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good hunting grounds。 I believethough I must confess I haven't seen any
pioneers who share my beliefthat the savage has a beautiful side to his
character。 I know of many noble deeds done by them； and I believe； if they are
honestly dealt with； they will return good for good。 There are bad ones； of
course； but the French traders； and men like the Girtys； have caused most of
this long war。 Jonathan and Wetzel tell me the Shawnees and Chippewas have
taken the warpath again。 Then the fact that the Girtys are with the Delawares
is reason for alarm。 We have been comparatively quiet here of late。 Did you
boys learn to what tribe your captors belong？ Did Wetzel say？〃
〃He did not； he spoke little； but I will say he was exceedingly active；〃
answered Joe； with a smile。
〃To have seen Wetzel fight Indians is something you are not likely to forget；〃
said Colonel Zane grimly。 〃Now； tell me； how did those Indians wear their
scalp…lock？〃
〃Their heads were shaved closely； with the exception of a little place on top。
The remaining hair was twisted into a tuft； tied tightly； and into this had
been thrust a couple of painted pins。 When Wetzel scalped the Indians the pins
fell out。 I picked one up； and found it to be bone。〃
〃You will make a woodsman； that's certain；〃 replied Colonel Zane。 〃The Indians
were Shawnee on the warpath。 Well； we will not borrow trouble； for when it
comes in the shape of redskins it 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 here at
Fort Henry； and more especially the girls。 On the border we need young people；
and； while I do not want to frighten the women； I fear there will be more than
Indians fighting for them。〃
〃I hope not； but we have come prepared for anything；〃 said Kate； with a quiet
smile。 〃Our home was with uncle； and when he announced his intention of going
west we decided our duty was to go with him。〃
〃You were right； and I hope you will find a happy home；〃 rejoined Colonel
Zane。 〃If life among the Indian； proves to be too had； we shall welcome you
here。 Betty； show the girls your pets and Indian trinkets。 I am going to take
the boys to Silas' cabin to see Mr。 Wells； and then show them over the fort。〃
As they went out Joe saw the Indian guide standing in exactly the same
position as when they entered the building。
〃Can't that Indian move？〃 he asked curiously。
〃He can cover one hundred miles in a day； when he wants to；〃 replied Colonel
Zane。 〃He is resting now。 An Indian will often stand or sit in one position
for many hours。〃
〃He's a fine…looking chap；〃 remarked Joe； and then to himself： 〃but I don't
like him。 I guess I'm prejudiced。〃
〃You'll learn to like Tome； as we call him。〃
〃Colonel Zane； I want a light for my pipe。 I haven't had a smoke since the day
we were captured。 That blamed redskin took my tobacco。 It's lucky I had some
in my other pack。 I'd like to meet him again； also Silvertip and that brute
Girty。〃
〃My lad； don't make such wishes；〃 said Colonel Zane； earnestly。 〃You were
indeed fortunate to escape； and I can well understand your feelings。 There is
nothing I should like better than to see Girty over the sights of my rifle；
but I never hunt after danger； and to look for Girty is to court death。〃
〃But Wetzel…〃
〃Ah； my lad； I know Wetzel goes alone in the woods； but then； he is different
from other men。 Before you leave I will tell you all about him。〃。
Colonel Zane went around the comer of the cabin and returned with a live coal
on a chip of wood； which Joe placed in the bowl of his pipe； and because of
the strong breeze stepped close to the cabin wall。 Being a 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 covering a hole。 At first he thought
they were made by a worm or bird peculiar to that region； but finally lie
concluded that they were bullet…holes。 He thrust his knife blade into one； and
out rolled a leaden ball。
〃I'd like to have been here when these were made；〃 he said。
〃Well； at the time I wished I was back on the Potomac；〃 replied Colonel Zane。
They found the old missionary on the doorstep of the adjacent cabin。 He
appeared discouraged when Colonel Zane interrogated him； and said that he was
impatient because of the delay。
〃Mr。 Wells； is it not possible that you underrate the danger of your
enterprise？〃
〃I fear naught but the Lord；〃 answered the old man。
〃Do you not fear for those with you？〃 went on the colonel earnestly。 〃I am
heart and soul with you in your work； but want to impress upon yon that the
time is not propitious。 It is a long journey to the village； and the way is
beset with dangers of which you have no idea。 Will you not remain here with me
for a few weeks； or； at least； until my scouts report？〃
〃I thank you； but go I will。〃
〃Then let me entreat you to remain here a few days； so that I may send my
brother Jonathan and Wetzel with you。 If any can guide you safely to the
Village of Peace it will be they。〃
At this moment Joe saw two men approaching from the fort； and recognized one
of them as Wetzel。 He doubted not that the other was Lord Dunmore's famous
guide and hunter； Jonathan Zane。 In features he resembled the colonel； and was
as tall as Wetzel； although not so muscular or wide of chest。
Joe felt the same thrill he had experienced while watching the frontiersmen at
Fort Pitt。 Wetzel and Jonathan spoke a word to Colonel Zane and then stepped
aside。 The hunters stood lithe and erect； with the easy； graceful poise of
Indians。
〃We'll take two canoes； day after to…morrow；〃 said Jonathan； decisively； to
Colonel Zane。 〃Have you a rifle for Wetzel？ The Delawares got his。〃
Colonel Zane pondered over the question； rifles were not scarce at the fort；
but a weapon that Wetzel would use was hard to find。
〃The hunter may have my rifle；〃 said the old missionary。 〃I have no use for a
weapon with which to destroy God's creatures。 My brother was a frontiersman；
he left this rifle to me。 I remember hearing him say once that if a man knew
exactly the weight of lead and powder needed； it would shoot absolutely true。〃
He went into the cabin； and presently came out with a long object wrapped in
linsey cloths。 Unwinding the coverings； he brought to view a rifle； the
proportions of which caused Jonathan's eyes to glisten； and brought an
exclamation from Colonel Zane。 Wetzel balanced the gun in his hands。 It was
fully six feet long； the barrel was large； and the dark steel finely polished；
the stock 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
Jonathan held toward him。 He examined it carefully and tried it in the muzzle
of the rifle。 Evidently it did not please him； for he took another。 Finally he
scraped a bullet with his knife； and placing it in the center of a small
linsey rag； deftly forced it down。 He adjusted the flint； dropped a few grains
of powder in the pan； and then looked around for a mark at which to shoot。
Joe observed that the hunters and Colonel Zane were as serious regarding the
work as if at that moment some important issue depended upon the accuracy of
the rifle。
〃There； Lew； there's a good shot。 It's pretty far； even for you； when you
don't know the gun；〃 said Colonel Zane； pointing toward the river。
Joe saw the end of a log； about the size of a man's head； sticking out of the
water； perhaps an hundred and fifty yards distant。 He thought 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 intended to shoot at a turtle on the log。
By straining his eyes Joe succeeded in distinguishing a small lump； which he
concluded was the turtle。
Wetzel took a step forward； the long； black rifle was raised with a stately
sweep。 The instant it reached a level a thread of flame burst forth； followed
by a peculiarly clear； ringing report。
〃Did he hit？〃 asked Colonel Zane； eagerly as a boy。
〃I allow he did；〃 answered Jonathan。
〃I'll go and see；〃 said Joe。 He ran down the bank； along the beach； and
stepped on the log。 He saw a turtle about the size of an ordinary saucer。
Picking it up； he saw a bullet…hole in the shell near the middle。 The bullet
had gone through the turtle； and it was quite dead。 Joe carried it to the
waiting group。
〃I allowed so；〃 declared Jonathan。