Itwasyetdaylight,whichseemedastrangetimetocreepintothislittlenook;but,Joethought,itwasnottosleep,onlytowait,wait,waitforthelonghourstopass。Hewasamazedoncemore,because,bythetimetwilighthadgivenplacetodarkness,Wetzelwasasleep。Theladsaidthentohimselfthathewouldneveragainbesurprisedatthehunter。HeassumedonceandforallthatWetzelwascapableofanything。Yethowcouldhelosehimselfinslumber？
Feeling,ashemust,overthecaptureofthegirls;eagertodrawabeadontheblack—heartedrenegade;hatingIndianswithallhissoulandstrength,andlyingtherebutafewhoursbeforewhatheknewwouldbeabloodybattle,Wetzelcalmlywenttosleep。Knowingthehuntertobeasbloodthirstyasatiger,Joehadexpectedhewouldrushtoacombatwithhisfoes;but,no,thisman,withhiskeensagacity,knewwhentocreepuponhisenemy;hebidedthattime,and,whilehewaited,slept。
Joecouldnotclosehiseyesinslumber。Throughtheintersticesinthebrancheshesawthestarscomeoutonebyone,thedarknessdeepened,andthedimoutlineoftalltreesoverthedarkhillcameoutsharply。Themomentsdragged,eachoneanhour。Heheardawhippoorwillcall,lonelyanddismal;
thenanowlhootmonotonously。Astealthyfootedanimalranalongthelog,sniffedattheboughs,andthenscurriedawayoverthedryleaves。Byandbythedeadsilenceofnightfelloverall。StillJoelaytherewideawake,listening——hisheartonfire。HewasabouttorescueNell;tokillthathawk—nosedrenegade;tofightSilvertiptothedeath。
Thehourspassed,butnotJoe\'spassionateeagerness。Whenatleasthesawthecrescentmoongleamsilver—whiteovertheblackhilltopheknewthetimewasnigh,andoverhimranthrillonthrill。
ChapterXVI。
Whenthewaningmoonrosehighenoughtoshedapalelightoverforestandfield,twodarkfigures,movingsilentlyfromtheshadeofthetrees,crossedthemoonlitpatchesofground,outtotheopenplainwherelowonthegrasshungsilvermists。
Atimberwolf,grayandgaunt,camelopingalongwithlowerednose。Anewscentbroughttheanimaltoastandstill。Hisnosewentup,hisfieryeyesscannedtheplain。Twomenhadinvadedhisdomain,and,withashort,dismalbark,hedashedaway。
Likespectres,glidingswiftlywithnoiselesstread,thetwovanished。Thelonggrasshadswallowedthem。
Desertedonceagainseemedtheplain。Itbecameunutterablylonely。Nostir,nosound,nolife;nothingbutawideexpansebathedinsad,graylight。
Themoonshonesteadily;thesilverradiancemellowed;thestarspaledbeforethisbrighterglory。
Slowlythenighthoursworeaway。
Ontheothersideoftheplain,nearwheretheadjoiningforestloomeddarkling,thetallgrasspartedtodiscloseablackform。Wasitonlyadeceivingshadecastbyaleafybranch——onlyashadow？Slowlyitsank,andwaslost。Oncemorethegray,unwaveringlineofsilver—crestedgrasstuftswasunbroken。
Onlythenightbreeze,wanderingcaressinglyoverthegrass,mighthavetoldoftwodarkformsgliding,gliding,glidingsosoftly,sosurely,sosurelytowardtheforest。Onlythemoonandthepalestarshadeyestoseethesecreepingfigures。
Likeavengerstheymoved,onamissiontoslayandtosave！
Onoverthedarklinewhereplainmergedintoforesttheycrawled。Nowhispering,nohesitating;butasilent,slow,certainprogressshowedtheirpurpose。Insinglefiletheyslippedoverthemoss,theleaderclearingthepath。Inchbyinchtheyadvanced。Tediouswasthisslowmovement,difficultandpainfulthisjourneywhichmustendinlightninglikespeed。Theyrustlednoleaf,norsnappedatwig,norshookafern,butpassedonwardslowly,liketheapproachofDeath。Thesecondspassedasminutes;minutesashours;anentirehourwasspentinadvancingtwentyfeet！
Atlastthetopoftheknollwasreached。TheAvengerplacedhishandonhisfollower\'sshoulder。Thestrongpressurewasmeanttoremind,towarn,toreassure。Then,likeahugesnake,thefirstglidedaway。
HewhowasleftbehindraisedhisheadtolookintotheopenplacecalledthegladeoftheBeautifulSpring。Anovalspacelaybeforehim,exceedinglylovelyinthemoonlight;aspring,asifapearl,gemmedthecenter。AnIndianguardstoodstatuelikeagainstastone。Othersavageslayinarow,theirpolishedheadsshining。Oneslumberingformwasbedeckedwithfeathersandfrills。NearhimlayanIndianblanket,fromtheborderofwhichpeeredtwofaces,gleamingwhiteandsadinthepityingmoonlight。
Thewatcherquiveredatthesightofthosepalefaces;buthemustwaitwhilelongmomentspassed。HemustwaitfortheAvengertocreepup,silentlykilltheguard,andreleasetheprisonerswithoutawakeningthesavages。Ifthatplanfailed,hewastorushintotheglade,andintheexcitementmakeoffwithoneofthecaptives。
Helaytherewaiting,listening,wroughtuptotheintensestpitchoffiercepassion。Everynervewasalert,everytendonstrung,andeverymusclestrainedreadyfortheleap。
Onlythefaintrustlingofleaves,thelowswishofswayingbranches,thesoftmurmuroffallingwater,andoverallthesighofthenightwind,provedtohimthatthispicturewasnotanevildream。Hisgazesoughtthequietfigures,lingeredhopefullyonthecaptives,menacinglyonthesleepingsavages,andgloweredoverthegaudilyarrayedform。Hisglancesoughttheuprightguard,ashestoodadarkblotagainstthegraystone。HesawtheIndian\'splume,asinglefeatherwavingsilver—white。Thenitbecamerivetedonthebubbling,refulgentspring。Thepoolwasround,perhapsfivefeetacross,andshonelikeaburnishedshield。Itmirroredthemoon,thetwinklingstars,thespectretrees。
Anunaccountablehorrorsuddenlysweptoverthewatchingman。Hishairstoodstraightup;asensationasofcoldstolechillinglyoverhim。Whetheritwastheclimaxofthislongnight\'sexcitement,oranticipationofthebloodystrugglesoontocome,heknewnot。Didthisboilingspring,shimmeringintheslivermoon—rays,holdinitsmurkydepthsasecret？Didtheselonesome,shadowingtrees,withtheirsaddroopingbranches,harboramystery？Ifafuturetragedywastobeenactedhereinthisquietglade,couldthemurmuringwaterorleaveswhisperitsportent？No;theywereonlysilent,onlyunintelligiblewithnature\'smystery。
Thewaitingmancursedhimselfforacravencoward;hefoughtbackthebenumbingsense;hesteeledhisheart。WasthishisvauntedwillingnesstosharetheAvenger\'sdanger？Hisstrongspiritroseupinarms;oncemorehewasbraveandfierce。
Hefastenedapiercinggazeontheplumedguard。TheIndian\'sloungingpostureagainsttherockwasthesameasithadbeenbefore,yetnowitseemedtohaveakindofstrainedattention。Thesavage\'sheadwaspoised,likethatofalisteningdeer。ThewaryIndianscenteddanger。
Afaintmoanbreathedlowabovethesoundofgentlysplashingwatersomewherebeyondtheglade。
\"Woo—o—oo。\"
Theguard\'sfigurestiffened,andbecamerigidlyerect;hisblanketslowlyslidtohisfeet。
\"Ah—oo—o,\"sighedthesoftbreezeinthetreetops。
Louderthen,withadeepwail,amoanaroseoutofthedarkgrayshadows,swelledthrillingonthestillair,anddiedawaymournfully。
\"Um—m—mmwoo—o—o—o！\"
Thesentinel\'sformmeltedintotheshade。Hewasgonelikeaphantom。
AnotherIndianrosequickly,andglancedfurtivelyaroundtheglade。Hebentoveracomradeandshookhim。InstantlythesecondIndianwasonhisfeet。
Scarcelyhadhegainedastandingposturewhenanobject,boundinglikeadarkball,shotoutofthethicketandhurledbothwarriorstotheearth。A
moonbeamglinteduponsomethingbright。Itflashedagainonaswift,sweepingcircle。Ashort,chokingyellarousedtheothersavages。Uptheysprang,alarmed,confused。
Theshadow—formdartedamongthem。Itmovedwithinconceivablerapidity;itbecameamonster。Terriblewastheconvulsiveconflict。Dullblows,theclickofsteel,angryshouts,agonizedyells,andthrashing,wrestlingsoundsmingledtogetherandhalfdrownedbyanawfulroarlikethatofamadbull。
Thestrifeceasedassuddenlyasithadbegun。Warriorslaystillonthegrass;otherswrithedinagony。Foraninstantafleetingshadowcrossedtheopenlaneleadingoutoftheglade;thenitvanished。
Threesavageshadsprungtowardtheirrifles。Ablindingflash,aloudreportburstfromthethicketoverhead。Theforemostsavagesanklifelessly。Theotherswereinterceptedbyagiantshadowwithbrandishedrifle。Thewatcherontheknollhadenteredtheglade。Hestoodbeforethestackedriflesandswunghisheavygun。Crash！AnIndianwentdownbeforethatsweep,butroseagain。Thesavagesbackedawayfromthisthreateningfigure,andcircledaroundit。
Thenoiseoftheotherconflictceased。Moresavagesjoinedthethreewhoglidedtoandfrobeforetheirdesperatefoe。Theyclosedinuponhim,onlytobebeatenback。Onesavagethrewaglitteringknife,anotherhurledastone,athirdflunghistomahawk,whichstruckfirefromtheswingingrifle。
Heheldthematbay。Whiletheyhadnofirearmshewasmasterofthesituation。Witheverysweepofhisarmshebroughtthelongrifledownandknockedaflintfromthefirelockofanenemy\'sweapon。SoontheIndians\'gunswereuseless。Slowlythenhebegantoedgeawayfromthestone,towardthe,openingwherehehadseenthefleetingformvanish。
Hisintentionwastomakeadashforlife,forhehadheardanoisebehindtherock,andrememberedtheguard。Hesawthesavagesglancebehindhim,andanticipateddangerfromthatdirection,buthemustnotturn。Asecondtheremightbefatal。Hebackeddefiantlyalongtherockuntilhegaineditsouteredge。Buttoolate！TheIndiansglidedbeforehim,nowbehindhim;hewassurrounded。Heturnedaroundandaround,withtheever—circlingriflewhirlinginthefacesofthebaffledfoe。
Onceoppositethelaneleadingfromthegladehechangedhistactics,andplungedwithfierceimpetuosityintothemidstofthepaintedthrong。Thenbeganafearfulconflict。TheIndiansfellbeforethesweepofhispowerfularms;butgrappledwithhimfromtheground。Heliterallyplowedhiswaythroughthestrugglingmass,wardingoffanhundredviciousblows。Savageaftersavageheflungoff,untilatlasthehadaclearpathbeforehim。
Freedomlaybeyondthatshinypath。Intoithebounded。
Asheleftthegladetheplumedguardsteppedfrombehindatreeneartheentranceofthepath,andcasthistomahawk。
Awhite,glitteringflash,itflewafterthefleeingrunner;itsaimwastrue。
Suddenlythemoonlightpathdarkenedintherunner\'ssight;hesawamillionflashingstars;aterriblepainassailedhim;hesankslowly,slowlydown;
thenallwasdarkness。
ChapterXVII。
Joeawokeasfromafearsomenightmare。Returningconsciousnessbroughtavagueideathathehadbeendreamingofclashingweapons,ofyellingsavages,ofaconflictinwhichhehadbeenclutchedbysinewyfingers。Anacutepainpulsedthroughhistemples;abloodymistglazedhiseyes;asorepressurecrampedhisarmsandlegs。Surelyhedreamedthisdistress,aswellasthefight。Theredfilmclearedfromhiseyes。Hiswanderinggazeshowedthesternreality。
Thebrightsun,makingthedewdropsglistenontheleaves,lightedupatragedy。NearhimlayanIndianwhosevacant,sightlesseyeswerefixedindeath。Beyondlayfourmoresavages,thepeculiar,inertpositionofwhoselimbs,theformlessness,asitwere,asiftheyhadbeenthrownfromagreatheightandnevermovedagain,attestedthathere,too,lifehadbeenextinguished。Joetookinonlyonedetail——theclovenskullofthenearest——whenheturnedawaysickened。Heremembereditallnow。Theadvance,therush,thefight——allreturned。HesawagainWetzel\'sshadowyformdartinglikeademonintothewhirlofconflict;heheardagainthathoarse,boomingroarwithwhichtheAvengeraccompaniedhisblows。Joe\'sgazeswepttheglade,butfoundnotraceofthehunter。
HesawSilvertipandanotherIndianbathingawoundonGirty\'shead。Therenegadegroanedandwrithedinpain。NearhimlayKate,withwhitefaceandclosedeyes。Shewasunconscious,ordead。Jimsatcrouchedunderatreetowhichhewastied。
\"Joe,areyoubadlyhurt？\"askedthelatter,indeepsolicitude。
\"No,Iguessnot;Idon\'tknow,\"answeredJoe。\"IspoorKatedead？\"
\"No,shehasfainted。\"
\"Where\'sNell？\"
\"Gone,\"repliedJim,loweringhisvoice,andglancingattheIndians。TheyweretoobusytryingtobandageGirty\'sheadtopayanyattentiontotheirprisoners。\"ThatwhirlwindwasWetzel,wasn\'tit？\"
\"Yes;how\'dyouknow？\"
\"Iwasawakelastnight。Ihadanoppressivefeeling,perhapsapresentiment。
Anyway,Icouldn\'tsleep。Iheardthatwindblowthroughtheforest,andthoughtmybloodwouldfreeze。Themoanisthesameasthenightwind,thesamesoftsigh,onlylouderandsomehowpregnantwithsuperhumanpower。Tospeakofitinbroaddaylightoneseemssuperstitious,buttohearitinthedarknessofthislonelyforest,itisfearful！IhopeIamnotacoward;I
certainlyknowIwasdeathlyfrightened。NowonderIwasscared！LookatthesedeadIndians,allkilledinamoment。Iheardthemoan;IsawSilvertipdisappear,andtheothertwosavagesrise。Thensomethinghugedroppedfromtherock;abrightobjectseemedtocircleroundthesavages;theyutteredoneshortyell,andsanktorisenomore。SomehowatonceIsuspectedthatthisshadowyform,withitslightninglikemovements,itsglitteringhatchet,wasWetzel。WhenheplungedintothemidstoftheothersavagesIdistinctlyrecognizedhim,andsawthathehadabundle,possiblyhiscoat,wrappedroundhisleftarm,andhisrighthandheldtheglitteringtomahawk。IsawhimstrikethatbigIndianthere,theonelyingwithsplitskull。Hiswonderfuldaringandquicknessseemedtomakethesavagesturnatrandom。Hebrokethroughthecircle,swungNellunderhisarm,slashedatmybondsashepassedby,andthenwasgoneashehadcome。Notuntilafteryouwerestruck,andSilvertipcameuptome,wasIawaremybondswerecut。Wetzel\'shatchethadseveredthem;itevencutmyside,whichwasbleeding。Iwasfreetohelp,tofight,andIdidnotknowit。FoolthatIam！\"
\"Imadeanawfulmessofmypartoftherescue,\"groanedJoe。\"IwonderifthesavagesknowitwasWetzel。\"
\"Dothey？Well,Iratherthinkso。DidyounothearthemscreamthatFrenchname？AsfarasIamabletojudge,onlytwoIndianswerekilledinstantly。
Theothersdiedduringthenight。Ihadtosithere,tiedandhelpless,listeningastheygroanedandcalledthenameoftheirslayer,evenintheirdeath—throes。Deathwind！Theyhavenamedhimwell。\"
\"IguesshenearlykilledGirty。\"
\"Evidently,butsurelytheeviloneprotectstherenegade。\"
\"JimGirty\'sdoomed,\"whisperedJoe,earnestly。\"He\'sasgoodasdeadalready。
I\'velivedwithWetzel,andknowhim。HetoldmeGirtyhadmurderedasettler,afeebleoldman,wholivednearFortHenrywithhisson。Thehunterhassworntokilltherenegade;but,mindyou,hedidnottellmethat。Isawitinhiseyes。Itwouldn\'tsurprisemetoseehimjumpoutofthesebushesatanymoment。I\'mlookingforit。Ifheknowsthereareonlythreeleft,he\'llbeafterthemlikeahoundonatrail。Girtymusthurry。Where\'shetakingyou？\"
\"TotheDelawaretown。\"
\"Idon\'tsupposethechiefswillletanyharmbefallyou;butKateandIwouldbebetteroffdead。Ifwecanonlydelaythemarch,Wetzelwillsurelyreturn。\"
\"Hush！Girty\'sup。\"
Therenegadestaggeredtoanuprightposition,andleanedontheShawnee\'sarm。Evidentlyhehadnotbeenseriouslyinjured,onlystunned。Coveredwithbloodfromaswollen,gashedlumponhistemple,hecertainlypresentedasavageappearance。
\"Where\'stheyellow—hairedlass？\"hedemanded,pushingawaySilvertip\'sfriendlyarm。Heglaredaroundtheglade。TheShawneeaddressedhimbriefly,whereuponheragedtoandfrounderthetree,cursingwithfoam—fleckedlips,andactuallyhowlingwithbaffledrage。Hisfurywassogreatthathebecamesuddenlyweak,andwascompelledtositdown。
\"She\'ssafe,youvillainousrenegade！\"criedJoe。
\"Hush,Joe！Donotangerhim。Itcandonogood,\"interposedJim。
\"Whynot？Wecouldn\'tbeworseoff,\"answeredJoe。
\"I\'llgither,I\'llgitheragin,\"pantedGirty。\"I\'llkeepher,an\'she\'llloveme。\"
Thespectacleofthispervertedwretchspeakingasifhehadbeencheatedoutoflovewassoremarkable,sopitiful,somonstrous,thatforamomentJoewasdumbfounded。
\"Bah！Youwhite—liveredmurderer！\"Joehissed。Hewellknewitwasnotwisetogivewaytohispassion;buthecouldnothelpit。Thisbeastinhumanguise,whiningforlove,maddenedhim。\"Anywhitewomanonearthwoulddieathousanddeathsandburnforamillionyearsafterwardratherthanloveyou！\"
\"I\'llseeyoukilledatthestake,beggin\'fermercy,an\'befeedferbuzzards,\"croakedtherenegade。
\"Thenkillmenow,oryoumayslipupononeofyourcherishedbuzzard—feasts,\"criedJoe,withglintingeyeandtauntingvoice。\"Thengosneakingbacktoyourholelikeahyena,andstaythere。Wetzelisonyourtrail！Hemissedyoulastnight;butitwasbecauseofthegirl。He\'safteryou,Girty;he\'llgetyouoneofthesedays,andwhenhedoes——MyGod！———\"
Nothingcouldbemorerevoltingthanthatswarthy,evilfaceturnedpalewithfear。Girty\'svisagewasaghastly,lividwhite。Soearnest,sointensewasJoe\'svoice,thatitseemedtoallasifWetzelwasabouttodartintotheglade,withhisavengingtomahawkupliftedtowreakanawfulvengeanceontheabductor。Therenegade\'swhite,cravenheartcontainednosuchthingascourage。Ifheeverfoughtitwaslikeawolf,backedbynumbers。Theresemblanceceasedhere,forevenacorneredwolfwillshowhisteeth,andGirty,driventobay,wouldhavecringedandcowered。EvennowatthementionofWetzel\'senmityhetrembled。
\"I\'llshetyerwind,\"hecried,catchinguphistomahawkandmakingforJoe。
Silvertipintervened,andpreventedtheassault。HeledGirtybacktohisseatandspokelow,evidentlytryingtosoothetherenegade\'sfeelings。
\"Silvertip,givemeatomahawk,andletmefighthim,\"imploredJoe。
\"Palefacebrave——likeInjunchief。PalefaceShawnee\'sprisoner——nospeakmore,\"answeredSilvertip,withrespectinhisvoice。
\"Oh,where\'sNellie？\"
Agrief—strickenwhispercaughtJim\'sear。HeturnedtoseeKate\'swide,questioningeyesfixeduponhim。
\"Nellwasrescued。\"
\"ThankGod！\"murmuredthegirl。
\"Comealong,\"shoutedGirty,inhisharshvoice,as,graspingKate\'sarm,hepulledthegirlviolentlytoherfeet。Then,pickinguphisrifle,heledherintotheforest。SilvertipfollowedwithJoe,whiletheremainingIndianguardedJim。
Thegreatcouncil—lodgeoftheDelawaresrangwithsavageandfieryeloquence。
Wingenundpacedslowlybeforetheorators。Wiseashewas,hewantedadvicebeforedecidingwhatwastobedonewiththemissionary。Thebrothershadbeentakentothechief,whoimmediatelycalledacouncil。TheIndianssatinahalfcirclearoundthelodge。Theprisoners,withhandsbound,guardedbytwobrawnybraves,stoodinonecornergazingwithcuriosityandapprehensionatthisformidablearray。Jimknewsomeofthebraves,butthemajorityofthosewhospokebitterlyagainstthepalefaceshadneverfrequentedtheVillageofPeace。NearlyallwereoftheWolftribeofDelawares。JimwhisperedtoJoe,interpretingthatpartofthespeechesbearinguponthedisposaltobemadeofthem。Twowhitemen,dressedinIndiangarb,heldprominentpositionsbeforeWingenund。TheboyssawaresemblancebetweenoneofthesemenandJimGirty,andaccordinglyconcludedhewasthefamousrenegade,orso—calledwhiteIndian,SimonGirty。TheothermanwasprobablyElliott,theTory,withwhomGirtyhaddesertedfromFortPitt。JimGirtywasnotpresent。Uponnearingtheencampmenthehadtakenhiscaptiveanddisappearedinaravine。
Shingiss,seldominfavorofdrasticmeasureswithprisoners,eloquentlyurgedinitiatingthebrothersintothetribe。Severalotherchiefswerefavorablyinclined,thoughnotsopositiveasShingiss。Kotoxenwasforthedeathpenalty;theimplacablePipefornothinglessthanburningatthestake。NotonewasforreturningthemissionarytohisChristianIndians。GirtyandElliott,thoughrequestedtospeak,maintainedanominoussilence。
Wingenundstrodewiththoughtfulmienbeforehiscouncil。Hehadheardallhiswisechiefsandhisfierywarriors。Supremewashispower。Freedomordeathforthecaptivesawaitedthewaveofhishand。HisimpassivefacegavenottheslightestinklingofwhattoexpectThereforetheprisonerswereforcedtostandtherewiththrobbingheartswhilethechieftainwaitedthecustomarydignifiedintervalbeforeaddressingthecouncil。
\"WingenundhasheardtheDelawarewisemenandwarriors。ThewhiteIndianopensnothislips;hissilencebroodsevilforthepalefaces。Pipewantsthebloodofthewhitemen;theShawneechiefdemandsthestake。WingenundsaysfreethewhitefatherwhoharmsnoIndian。Wingenundhearsnoevilinthemusicofhisvoice。Thewhitefather\'sbrothershoulddie。KillthecompanionofDeathwind！\"
Aplaintivemurmur,remarkablewhencomingfromanassemblyofstern—browedchiefs,ranroundthecircleatthementionofthedreadappellation。
\"Thewhitefatherisfree,\"continuedWingenund。\"LetoneofmyrunnersconducthimtotheVillageofPeace。\"
AbraveenteredandtouchedJimontheshoulder。
JimshookhisheadandpointedtoJoe。TherunnertouchedJoe。
\"No,no。Iamnotthemissionary,\"criedJoe,staringaghastathisbrother。
\"Jim,haveyoulostyoursenses？\"
Jimsadlyshookhishead,andturningtoWingenundmadeknowninabrokenIndiandialectthathisbrotherwasthemissionary,andwouldsacrificehimself,takingthisopportunitytopracticetheChristianityhehadtaught。
\"Thewhitefatherisbrave,butheisknown,\"brokeinWingenund\'sdeepvoice,whilehepointedtothedoorofthelodge。\"LethimgobacktohisChristianIndians。\"
TheIndianrunnercutJoe\'sbonds,andoncemoreattemptedtoleadhimfromthelodge。Rageandmiseryshowninthelad\'sface。Hepushedtherunneraside。Heexhaustedhimselftryingtoexplain,tothinkofIndianwordsenoughtoshowhewasnotthemissionary。HeevenimploredGirtytospeakforhim。
WhentherenegadesattherestolidlysilentJoe\'srageburstout。
\"Curseyouallforalotofignorantredskins。Iamnotamissionary。IamDeathwind\'sfriend。IkilledaDelaware。IwasthecompanionofLeVentdelaMort！\"
Joe\'spassionatevehemence,andthetruththatspokefromhisflashingeyescompelledtherespect,ifnottheabsolutebeliefoftheIndians。Thesavagesslowlyshooktheirheads。Theybeheldthespectacleoftwobrothers,oneafriend,theotheranenemyofallIndians,eachwillingtogotothestake,tosufferanawfulagony,forloveoftheother。ChivalrousdeedsalwaysstiranIndian\'sheart。Itwaslikearedmantodieforhisbrother。Theindifference,thecontemptfordeath,wontheiradmiration。
\"Letthewhitefatherstandforth,\"sternlycalledWingenund。
Ahundredsombereyesturnedontheprisoners。Exceptthatoneworeabuckskincoat,theotheralinseyone,therewasnodifference。Thestrongfigureswerethesame,thewhitefacesalike,thesternresolveinthegrayeyesidentical——theyweretwinbrothers。
Wingenundoncemorepacedbeforehissilentchiefs。Todealrightlywiththissituationperplexedhim。Tokillbothpalefacesdidnotsuithim。Suddenlyhethoughtofawaytodecide。
\"LetWingenund\'sdaughtercome,\"heordered。
Aslight,girlishfigureentered。ItwasWhisperingWinds。Herbeautifulfaceglowedwhileshelistenedtoherfather。
\"Wingenund\'sdaughterhashermother\'seyes,thatwerebeautifulasadoe\'s,keenasahawk\'s,far—seeingasaneagle\'s。LettheDelawaremaidenshowherblood。Letherpointoutthewhitefather。\"
ShylybutunhesitatinglyWhisperingWindslaidherhandJim\'sarm。
\"Missionary,begone！\"camethechieftain\'scommand。\"ThankWingenund\'sdaughterforyourlife,nottheGodofyourChristians！\"
Hewavedhishandtotherunner。ThebravegraspedJim\'sarm。
\"Good—by,Joe,\"brokenlysaidJim。
\"Oldfellow,good—by,\"cametheanswer。
Theytookonelast,longlookintoeachothers\'eyes。Jim\'sglancebetrayedhisfear——hewouldneverseehisbrotheragain。ThelightinJoe\'seyeswastheoldsteelyflash,theindomitablespirit——whiletherewaslifetherewashope。
\"LettheShawneechiefpainthisprisonerblack,\"commandedWingenund。
Whenthemissionaryleftthelodgewiththerunner,WhisperingWindshadsmiled,forshehadsavedhimwhomshelovedtohearspeak;butthedreadcommandthatfollowedpaledhercheek。Blackpaintmeanthideousdeath。Shesawthismansolikethewhitefather。Herpiteousgazetriedtoturnfromthatwhiteface;butthecold,steelyeyesfascinatedher。
Shehadsavedoneonlytobetheother\'sdoom！
Shehadalwaysbeendrawntowardwhitemen。Manyprisonershadsherescued。
Shehadevenbefriendedhernation\'sbitterfoe,Deathwind。Shehadlistenedtotheyoungmissionarywithrapture;shehadbeenhissavior。Andnowwhenshelookedintotheeyesofthisyounggiant,whosefatehadrestedonherallunwittingwords,sheresolvedtosavehim。
Shehadbeenashy,shrinkingcreature,fearingtolifthereyestoapaleface\'s,butnowtheywereraisedclearandsteadfast。
Asshesteppedtowardthecaptiveandtookhishand,herwholepersonradiatedwithconsciousprideinherpower。Itwastheknowledgethatshecouldsave。
Whenshekissedhishand,andkneltbeforehim,sheexpressedatenderhumility。
ShehadclaimedquestionablerightofanIndianmaiden;sheaskedwhatnoIndiandaredrefuseachief\'sdaughter;shetookthepalefaceforherhusband。
Heractionwasfollowedbyanimpressivesilence。Sheremainedkneeling。
Wingenundresumedhisslowmarchtoandfro。Silvertipretiredtohiscornerwithgloomyface。Theothersbowedtheirheadsasifthemaiden\'sdecreewasirrevocable。
Oncemorethechieftain\'ssonorouscommandrangout。AnoldIndian,wrinkledandworn,weirdofaspect,fancifulofattire,enteredthelodgeandwavedhiswampumwand。Hemumbledstrangewords,anddepartedchantingalongsong。
WhisperingWindsarose,asoft,radiantsmileplayingoverherface,and,stillholdingJoe\'shand,sheledhimoutofthelodge,throughlongrowsofsilentIndians,downalandborderedbyteepees,hefollowinglikeoneinadream。
Heexpectedtoawakenatanyminutetoseethestarsshiningthroughtheleaves。Yethefeltthewarm,softpressureofalittlehand。Surelythisslender,gracefulfigurewasreal。
Shebadehimenteralodgeofimposingproportions。Stillsilent,inamazementandgratitude,heobeyed。
ThemaidenturnedtoJoe。Thoughtracesofpridestilllingered,allherfirehadvanished。Herbosomrosewitheachquick—pantingbreath;herlipsquivered,shetrembledlikeatrappeddoe。
Butatlasttheflutteringlashesrose。Joesawtwovelvetyeyesdarkwithtimidfear,yetveilingintheirlustrousdepthsanunutteredhopeandlove。
\"WhisperingWinds——save——paleface,\"shesaid,inavoicelowandtremulous。
\"Fear——father。Fear——tell——Wingenund——she——Christian。\"
Indiansummer,thatenchantedtime,unfoldeditsgolden,dreamyhazeovertheDelawarevillage。Theforestsblazedwithautumnfire,themeadowsboomedinrichluxuriance。Alldaylowdowninthevalleyshungapurplesmokewhichchanged,asthecooleveningshadescreptoutofthewoodland,intoacloudofwhitemist。Alldaytheastersalongthebrooksliftedgolden—brownfacestothesunasiftocatchthewarningwarmthofhissmile。Alldaytheplainsandforestslayinmelancholyrepose。Thesadswishofthewestwindoverthetallgrasstoldthathewasslowlydyingwaybeforehisenemy,thenorthwind。Thesoundofdroppingnutswasheardunderthemotionlesstrees。
ForJoethedaysweredaysofenchantment。Hiswildhearthadfounditsmate。
Awillingcaptivehewasnow。Allhisfancyforotherwomen,allhismemoriesfadedintoloveforhisIndianbride。
WhisperingWindscharmedtheeye,mind,andheart。Everydayherbeautyseemedrenewed。Shewasasapttolearnasshewasquicktoturnherblack—crownedhead,buthersupremebeautywasherloving,innocentsoul。Untaintedastheclearestspring,itmirroredthepurityandsimplicityofherlife。Indianshemightbe,oneofaracewhosemoralsandmannerswerealientothemansheloved,yetshewouldhaveaddedhonortotheproudestname。
