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。