The Spirit of the Border: A Romance of the Early Settlers in the Ohio Valley

of a blanket; his eyes became clear, and he saw the trees a

oe believed he might have fled himself had he been free. What could have caused that sound? He fought off the numbing chill that once again began to creep over him. He was wide-awake now; his head

ave-nay, of a cunning, experienced chief-was not to be lightly considered. The savages were at home in these untracked wilds.

than they by far. The chirp of a bird awoke the stillness. Night had given way to morning. Welcoming the light that was chasing away the gloom, Joe raised his head with a deep sigh of relief. As he did so he

Other ferns moved, their tops agitated, perhaps, by a faint breeze. No; that wavering line came straight toward him; it co

th eyes that seemingly glittered. Brawny shoulders were upraised, and then a tall, powerful man stood revealed. Lightly he stepped over the leaves into the little glade. He bent over th

l!" cr

strangely with what might have been expected from his aspect. Then,

red Joe, rising when

on?" Wetzel said,

s. Wake up, Jim, wa

ried Jim, sitting up

re dead! And, Jim, it's Wetzel, the hunter. You rememb

ed Wetzel, interrupting. He had

raft, and for all we

ersman was shot, an

ee anythin' ag

d a joke on him-took his shirt

kick an' Injun. Wh

s he did not like my

and have come west to

ian

," said Wetzel, pointing

find us?" eag

yer trail tw

e been fol

nter n

of another band of Ind

were amo

me fer two days. I w

Girty an' his Delawa

pull Girty's nose. Art

g an' horse an' lit

the Delaw

in' my back trail.

oon hev a lot

rightened the Indians, but despite his eager de

He got kicked a few days back, and then hed the skin pulled offen his nose. Somebody'l

again when he saw the hunter scalp his victims. He shuddered the third time when he saw Wetzel pick up Silvertip's beautiful white eagle plume, dabble it in a pool of blood, and stick it in the bar

el, leading the w

e release of the Downs brothers the hunter brushed th

and gentle valleys like a green, billowy sea, until it rose again abruptly into a peak higher still tha

ded by a high stockade fence was all, and yet it did not seem unworthy of its fame. Those watchful, forbidding loopholes, the blackened walls and timbers, told the history of ten l

cross that big river?"

ys to do the same with their guns, the hunter splashed into the water. His companions followed him into the shallow water, and waded a hundred yards, which brought them near the island that they now perc

of the river. "Good fer it?" he inquired of Joe, since Jim had not received a

oe, with that coolness Wetzel h

In that look he read Joe thoroughly. Had the young man known the result of that scrutiny, he would have been

d he plunged into the river. The ta

the hillside? Thar's Colonel

el. It was evident the boys were the subject of their conversation. Presently Zane left the

at luck?" he s

n' two got away," answered the hu

e lighting his dark face. "The others of your party arri

to you," replied Jim; "but the Indians too

o. Come into the house and change those wet clothes. And you,

Gir

claimed th

party of Delawares who ran across u

ou say hunting Wetzel? I must learn more about this. It

led hi

hat's great! Tell me-but wait until you are more comfortable. Your

colonel he heard one

two peas

Joe's slight exclamation of surprise, he turned, disclosing a fine, manly c

end," he sai

nathan and Wetzel declare the only good Indian is a dead one. Come righ

mall room, brought out their packs, and left them.

d meet my family and tell us all about your

lonel had gone. "From the looks of things, Colonel Zane means to hav

e shaved and dressed they presented an entirely different appearance. Once more they were twin brothers, in c

a charming girl

-what then?" ask

, mayn't I admire a p

hing ever cure you? I should th

t least, it's very little she car

face me," said the y

looked in his

you have with so many others?

N

at do yo

worthy of her. I'm no good, you know, an

ght to be asham

See here; don't

ng a dark, guilty red at the direct q

d and cling to something strong. She cares for me; but her love is like the vine. It may hurt her a little to tear that love away, but

me," cried Jim, white to the lips. "It's wro

s you can't; I say this: Nell will drift into your arms as surely as the leaf falls.

ther that will hurt

lonel Zane," said J

ed them. As Jim, who was in advance, passed into this apartment a trim figure entered from the yard. It was Nell, and she ran

hat whisper could never have been better expressed in longer speech.

heard the glad whisper. He knew that she had a again mistaken him for Joe; but for his life he could not draw back his

n again-I'm Jim

kening to what had really happened, slowly conscious of a sweet, a

our brother! Now, lads,

notice his brother, and his greeting to Nell was natural and hear

many names he remembered were those of Mrs. Zane, Silas Zane, and Major McColloch. T

and the heroine of Fort Henry," said Colonel Zane pro

for this pleasure," replied Joe gallantly, as he b

wife. She nodded her head, and the colonel led the way into t

at the hands of the Indians. He smiled at the young minister's earnestness in regard to the conversion of the re

it is almost to early to be certain of permanent success of this work. The Indian's nature is one hard to understand. He is naturally roving and restless, which, however, may be owing to his habit of moving from place to place in search of good hunting grounds. I believe-though I must confess I haven't seen any pioneers who share my belief-that the savage has a beautiful side to his character. I know of many noble deeds done by them, and I believe, i

I will say he was exceedingly ac

not likely to forget," said Colonel Zane grimly. "Now,

ir was twisted into a tuft, tied tightly, and into this had been thrust a couple of painted pin

usually comes quickly. Mr. Wells seemed anxious to resume the journey down the river; but I shall try to persuade him to remain with us awhile. Indeed, I am sorry I cannot keep you all her

th a quiet smile. "Our home was with uncle, and when he announced h

ians, proves to be too hard, we shall welcome you here. Betty, show the girls your pets and Indian tri

ide standing in exactly the same posit

ian move?" he a

to," replied Colonel Zane. "He is resting now. An Indian

hap," remarked Joe, an

im. I guess I'

to like Tome,

we were captured. That blamed redskin took my tobacco. It's lucky I had some in

, and I can well understand your feelings. There is nothing I should like better than to see Girty o

Wet

ods; but then, he is different from other men.

keen observer, he noticed many small, round holes in the logs. They were so near together that the timbers had an odd, speckled appearance, and there was hardly a place where he could have put his thumb without c

een here when these

wished I was back on

nel

t cabin. He appeared discouraged when Colonel Zane interroga

ble that you underrate the

t the Lord," answ

t to impress upon you that the time is not propitious. It is a long journey to the village, and the way is beset with da

you; but

I may send my brother Jonathan and Wetzel with you. If any c

e doubted not that the other was Lord Dunmore's famous guide and hunter, Jonathan Zane. In featur

Fort Pitt. Wetzel and Jonathan spoke a word to Colonel Zane and then stepped as

aid Jonathan, decisively, to Colonel Zane. "Hav

fles were not scarce at the fort, but a wea

roy God's creatures. My brother was a frontiersman; he left this rifle to me. I remember hearing him sa

ck was black walnut, ornamented with silver trimmings. Using Jonathan's powder-flask and bullet-pouch, Wetzel proceeded to load the weapon. He poured out a quantity of powder into the palm of his hand, performing the action quickly and dexterously, but was so slow while measuring it that Joe wondered if he were counting the grains. Next he selected a bullet out of a dozen which J

serious regarding the work as if at that moment some

far, even for you, when you don't know the gun

t to hit it would be a fine shot; but was amazed when he heard Colonel Zane say to several men who had joined the group that Wetzel intend

h a stately sweep. The instant it reached a level a thread of fl

ed Colonel Zane,

did," answer

rtle about the size of an ordinary saucer. Picking it up, he saw a bullet-hole in the shell near the mi

so," declar

rtle, and turning to t

the truth, an' I tha