WhenWhisperingWindsraisedherdarkeyestheyshowedradiantasalonestar;
　　whenshespokelowhervoicemademusic。
　　"Beloved,"shewhisperedonedaytohim,"teachtheIndianmaidenmoreloveforyou,andtruth,andGod。WhisperingWindsyearnstogototheChristians,butshefearshersternfather。WingenundwouldburntheVillageofPeace。TheIndiantribestremblebeforethethunderofhiswrath。Bepatient,mychief。
　　Timechangestheleaves,soitwilltheangerofthewarriors。WhisperingWinds'willsetyoufree,andbefreeherselftogofarwithyoutowardtherisingsun,wheredwellyourpeople。Shewilllove,andbeconstant,asthenorthernstar。Herlovewillbeaneternalspringwhereblossomsbloomeveranew,andfresh,andsweet。Shewillloveyourpeople,andraiseChristianchildren,andsiteverinthedoorofyourhomeprayingforthewestwindtoblow。Or,ifmychiefwills,weshalllivetheIndianlife,freeastwoeaglesontheirlonelycrag。"
　　AlthoughJoegavehimselfupcompletelytohisloveforhisbride,hedidnotforgetthatKatewasinthepoweroftherenegade,andthathemustrescueher。KnowingGirtyhadtheunfortunategirlssomewhereneartheDelawareencampment,heresolvedtofindtheplace。Plansofallkindsheresolvedinhismind。ThebestonehebelievedlaythroughWhisperingWinds。FirsttofindthewhereaboutsofGirty;killhimifpossible,oratleastfreeKate,andthengetawaywithherandhisIndianbride。Sanguineasheinvariablywas,hecouldnotbutrealizetheperilofthisundertaking。IfWhisperingWindsbetrayedherpeople,itmeantdeathtoheraswellastohim。HewouldfarratherspendtheremainingdaysofhislifeintheIndianvillage,thandoomthemaidenwhoselovehadsavedhim。Yethethoughthemightsucceedingettingawaywithher,andplannedtothatend。Hisnaturalspirit,daring,reckless,hadgainedwhilehewasassociatedwithWetzel。
　　MeanwhilehemingledfreelywiththeIndians,andhere,aselsewhere,hiswinningpersonality,combinedwithhisathleticprowess,soonmadehimwellliked。HewasevenonfriendlytermswithPipe。TheswarthywarchieflikedJoebecause,despitetheanimosityhehadarousedinsomeformerloversofWhisperingWinds,heactuallyplayedjokesonthem。Infact,Joe'spranksraisedmanyastorm;buttheyoungbraveswhohadbeensuitorsforWingenund'slovelydaughter,fearedthemuscularpaleface,andthetribe'sridiculemore;
　　sohecontinuedhistrickeryunmolested。Joe'sideawastoleadthesavagestobelievehewasthoroughlyhappyinhisnewlife,andsohewas,butitsuitedhimbettertobefree。Hesucceededinmisleadingthesavages。Atfirsthewascloselywatched,thethevigilancerelaxed,andfinallyceased。
　　Thislastcircumstancewasowing,nodoubt,toafermentofexcitementthathadsuddenlypossessedtheDelawares。Councilaftercouncilwasheldinthebiglodge。Theencampmentwasvisitedbyrunnerafterrunner。Someimportantcrisiswaspending。
　　Joecouldnotlearnwhatitallmeant,andthefactthatWhisperingWindssuddenlylosthergladsomespiritandbecamesadcausedhimfurtheranxiety。
　　Whenheaskedherthereasonforherunhappiness,shewassilent。Moreover,hewassurprisedtolearn,whenhequestionedheruponthesubjectoftheirfleeingtogether,thatshewaseagertogoimmediately。WhileallthismysterypuzzledJoe,itdidnotmakeanydifferencetohimorinhisplans。Itratherfavoredthelatter。HeunderstoodthatthepresenceofSimonGirtyandElliott,withseveralotherrenegadesunknowntohim,wassignificantofunrestamongtheIndians。Thesepresagersofevilwereaccustomedtogofromvillagetovillage,excitingthesavagestoactsofwar。Peacemeantthedownfallanddeathofthesemen。Theywerebusyalldayandfarintothenight。OftenJoeheardGirty'shoarsevoiceliftedinthecouncillodge。Pipethunderedincessantlyforwar。ButJoecouldnotlearnagainstwhom。
　　Elliott'ssuave,oilyoratoryexhortedtheIndianstovengeance。ButJoecouldnotguessuponwhom。Hewas,however,destinedtolearn。
　　ThethirddayofthecouncilsahorsemanstoppedbeforeWhisperingWinds'
　　lodge,andcalledout。Steppingtothedoor,Joesawawhiteman,whosedark,keen,handsomefaceseemedfamiliar。YetJoeknowhehadneverseenthisstalwartman。
　　"Awordwithyou,"saidthestranger。Histonewascurt,authoritative,asthatofamanusedtopower。
　　"Asmanyasyoulike。Whoareyou？"
　　"IamIsaacZane。AreyouWetzel'scompanion,ortherenegadeDeering？"
　　"Iamnotarenegadeanymorethanyouare。IwasrescuedbytheIndiangirl,whotookmeasherhusband,"saidJoecoldly。Hewassurprised,anddidnotknowwhattomakeofZane'smanner。
　　"Good！I'mgladtomeetyou,"instantlyrepliedZane,histoneandexpressionchanging。HeextendedhishandtoJoe。"Iwantedtobesure。IneversawtherenegadeDeering。Heisherenow。IamonmywaytotheWyandottown。IhavebeentoFortHenry,wheremybrothertoldmeofyouandthemissionaries。WhenIarrivedhereIheardyourstoryfromSimonGirty。Ifyoucan,youmustgetawayfromhere。IfIdaredI'dtakeyoutotheHuronvillage,butit'simpossible。Go,whileyouhaveachance。"
　　"Zane,Ithankyou。I'vesuspectedsomethingwaswrong。Whatisit？"
　　"Couldn'tbeworse,"whisperedZane,glancingroundtoseeiftheywereoverheard。"GirtyandElliott,backedbythisDeering,aregrowingjealousoftheinfluenceofChristianityontheIndians。TheyareplottingagainsttheVillageofPeace。Tarhe,theHuronchief,hasbeenapproached,andaskedtojoininaconcertedmovementagainstreligion。SeeminglyitisnotsomuchthemissionariesastheconvertedIndians,thattherenegadesarefumingover。
　　TheyknowiftheChristiansavagesarekilled,thestrengthofthemissionaries'holdwillbeforeverbroken。Pipeiswildforblood。Theserenegadesareslowlypoisoningthemindsofthefewchiefswhoarefavorablydisposed。Theoutlookisbad！bad！"
　　"WhatcanIdo？"
　　"Cutoutforyourself。Getaway,ifyoucan,withagun。Takethecreekbelow,followthecurrentdowntotheOhio,andthenmakeeastforFortHenry。
　　"ButIwanttorescuethewhitegirlJimGirtyhasconcealedheresomewhere。"
　　"Impossible！Don'tattemptitunlessyouwanttothrowyourlifeaway。
　　BuzzardJim,aswecallGirty,isabutcher;hehasprobablymurderedthegirl。"
　　"Iwon'tleavewithouttrying。Andthere'smywife,theIndiangirlwhosavedme。Zane,she'saChristian。Shewantstogowithme。Ican'tleaveher。"
　　"Iamwarningyou,that'sall。IfIwereyouI'dneverleavewithoutatrytofindthewhitegirl,andI'dneverforsakemyIndianbride。I'vebeenthroughthesamething。Youmustbeagoodwoodsman,orWetzelwouldn'thaveletyoustaywithhim。Pickoutafavorabletimeandmaketheattempt。IsuggestyoumakeyourIndiangirlshowyouwhereGirtyis。Sheknows,butisafraidtotellyou,forshefearsGirty。GetyourdogandhorsefromtheShawnee。That'safinehorse。Hecancarryyoubothtosafety。TakehimawayfromSilvertip。"
　　"How？"
　　"Gorightupanddemandyourhorseanddog。MostoftheseDelawaresarehonest,foralltheirblood—sheddingandcruelty。Withthemmightisright。
　　TheDelawareswon'ttrytogetyourhorseforyou;butthey'llsticktoyouwhenyouassertyourrights。Theydon'tliketheShawnee,anyhow。IfSilvertiprefusestogiveyouthehorse,grabhimbeforehecandrawaweapon,andbeathimgood。You'rebigenoughtodoit。TheDelawareswillbetickledtoseeyoupoundhim。He'sthickwithGirty;that'swhyhelaysroundhere。Takemyword,it'sthebestway。Doitopenly,andnoonewillinterfere。"
　　"ByHeavens,Zane,I'llgivehimadrubbing。Iowehimone,andamitchingtogetholdofhim。"
　　"Imustgonow。IshallsendaWyandotrunnertoyourbrotheratthevillage。
　　Theyshallbewarned。Good—by。Goodluck。Maywemeetagain。"
　　JoewatchedZanerideswiftlydownthelandanddisappearintheshrubbery。
　　WhisperingWindscametothedoorofthelodge。Shelookedanxiouslyathim。
　　Hewentwithin,drawingheralongwithhim,andquicklyinformedherthathehadlearnedthecauseofthecouncil,thathehadresolvedtogetaway,andshemustfindoutGirty'shidingplace。WhisperingWindsthrewherselfintohisarms,declaringwithanenergyandpassionunusualtoher,thatshewouldriskanythingforhim。SheinformedJoethatsheknewthedirectionfromwhichGirtyalwaysreturnedtothevillage。Nodoubtshecouldfindhisretreat。
　　WithacunningthatshowedherIndiannature,shesuggestedaplanwhichJoeatoncesawwasexcellent。AfterJoegothishorse,shewouldridearoundthevillage,thenoffintothewoods,whereshecouldleavethehorseandreturntosayhehadrunawayfromher。Aswastheircustomduringafternoons,theywouldwalkleisurelyalongthebrook,and,trustingtotheexcitementcreatedbythecouncils,getawayunobserved。Findthehorse,ifpossiblerescuetheprisoner,andthentraveleastwithallspeed。
　　Joeleftthelodgeatoncetobegintheworkingoutoftheplan。Luckfavoredhimattheoutset,forhemetSilvertipbeforethecouncillodge。TheShawneewasleadingLance,andthedogfollowedathisheels。ThespiritofMosehadbeenbroken。Poordog,Joethought,hehadbeenbeatenuntilhewasafraidtowaghistailathisoldmaster。Joe'sresentmentblazedintofury,buthekeptcooloutwardly。
　　RightbeforeacrowdofIndianswaitingforthecounciltobegin,JoeplantedhimselfinfrontoftheShawnee,barringhisway。
　　"Silvertiphasthepaleface'shorseanddog,"saidJoe,inaloudvoice。
　　ThechiefstaredhaughtilywhiletheotherIndianssaunterednearer。TheyallknewhowtheShawneehadgottheanimals,andnowawaitedtheoutcomeofthewhiteman'schallenge。
　　"Paleface——heap——liar,"growledtheIndian。Hisdarkeyesglowedcraftily,whilehishanddropped,apparentlyincarelesshabit,tothehaftofhistomahawk。
　　Joeswunghislongarm;hisbigfistcaughttheShawneeonthejaw,sendinghimtotheground。Utteringafrightfulyell,Silvertipdrewhisweaponandattemptedtorise,butthemoment'sdelayinseizingthehatchet,wasfataltohisdesign。Joewasuponhimwithtigerlikesuddenness。Onekicksentthetomahawkspinning,anotherlandedtheShawneeagainontheground。Blindwithrage,Silvertipleapedup,andwithoutaweaponrushedathisantagonist;buttheIndianwasnotaboxer,andhefailedtogethishandsonJoe。Shiftyandelusive,theladdodgedaroundthestrugglingsavage。One,two,threehardblowsstaggeredSilvertip,andafourth,deliveredwiththeforceofJoe'spowerfularm,caughttheIndianwhenhewasoffhisbalance,andfelledhim,batteredandbloody,onthegrass。ThesurroundingIndianslookeddownatthevanquishedShawnee,expressingtheirapprovalincharacteristicgrunts。
　　WithLanceprancingproudly,andMoseleapinglovinglybesidehim,Joewalkedbacktohislodge。WhisperingWindssprangtomeethimwithjoyfulface。ShehadfearedtheoutcomeoftroublewiththeShawnee,butnoqueeneverbestoweduponreturningvictoriouslordaloftierlookofpride,asweeterglanceoflove,thantheIndianmaidenbentuponherlover。
　　WhisperingWindsinformedJoethatanimportantcouncilwastobeheldthatafternoon。Itwouldbewiseforthemtomaketheattempttogetawayimmediatelyaftertheconveningofthechiefs。AccordinglyshegotuponLanceandrodehimupanddownthevillagelane,muchtothepleasureofthewatchingIndians。Shescatteredtheidlecrowdsonthegrassplots,shedashedthroughthesidestreets,andleteveryoneintheencampmentseeherclingingtotheblackstallion。Thensherodehimoutalongthecreek。Accustomedtoherimperiouswill,theIndiansthoughtnothingunusual。Whenshereturnedanhourlater,withflyinghairanddisheveledcostume,noonepaidparticularattentiontoher。
　　ThatafternoonJoeandhisbridewerethefavoredoffortune。WithMoserunningbeforethem,theygotclearoftheencampmentandintothewoods。
　　OnceintheforestWhisperingWindsrapidlyledthewayeast。Whentheyclimbedtothetopofarockyridgeshepointeddownintoathicketbeforeher,sayingthatsomewhereinthisdensehollowwasGirty'shut。JoehesitatedabouttakingMose。Hewantedthedog,butincasehehadtorunitwasnecessaryWhisperingWindsshouldfindhistrail,andforthisheleftthedogwithher。
　　Hestarteddowntheridge,andhadnotgoneahundredpaceswhenoversomegraybouldershesawthethatchedroofofahut。Sowildandsecludedwasthespot,thathewouldneverhavediscoveredthecabinfromanyotherpointthanthis,whichhehadbeensofortunateastofind。
　　HisstudyandpracticeunderWetzelnowstoodhimingoodstead。Hepickedoutthebestpathovertheroughstonesandthroughthebrambles,alwayskeepingundercover。Hesteppedascarefullyasifthehunterwasbehindhim。Soonhereachedlevelground。Adenselaurelthickethidthecabin,butheknewthedirectioninwhichitlay。Throwinghimselfflatontheground,hewormedhiswaythroughthethicket,carefully,yetswiftly,becauseheknewtherewasnotimetolose。Finallytherearofthecabinstoodinfrontofhim。
　　Itwasmadeoflogs,rudelyhewn,andasrudelythrowntogether。Inseveralplacesclayhadfallenfromchinksbetweenthetimbers,leavingsmallholes。
　　LikeasnakeJoeslippedclosetothehut。Raisinghisheadhelookedthroughoneofthecracks。
　　Instantlyheshrankbackintothegrass,shiveringwithhorror。Healmostchokedinhisattempttopreventanoutcry。
　　ChapterXVIII。
　　ThesightwhichJoehadseenhorrifiedhim,forseveralmoments,intohelplessinaction。Helaybreathingheavily,impotent,inanawfulrage。Asheremainedtherestunnedbytheshock,hegazedupthroughtheopenspaceintheleaves,tryingtostillhisfury,torealizethesituation,tomakenohastymove。Thesoftblueofthesky,thefleecycloudsdriftingeastward,theflutteringleavesandthetwitteringbirds——allassuredhimhewaswideawake。
　　HehadfoundGirty'sdenwheresomanywhitewomenhadbeenhidden,toseefriendsandhomenomore。Hehadseentherenegadesleeping,calmlysleepinglikeanyotherman。Howcouldthewretchsleep！HehadseenKate。Ithadbeenthesightofherthathadparalyzedhim。Tomakeacertaintyofhisfears,heagainraisedhimselftopeepintothehole。Ashedidsoafaintcrycamefromwithin。
　　Girtylayonabuffalorobenearabarreddoor。BeyondhimsatKate,huddledinonecornerofthecabin。Alongbuckskinthongwasknottedroundherwaist,andtiedtoalog。Herhairwasmattedandtangled,andonherfaceandarmsweremanydiscoloredbruises。Worsestill,inherplaintivemoaning,inthemeaninglessmovementofherhead,inhervacantexpression,wasproofthathermindhadgone。Shewasmad。EvenasanagonizingpitycameoverJoe,tobefollowedbythesurgingfireofrage,blazingupinhisbreast,hecouldnotbutthankGodthatshewasmad！ItwasmercifulthatKatewasnolongerconsciousofhersuffering。
　　LikeleavesinastormwaveredJoe'shandsasheclenchedthemuntilthenailsbroughtblood。"Becalm,becool,"whisperedhismonitor,Wetzel,everwithhiminspirit。ButGod！Couldhebecool？Boundingwithlion—springhehurledhisheavyframeagainstthedoor。
　　Crash！Thedoorwasburstfromitsfastenings。
　　Girtyleapedupwithstartledyell,drawinghisknifeasherose。IthadnottimetodescendbeforeJoe'ssecondspring,morefierceeventhantheother,carriedhimdirectlyontopoftherenegade。AsthetwowentdownJoecaughtthevillain'swristwithagripthatliterallycrackedthebones。Theknifefellandrolledawayfromthestrugglingmen。Foraninstanttheytumbledaboutonthefloor,claspedinacrushingembrace。Therenegadewasstrong,supple,slipperyasaneel。Twicehewriggledfromhisfoe。Gnashinghisteeth,hefoughtlikeahyena。Hewasfightingforlife——life,whichisneversodearastoacowardandamurderer。DoomglaredfromJoe'sbigeyes,andscreamafterscreamissuedfromtherenegade'swhitelips。
　　Terriblewasthisstruggle,butbrief。Joeseeminglyhadthestrengthoftenmen。TwicehepulledGirtydownasawolfdragsadeer。Hedashedhimagainstthewall,throwinghimnearingandnearertheknife。OncewithinreachofthebladeJoestrucktherenegadeasevereblowonthetempleandthevillain'swrestlingbecameweaker。PlantinghisheavykneeonGirty'sbreast,Joereachedfortheknife,andswungithigh。Exultantlyhecried,madwithlustforthebrute'sblood。
　　ButtheslightdelaysavedGirty'slife。
　　TheknifewasknockedfromJoe'shandandheleapederecttofindhimselfconfrontedbySilvertip。Thechiefheldatomahawkwithwhichhehadstrucktheweaponfromtheyoungman'sgrasp,and,tojudgefromhisburningeyesandmalignantsmile,hemeanttobrainthenowdefenselesspaleface。
　　InasinglefleetinginstantJoesawthatGirtywashelplessforthemoment,thatSilvertipwasconfidentofhisrevenge,andthatthesituationcalledforWetzel'scharacteristicadvice,"actlikelightnin'。"
　　SwifterthanthethoughtwastheleaphemadepastSilvertip。Itcarriedhimtoawoodenbarwhichlayonthefloor。Escapewaseasy,forthedoorwasbeforehimandtheShawneebehind,butJoedidnotflee！HeseizedthebarandrushedattheIndian。Thenbeganaduelinwhichthesavage'squicknessandcunningmatchedthewhiteman'sstrengthandfury。SilvertipdodgedtheviciousswingsJoeaimedathim;heparriedmanyblows,anyoneofwhichwouldhavecrushedhisskull。Nimbleasacat,heavoidedeveryrush,whilehisdarkeyeswatchedforanopening。Hefoughtwhollyonthedefensive,craftilyreservinghisstrengthuntilhisopponentshouldtire。
　　Atlast,catchingthebaronhishatchet,hebroketheforceoftheblow,andthen,withagilemovement,droppedtothegroundandgrappledJoe'slegs。Longbeforethishehaddrawnhisknife,andnowheusedit,plungingthebladeintotheyoungman'sside。
　　Cunningandsuccessfulaswasthesavage'sruse,itfailedsignally,fortogetholdoftheShawneewasallJoewanted。Feelingthesharppainastheyfelltogether,hereachedhishandbehindhimandcaughtSilvertip'swrist。
　　Exertingallhispower,hewrenchedtheIndian'sarmsothatitwasnotonlydislocated,butthebonescracked。
　　Silvertipsawhisfatalmistake,butheutterednosound。Crippled,thoughhewas,heyetmadeasupremeeffort,butitwasasifhehadbeeninthehandsofagiant。Theladhandledhimwithremorselessandresistlessfury。Suddenlyhegraspedtheknife,whichSilvertiphadbeenunabletoholdwithhiscrippledhand,andthrustitdeeplyintotheIndian'sside。
　　AllSilvertip'smusclesrelaxedasifastrongtensionhadbeenremoved。
　　Slowlyhislegsstraightened,hisarmsdropped,andfromhissidegushedadarkflood。Ashadowcreptoverhisface,notdarknorwhite,butjustashadow。Hiseyeslosttheirhate;theynolongersawthefoe,theylookedbeyondwithgloomyquestion,andthenwerefixedcoldindeath。Silvertipdiedashehadlived——achief。
　　JoeglaredroundforGirty。Hewasgone,havingslippedawayduringthefight。
　　Theladturnedtoreleasethepoorprisoner,whenhestartedbackwithacryoffear。Katelaybathedinapoolofblood——dead。Therenegade,fearingshemightberescued,hadmurderedher,andthenfledfromthecabin。
　　Almostblindedbyhorror,andstaggeringwithweakness,Joeturnedtoleavethecabin。Realizingthathewasseriously,perhapsdangerously,woundedhewiselythoughthemustnotleavetheplacewithoutweapons。Hehadmarkedthepegswheretherenegade'sriflehung,andhadbeencarefultokeepbetweenthatandhisenemies。Hetookdownthegunandhorns,whichwereattachedtoit,and,withonelastshudderingglanceatpoorKate,lefttheplace。
　　Hewasconsciousofaqueerlightnessinhishead,buthesufferednopain。
　　Hisgarmentsweredrippingwithblood。Hedidnotknowhowmuchofitwashis,ortheIndian's。Instinctratherthansightwashisguide。Hegrewweakerandweaker;hisheadbegantowhirl,yethekepton,knowingthatlifeandfreedomwerehisifhefoundWhisperingWinds。Hegainedthetopoftheridge;hiseyeswereblurred,hisstrengthgone。Hecalledaloud,andthenplungedforwardonhisface。Hehearddimly,asthoughthesoundwereafaroff,thewhineofadog。Hefeltsomethingsoftandwetonhisface。Thenconsciousnesslefthim。
　　Whenheregainedhissenseshewaslyingonabedoffernsunderaprojectingrock。Heheardthegurgleofrunningwaterminglingwiththesongofbirds。
　　NearhimlayMose,andbeyondroseawallofgreenthicket。NeitherWhisperingWindsnorhishorsewasvisible。
　　Hefeltadreamylassitude。Hewastired,buthadnopain。Findinghecouldmovewithoutdifficulty,heconcludedhisweaknesswasmorefromlossofbloodthanadangerouswound。Heputhishandontheplacewherehehadbeenstabbed,andfeltasoft,warmcompresssuchasmighthavebeenmadebyabunchofwetleaves。Someonehadunlacedhishunting—shirt——forhesawthestringswerenotasheusuallytiedthem——andhaddressedthewound。Joedecided,aftersomedeliberation,thatWhisperingWindshadfoundhim,madehimascomfortableaspossible,and,leavingMoseonguard,hadgoneouttohuntforfood,orperhapsbacktotheIndianencampment。TherifleandhornshehadtakenfromGirty'shut,togetherwithSilvertip'sknife,laybesidehim。
　　AsJoelaytherehopingforWhisperingWinds'return,hisreflectionswerenotpleasant。Fortunate,indeed,hewastobealive;buthehadnohopehecouldcontinuetobefavoredbyfortune。Oddswerenowagainsthisescape。GirtywouldhavetheDelawaresonhistraillikeapackofhungrywolves。HecouldnotunderstandtheabsenceofWhisperingWinds。Shewouldhavediedsoonerthandeserthim。Girtyhad,perhaps,capturedher,andwasnowscouringthewoodsforhim。
　　"I'llgethimnexttime,orhe'llgetme,"mutteredJoe,inbitterwrath。Hecouldneverforgivehimselfforhisfailuretokilltherenegade。
　　TherecollectionofhownearlyhehadforeverendedGirty'sbrutalcareerbroughtbeforeJoe'smindthesceneofthefight。HesawagainBuzzardJim'sface,revolting,unlikeanythinghuman。TherestretchedSilvertip'sdarkfigure,lyingstillandstark,andtherewasKate'swhiteforminitswinding,crimsonwreathofblood。Hauntinglyherfacereturned,sad,sterninitscoldrigidity,。
　　"Poorgirl,betterforhertobedead,"hemurmured。"Notlongwillshebeunavenged！"
　　Histhoughtsdriftedtothefuture。Hehadnofearofstarvation,forMosecouldcatcharabbitorwoodchuckatanytime。Whenthestripsofmeathehadhiddeninhiscoatweregone,hecouldstartafireandroastmore。Whatconcernedhimmostwaspursuit。Histrailfromthecabinhadbeenabloodyone,whichwouldrenderiteasilyfollowed。Hedarednotriskexertionuntilhehadgivenhiswoundtimetoheal。Then,ifhedidescapefromGirtyandtheDelawares,hisfuturewasnotbright。Hisexperiencesofthelastfewdayshadnotonlysobered,butbroughthometohimthisrealborderlife。Withallhisfireanddaringhenewhewasnofool。Hehadeagerlyembracedacareerwhich,atthepresentstageofhistraining,wasbeyondhisscope——notthathedidnotknowhowtoactinsuddencrises,butbecausehehadnothadthenecessarypracticetoquicklyandsurelyusehisknowledge。
　　Bitter,indeed,washisself—scornwhenherecalledthatoftheseveralcriticalpositionshehadbeeninsincehisacquaintancewithWetzel,hehadfailedinallbutone。TheexceptionwasthekillingofSilvertip。HerehisfuryhadmadehimfightasWetzelfoughtwithonlyhiseverydayincentive。Herealizedthattheborderwasnoplaceforanysavetheboldestandmostexperiencedhunters——menwhohadbecomeinuredtohardship,callousastodeath,keenasIndians。FearwasnotinJoenorlackofconfidence;buthehadgoodsense,andrealizedhewouldhavedoneawiserthinghadhestayedatFortHenry。ColonelZanewasright。TheIndiansweretigers,therenegadesvultures,thevastuntrammeledforestsandplainstheircovert。Tenyearsofwarhadrenderedthiswildernessaplacewherethosefewwhitemenwhohadsurvivedwerehardenedtothespillingofblood,sterneveninthosefewquiethourswhichperilallowedthem,strongintheirsacrificeofallforfuturegenerations。
　　AlowgrowlfromMosebrokeintoJoe'sreflections。Thedoghadraisedhisnosefromhispawsandsniffedsuspiciouslyattheair。Theladheardaslightrustlingoutside,andinanothermomentwasoverjoyedatseeingWhisperingWinds。Shecameswiftly,withalithe,gracefulmotion,andflyingtohimlikearushofwind,kneltbesidehim。Shekissedhimandmurmuredwordsofendearment。
　　"Winds,wherehaveyoubeen？"heaskedher,inthemixedEnglishandIndiandialectinwhichtheyconversed。
　　Shetoldhimthedoghadledhertohimtwoeveningsbefore。Hewasinsensible。Shehadbathedandbandagedhiswound,andremainedwithhimallthatnight。Thenextday,findinghewasillanddelirious,shedecidedtoriskreturningtothevillage。Ifanyquestionsarose,shecouldsayhehadlefther。Thenshewouldfindawaytogetbacktohim,bringinghealingherbsforhiswoundandasoothingdrink。AsitturnedoutGirtyhadreturnedtothecamp。Hewasbatteredandbruised,andinawhiteheatofpassion。GoingatoncetoWingenund,therenegadeopenlyaccusedWhisperingWindsofaidingherpalefacelovertoescape。Wingenundcalledhisdaughterbeforehim,andquestionedher。Sheconfessedalltoherfather。
　　"WhyisthedaughterofWingenundatraitortoherrace？"demandedthechief。
　　"WhisperingWindsisaChristian。"
　　Wingenundreceivedthisintelligenceasablow。HedismissedGirtyandsenthisbravesfromhislodge,facinghisdaughteralone。Gloomyandstern,hepacedbeforeher。
　　"Wingenund'sbloodmightchange,butwouldneverbetray。WingenundistheDelawarechief,"hesaid。"Go。DarkennomorethedoorofWingenund'swigwam。
　　LetthefloweroftheDelawaresfadeinalienpastures。Go。WhisperingWindsisfree！"
　　TearsshonebrightlyintheIndiangirl'seyeswhileshetoldJoeherstory。
　　Shelovedherfather,andshewouldseehimnomore。
　　"Windsisfree,"shewhispered。"Whenstrengthreturnstohermastershecanfollowhimtothewhitevillages。Windswillliveherlifeforhim。"
　　"Thenwehavenoonetofear？"askedJoe。
　　"Noredman,nowthattheShawneechiefisdead。"
　　"WillGirtyfollowus？Heisacoward;hewillfeartocomealone。"
　　"Thewhitesavageisasnakeinthegrass。"
　　Twolongdaysfollowed,duringwhichtheloverslayquietlyinhiding。OnthemorningofthethirddayJoefeltthathemightriskthestartfortheVillageofPeace。WhisperingWindsledthehorsebelowastoneuponwhichtheinvalidstood,thusenablinghimtomount。Thenshegotonbehindhim。
　　Thesunwasjustgildingthehorizonwhentheyrodeoutofthewoodsintoawideplain。Nolivingthingcouldbeseen。Alongtheedgeoftheforestthegroundwaslevel,andthehorsetraveledeasily。SeveraltimesduringthemorningJoedismountedbesideapileofstonesorafallentree。Themilesweretraversedwithoutseriousinconveniencetotheinvalid,exceptthathegrewtired。Towardthemiddleoftheafternoon,whentheyhadriddenperhapstwenty—fivemiles,theycrossedaswift,narrowbrook。Thewaterwasabeautifulclearbrown。Joemadenoteofthis,asitwasanunusualcircumstance。Nearlyallthestreams,whennotflooded,weregreenincolor。
　　HerememberedthatduringhiswanderingswithWetzeltheyhadfoundonestreamofthisbrown,copper—coloredwater。TheladknewhemusttakearoundaboutwaytothevillagesothathemightavoidIndianrunnersorscouts,andhehopedthisstreamwouldprovetobetheonehehadoncecampedupon。
　　Astheywereridingtowardagentleswellorknollcoveredwithtreesandshrubbery,WhisperingWindsfeltsomethingwarmonherhand,and,looking,washorrifiedtofinditcoveredwithblood。Joe'swoundhadopened。Shetoldhimtheymustdismounthere,andremainuntilhewasstronger。Theinvalidhimselfthoughtthisconclusionwaswise。Theywouldbepracticallysafenow,sincetheymustbeoutoftheIndianpath,andmanymilesfromtheencampment。
　　Accordinglyhegotoffthehorse,andsatdownonalog,whileWhisperingWindssearchedforasuitableplaceinwhichtoerectatemporaryshelter。
　　Joe'swanderinggazewasarrestedbyatreewithahugeknottyformationneartheground。Itwaslikemanytrees,butthispeculiaritywasnotwhatstruckJoe。Hehadseenitbefore。Heneverforgotanythinginthewoodsthatonceattractedhisattention。Helookedaroundonallsides。Justbehindhimwasanopeningintheclumpoftrees。Withinthiswasaperpendicularstonecoveredwithmossandlichens;aboveitabeechtreespreadlong,gracefulbranches。Hethrilledwiththeremembrancethesefamiliarmarksbrought。ThiswasBeautifulSpring,theplacewhereWetzelrescuedNell,wherehehadkilledtheIndiansinthatnightattackhewouldneverforget。
　　ChapterXIX。
　　OneeveningaweekormoreafterthedisappearanceofJimandthegirls,GeorgeYoungandDavidEdwards,themissionaries,satonthecabinsteps,gazingdisconsolatelyupontheforestscenery。HardashadbeenthetenyearsoftheirlaboramongtheIndians,nothinghadshakenthemasthelossoftheiryoungfriends。
　　"Dave,Itellyouyourtheoryaboutseeingthemagainisabsurd,"assertedGeorge。"I'llneverforgetthatwretch,Girty,ashespoketoNell。Why,shejustwiltedlikeaflowerblastedbyfire。Ican'tunderstandwhyheletmego,andkeptJim,unlesstheShawneehadsomethingtodowithit。IneverwisheduntilnowthatIwasahunter。I'dgoafterGirty。You'veheardaswellasIofhismanyatrocities。I'dratherhaveseenKateandNelldeadthanhavethemfallintohispower。I'dratherhavekilledthemmyself！"
　　Younghadagedperceptiblyintheselastfewdays。Theblueveinsshowedathistemples;hisfacehadbecomethinnerandpaler,hiseyeshadalookofpain。Theformerexpressionofpatience,whichhadsatsowellonhim,wasgone。
　　"George,Ican'taccountformyfanciesorfeelings,else,perhaps,I'dbeeasierinmind,"answeredDave。Hisface,too,showedtheravagesofgrief。
　　"I'vehadqueerthoughtslately,anddreamssuchasIneverhadbefore。
　　Perhapsit'sthistroublewhichhasmademesonervous。Idon'tseemabletopullmyselftogether。Icanneitherpreachnorwork。"
　　"NeithercanI！Thistroublehashityouashardasithasme。But,Dave,we'vestillourduty。Toendure,toendure——thatisourlife。Becauseabeamofsunshinebrightened,forabrieftime,thegrayofourlives,andthenfadedaway,wemustnotshirknorgrowsouranddiscontented。"
　　"Buthowcruelisthisborderlife！"
　　"Natureitselfisbrutal。"
　　"Yes,Iknow,andwehaveelectedtospendourliveshereinthemidstofthisceaselessstrife,tofarepoorly,tohavenopleasure,nevertofeelthecomfortofawoman'ssmiles,northejoyofachild'scaress,allbecauseoutinthewoodsaretenortwentyorahundredsavageswemayconvert。"
　　"Thatiswhy,anditisenough。Itishardtogiveupthewomenyoulovetoablack—souledrenegade,butthatisnotformythought。Whatkillsmeisthehorrorforher——forher。"