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found themselves side by side。 They had not exchanged a word since the evening
previous； when Jim had kissed her。 Unable to look at each other now； and
finding speech difficult； they walked in embarrassed silence。
〃Doesn't Joe look splendid in his hunting suit？〃 asked Jim； presently。
〃I hadn't noticed。 Yes； he looks well；〃 replied Nell； carelessly。 She was too
indifferent to be natural。
〃Are you angry with him？〃
〃Certainly not。〃
Jim was always simple and frank in his relations with women。 He had none of
his brother's fluency of speech； with neither confidence； boldness nor
understanding of the intricate mazes of a woman's moods。
〃Butyou are angry withme？〃 he whispered。
Nell flushed to her temples； yet she did not raise her eyes nor reply。
〃It was a terrible thing for me to do；〃 went on Jim； hesitatingly。 〃I don't
know why I took advantageofof your mistaking me for Joe。 If you only
hadn't held up your mouth。 NoI don't mean thatof course you didn't。
Butwell； I couldn't help it。 I'm guilty。 I have thought of little else。 Some
wonderful feeling has possessed me ever sincesince…〃
〃What has Joe been saying about me？〃 demanded Nell； her eyes burning like
opals。
〃Why； hardly anything；〃 answered Jim； haltingly。 〃I took him to task
aboutabout what I considered might be wrong to you。 Joe has never been very
careful of young ladies' feelings； and I thoughtwell； it was none of my
business。 He said he honestly cared for you； that you had taught him how
unworthy he was of a good woman。 But he's wrong there。 Joe is wild and
reckless； yet his heart is a well of gold。 He is a diamond in the rough。 Just
now he is possessed by wild notions of hunting Indians and roaming through the
forests； but he'll come round all right。 I wish I could tell you how much he
has done for me； how much I love him； how I know him！ He can be made worthy of
any woman。 He will outgrow this fiery； daring spirit； and thenwon't you help
him？〃
〃I will； if he will let me；〃 softly whispered Nell； irresistibly drawn by the
strong； earnest love thrilling in his voice。
Chapter X。
Once more out under the blue…black vault of heaven； with its myriads of
twinkling stars； the voyagers resumed their westward journey。 Whispered
farewells of new but sincere friends lingered in their ears。 Now the great
looming bulk of the fort above them faded into the obscure darkness； leaving a
feeling as if a protector had goneperhaps forever。 Admonished to absolute
silence by the stern guides； who seemed indeed to have embarked upon a dark
and deadly mission； the voyagers lay back in the canoes and thought and
listened。 The water eddied with soft gurgles in the wake of the racing canoes；
but that musical sound was all they heard。 The paddles might have been
shadows； for all the splash they made； they cut the water swiftly and
noiselessly。 Onward the frail barks glided into black space； side by side；
close under the overhanging willows。 Long moments passed into long hours； as
the guides paddled tirelessly as if their sinews were cords of steel。
With gray dawn came the careful landing of the canoes； a cold breakfast eaten
under cover of a willow thicket； and the beginning of a long day while they
were lying hidden from the keen eyes of Indian scouts； waiting for the
friendly mantle of night。
The hours dragged until once more the canoes were launched； this time not on
the broad Ohio； but on a stream that mirrored no shining stars as it flowed
still and somber under the dense foliage。
The voyagers spoke not； nor whispered； nor scarcely moved； so menacing had
become the slow； listening caution of Wetzel and Zane。 Snapping of twigs
somewhere in the inscrutable darkness delayed them for long moments。 Any
movement the air might resound with the horrible Indian war…whoop。 Every
second was heavy with fear。 How marvelous that these scouts； penetrating the
wilderness of gloom； glided on surely； silently； safely！ Instinct； or the eyes
of the lynx； guide their course。 But another dark night wore on to the tardy
dawn； and each of its fearful hours numbered miles past and gone。
The sun was rising in ruddy glory when Wetzel ran his canoe into the bank just
ahead of a sharp bend in the stream。
〃Do we get out here？〃 asked Jim； seeing Jonathan turn his canoe toward
Wetzel's。
〃The village lies yonder； around the bend；〃 answered the guide。 〃Wetzel cannot
go there； so I'll take you all in my canoe。〃
〃There's no room； I'll wait；〃 replied Joe； quietly。 Jim noted his looka
strange； steady glance it wasand then saw him fix his eyes upon Nell；
watching her until the canoe passed around the green…bordered bend in the
stream。
Unmistakable signs of an Indian town were now evident。 Dozens of graceful
birchen canoes lay upon the well…cleared banks； a log bridge spanned the
stream； above the slight ridge of rising ground could be seen the poles of
Indian teepees。
As the canoe grated upon the sandy beach a little Indian boy； who was playing
in the shallow water； raised his head and smiled。
〃That's an Indian boy；〃 whispered Kate。
〃The dear little fellow！〃 exclaimed Nell。
The boy came running up to them； when they were landed； with pleasure and
confidence shining in his dusky eyes。 Save for tiny buckskin breeches； he was
naked； and his shiny skin gleamed gold…bronze in the sunlight。 He was a
singularly handsome child。
〃MeBenny；〃 he lisped in English； holding up his little hand to Nell。
The action was as loving and trusting as any that could have been manifested
by a white child。 Jonathan Zane stared with a curious light in his dark eyes；
Mr。 Wells and Jim looked as though they doubted the evidence of their own
sight。 Here； even in an Indian boy； was incontestable proof that the savage
nature could be tamed and civilized。
With a tender exclamation Nell bent over the child and kissed him。
Jonathan Zane swung his canoe up…stream for the purpose of bringing Joe。 The
trim little bark slipped out of sight round the bend。 Presently its gray；
curved nose peeped from behind the willows； then the canoe swept into view
again。 There was only one person in it； and that the guide。
〃Where is my brother？〃 asked Jim； in amazement。
〃Gone；〃 answered Zane； quietly。
〃Gone！ What do you mean？ Gone？ Perhaps you have missed the spot where you left
him。〃
〃They're both gone。〃
Nell and Jim gazed at each other with slowly whitening faces。
〃Come； I'll take you up to the village；〃 said Zane； getting out of his canoe。
All noticed that he was careful to take his weapons with him。
〃Can't you tell us what it meansthis disappearance？〃 asked Jim； his voice
low and anxious。
〃They're gone； canoe and all。 I knew Wetzel was going； but I didn't calkilate
on the lad。 Mebbe he followed Wetzel； mebbe he didn't；〃 answered the taciturn
guide； and he spoke no more。
In his keen expectation and wonder as to what the village would be like； Jim
momentarily forgot his brother's disappearance； and when he arrived at the top
of the bank he surveyed the scene with eagerness。 What he saw was more
imposing than the Village of Peace which he had conjured up in his
imagination。 Confronting him was a level plain； in the center of which stood a
wide； low structure surrounded by log cabins； and these in turn encircled by
Indian teepees。 A number of large trees； mostly full…foliaged maples； shaded
the clearing。 The settlement swarmed with Indians。 A few shrill halloes
uttered by the first observers of the newcomers brought braves； maidens and
children trooping toward the party with friendly curiosity。
Jonathan Zane stepped before a cabin adjoining the large structure； and called
in at the open door。 A short； stoop…shouldered white man； clad in faded
linsey； appeared on the threshold。 His serious； lined face had the
unmistakable benevolent aspect peculiar to most teachers of the gospel。
〃Mr。 Zeisberger； I've fetched a party from Fort Henry；〃 said Zane； indicating
those he had guided。 Then； without another word； never turning his dark face
to the right or left； he hurried down the lane through the throng of Indians。
Jim remembered； as he saw the guide vanish over the bank of the creek； that he
had heard Colonel Zane say that Jonathan； as well as Wetzel； hated the sight
of an Indian。 No doubt long years of war and bloodshed had rendered these two
great hunters callous。 To them there could be no discriminationan Indian was
an Indian。
〃Mr。 Wells； welcome to the Village of Peace！〃 exclaimed Mr。 Zeisberger；
wringing the old missionary's hand。 〃The years have not been so long but that
I remember you。〃
〃Happy； indeed； am I to get here； after all these dark； dangerous journeys；〃
returned Mr。 Wells。 〃I have brought my nieces； Nell and Kate； who were
children when you left Williamsburg； and this young man； James Downs； a
minister of God； and