McCo

the failure of Col. Crawford's expedition Wetzel said that Slover had just made his appearan

ford had listened to us he would have averted this terrible affair and save

redskins killed all t

d and K

t see Dr. Knight. Maybe they murdered him before I

gment, what effect w

ve on the border?"

loody year like 177

rouble with the Indians

's trick with Girty. Col. Zane, I calkilate that Girty has a spy in the r

t mean a

just

t means something. Step aside here and explain yourself,"

in' his nose round the block-house where he hadn't ought to be. And I kep' watchin' him. If my

ar the Kanawha three weeks ago. That was when Crawford's expedition was on the way to the Shawnee villages. The Col

soldier and for that reason I'm all the better to watch Miller. He won'

Miller the benefit of the doubt. I don't like the fellow. He has a way of appearing and disappearing, and for n

ll I know is he'

the hunter rejoined the others. "Have you come all the way ove

His face was not yet bronzed by summer suns. His long black hair, of which he was as proud as a woman

on I've got my fine feathers on. I'm goin' to try an

ceeded. Who made the suit? And where did you get

round an Injun camp. T

t get you to help me m

, rog

getting' back," s

ed to me at all," said Betty petulan

nter say to amuse the

pecially by you." And then in a lower tone she continued: "What did you mean a

for you to know the Colonel don't like Miller and that I think h

n the

Betty. Good-night, now, I

or I shall r

wis "You'd never ketch me. Why, I could give y

catching hold of her skirt. She could never

t him, start or no start, you will have accompli

twenty paces and make

ho was i

," said Silas, as he comme

king at?" remarked

ne had seen him start suddenly, straighten up and for a moment stand like

waving his hand

shall I look? Ah, yes, there is a dark form moving along th

se. When he reappeared secon

said Jonathan. "It's a bold manoeuvre for

es like that. Maybe they ain't redskin

cried Betty, walking

tz

he opposite bank and enter the water. Then they seemed to fade from view. The tall trees cast a dark shadow over the water and the horses had bec

come," sho

swimming out of the sh

riders. Lewis, wha

an Indian girl,"

ement created a commot

d by a chorus

ope to God you are right. There, I see the for

I believe Lew is righ

exci

ty and had pressed close to her. First he trembled, then whined, th

ss the water. There was no mistaki

ognize Isaac Zane. He sat high on his horse and in his hand he held the bridle of a pony that was swimming beside hi

ight of a wildly gesticulating group on the river bluff, the settlers from the Fort hurried down to the scene of action. Capt. Boggs and Alfred Clarke joined the cro

aac as he leaped from his horse. "Betty, you darling,

und his neck and clung to him. Isaac kissed he

ught you home one whom you must love. This is Myeerah, your sister. She is wet and cold. Take her home a

Even the wet, mud-stained and ragged Indian costume failed to hide the grace of that fi

aid the Indian girl in

us. Come," said Betty taking t

plied him with innumerable questions. Was he free? Who was the Indi

nel's house Isaac told

his capture by Cornpla

he preparations for

nd Girty's story of C

t you have the Indian

the curious settlers

or that purpose. When we are married I will go back to t

ill it be

he Hurons may help to bring about peace with the Shawnees. I shall never cease to work for that end; bu

ces of that grim old warrior Tarhe, it is far more than fighting will

e, if I marry Myeerah the Huro

a different light

ce was shattered by an awful yell. It was Thundercloud's yell. I knew it because I had heard it before, and anyone who had once heard that yell could never forget it. In what seemed an incredibly short time Thundercloud's warriors were lined up in

at she felt that it was in her power to forgive much; more over, the white, weary face of the Indian maiden touched Betty's warm heart. With her quick intuition she had divined

rah comfortable, and while she removed the wet and stained garments she talked all the time. She told her how happy she was that Isaac was a

d added a bright ribbon to the simple toilet, Myeerah had so far forgotten her fears as to take a shy pleasure in the picture of herself in the mirror. As f

other was a

ou must tell me all about your life with the Indians. You

e White Eagle. She can speak Fre

n do, Myeerah. And I h

, lau

," came Isaac's

Isaac," ca

" exclaimed Isaac, stopping at

Betty, "she is s

saac, taking her in his arms and kissing her. "Now

slipped from Isaac's arm and hesitated and hung back. "Come," continued

to lead her down stairs. Isaac had go

s appearance it might have been a powder keg, but the merry twinkle in the Colonel's eyes showed that the cask contained something as precious, perhaps, as powder, but not quite so dangerous. It was a cask of wine over thirty years old. With Col. Z

ad been invited. Wetzel had been persuaded to c

Old Sam saw them and he exclaimed, "For de Lawd's sakes, Marsh

t the same size, tall and slender. Betty was rosy, bright-ey

ghter of Tarhe," said Isaac simply

asked Betty in great surprise

nt trait in a woman-knowing when to ke

is moment, admitting

ar

Alice. Isaac is a free man and we expect his marriage will bring about peace with a powerful tribe of Indians. To us, and particularly to you, young people, that is a matter of great importance. The friendship of the Hurons cannot but exert an influence on other tribes. I, myself, may live to see the day that my

s, and she could not lift her eyes from her plate. But at length she managed to steal a glance at Alfred. She failed to see any signs in his beaming face of the broken spirit of which her brother had hinted. He looked very well indeed. He was eating his dinner like any other healthy man, and talking and laughing with Lydia. This developed another unaccountable feeling in

with us a while, are

aa

go back as a prisoner. Myeerah and I can often come and visit you. But just no

," said Capt. Boggs. "And when I look at your bride-to-be

see, I have never been satisfied or contented

ere blind," remarked A

y Princess long before I did. Nevertheless, please do not favor Myeerah with so many admiring glances. She is

of honor. She, too, will have h

chance to kiss the two prettiest girl

, is it not?" sa

f you can catch the gi

compelled her to look at him. As plainly as if it were written there, she saw in his steady blue eyes the light of a memo

oo," said Wetzel. His remark inst

ac. "Why, Lew Wetzel, you coul

ackward about it,

ade when the boys were kissing me,

ot make so much of a fuss, as you call it, until they had

s. "How did Myeerah learn of your capture by Cor

us?" said Isa

it to me," an

irty got word to her that I was in the hands of Cornplanter. At the last moment when the I

Col. Zane. "I suppose, though he dared n

eerah to talk? I love

in an

c "Or, if you do not wish to sing, tell a story. I wa

eerah say?" sh

legend of the S

From near and from far came warriors to see the fair face of this maiden. She smiled on them all and they called her Smiling Moon. Now there lived on the Great Lake a Wyandot chief. He was young

my enemies.' Tarhe went forth in his war paint and killed the braves who named her Smiling Moon. He came agai

. Smiling Moon turned not from her warm fire as she said: 'The chief is a great warrior, but Smiling

voice to the Great Spir

Tarhe, great warrior, wise chief, wast

or dies. Make him a master so tha

the cold northwest wind, against the mild south wind; snow-spirits and hail-spirits

rned to stone. There he stands to-day, the Standing Stone of ages. And Smiling Moon, changed by the Great Spirit

ll another, but smilingly shook her head. Now that her shyness had worn off t

's cup as soon as it was empty. Drinking much was rather encouraged than ot

s, shooting matches, running races, and contests of all kinds. Capt. Boggs and I have arranged

chance in these races

to see Betty a

woman, red or white,

make some of the men

," observed the Colonel. "She used to be good at running b

is untrue," in

d, Betty," and then, rising, he continued, "Now let us drin

; we drink to the groom's good luck,

the maid-of-hon

. Clarke, will you say somethin

l. Zane does, that this Indian Princess is the first link in that chain of peace which will some day unite the red men and the whi

efilled his cup and holding it hig

. Miss Zane, your health, your h

with downcast eyes. "I bid you

the Indian girl turned to he

" whispered Myeerah in her soft, l

appy, for I know you

loved him. She wil

ve you because you have saved him. Ah! Myeera

eat hunter. It was the sad light of the moon on the water. He loves you. And the oth

tty, trembling and h

o not spea