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

ired Colonel Zane of Joe, when, having left

interested in hi

rder on a marauding expedition far into Virginia. They burned the old Wetzel homestead and murdered the father, mother, two sisters, and a baby brother. The terrible shock nearly killed Lewis, who for a time was very ill. When he recovered he went in search of his brothers, Martin and John Wetzel, who were hunting, and brought them back to their desolated home. Over the ashes of the home and the graves of the loved ones the brothers swore sleepless and

ndians is his s

he settlement. Sometimes he stays here a few days, espec

hen he said that some peop

ne. While here he is quiet, seldom speaks except when spoken to, and is taciturn with strangers. He often comes to my cabin and sits beside the fire fo

e lonely and sad

man is that; but Wetzel

called by

elang, or, in Eng

at Silvertip said in

rt

e years ago, and it has clung to him. The Indians say the Deathwi

," whispered Joe, leaning toward the colonel, "

t, for the remembrance of the moan had more than once paled hi

night, and at the end of his narrative

it was Wetzel who moan

Zane, I heard that moan as plainly as I can hear

eard the wind. The next day he ran across a dead Indian. He believes Wetzel makes the noise, and so do the hunters; but I thin

idn't succeed very well. Anyhow, I knew Wetzel instantly, just as Jeff Lynn sai

els stuck in a bog down by the creek. Hugh tried, as several others did, to move the wheels; but they couldn't be made to budge. Along came Wetzel, pushed away the men, and lifted the wagon unaided. It would take hours to tel

you been here

ears, and it has be

e for the fun," said Jo

ou. It has been considerably quelled, however. I have seen many a daring young fellow get the border fever, and with it his death. Let me advise you to learn the ways of the hunt

flushing with pleasure. "Do you thi

e. I want to make you acquainted with him. These boys have all been cutting timber

en. They all looked about the same: strong without being heavy, light-haired and bronze-faced. In their turn they carefully judged Joe. A newcomer from

e're havin'," s

reed Joe,

rontier

ur

e boys were awaiting their turn at a little wooden

p his shirt-sleeves. They all looked at Joe now. It was not improbably their e

aptive for

ly put to draw Joe out. Above all things, the bordermen de

st of the time," answered J

t out Will Metzar. "I hed that ex

ened, his cool and careless manner belied his words. In Joe's low voice and clear, gray eye the

were at dinner Joe s

t on the doorst

with the boys?" in

ay, Colonel Zane, I'd

an g

o left his post and came over to them. The colonel then had a short co

said Tome, ext

eturned the frien

sked the Indian, in h

gl

ne spoke once more in Shawnee, explai

-bad-Injun," repli

er-mad. Ketch'um pal

ief returned to his former posit

h better than the Shawnee brave who talk

"You could hardly have distinguished Logan's speech from a white man's. Cor

an Indian?" and Joe plai

time. He was a captive among the Wyandots for ten years. The chief's daughter, Myee

," said Joe; "yet I d

sed. Where is y

be. He and Myeerah are

riendly terms with t

call them, tha

he fort?" asked Joe, suddenly observin

met him. He's the man who jumpe

r-flask and bullet-pouch were made from cow-horns and slung around his neck on deerhide strings. The hunting coat was unlaced, exposing, under the long, fringed borders, a tunic of the same well-tanned, but fi

oesn't seem to me the clothes make the resemblance to each other. The way these m

expectation, and the springy step-those, my lad, come from

id Major McColloch, coming to the

have one of my horses; but first come in

in plans for their future work, and Nell and Kate were resting; therefore he was