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looked from Joe to the man she had just struck； but could not say which was
the man who professed to love her。
〃Jim！ So you followed me！〃 cried Joe； starting forward and flinging his arms
around the other。
〃Yes； Joe； and right glad I am to find you；〃 answered the young man； while a
peculiar expression of pleasure came over his face。
〃It's good to see you again！ And here's my old dog Mose！ But how on earth did
you know？ Where did you strike my trail？ What are you going to do out here on
the frontier？ Tell me all。 What happened after I left…〃
Then Joe saw Nell standing nearby； pale and distressed； and he felt something
was amiss。 He glanced quickly from her to his brother； she seemed to be dazed；
and Jim looked grave。
〃What the deuce？ Nell； this is my brother Jim； the I told you about。 Jim；
this is my friend； Miss Wells。〃
〃I am happy to meet Miss Wells；〃 said Jim； with a smile； 〃even though she did
slap my face for nothing。〃
〃Slapped you？ What for？〃 Then the truth dawned on Joe； and he laughed until
the tears came into his eyes。 〃She took you for me！ Ha； ha； ha！ Oh； this is
great！〃
Nell's face was now rosy red and moisture glistened in her eyes； but she tried
bravely to stand her ground。 Humiliation had taken the place of anger。
〃IIam sorry； Mr。 Downs。 I did take you for him。 Hehe has insulted me。〃
Then she turned and ran into the cabin。
Chapter II。
Joe and Jim were singularly alike。 They were nearly the same size； very tall；
but so heavily built as to appear of medium height； while their grey eyes and；
indeed； every feature of their clean…cut faces corresponded so exactly as to
proclaim them brothers。
〃Already up to your old tricks？〃 asked Jim； with his hand on Joe's shoulder；
as they both watched Nell's flight。
〃I'm really fond of her； Jim； and didn't mean to hurt her feelings。 But tell
me about yourself； what made you come West？〃
〃To teach the Indians； and I was； no doubt； strongly influenced by your being
here。〃
〃You're going to do as you ever havemake some sacrifice。 You are always
devoting yourself； if not to me； to some other。 Now it's your life you're
giving up。 To try to convert the redskins and influence me for good is in both
cases impossible。 How often have I said there wasn't any good in me！ My desire
is to kill Indians； not preach to them； Jim。 I'm glad to see you； but I wish
you hadn't come。 This wild frontier is no place for a preacher。〃
〃I think it is；〃 said Jim； quietly。
〃What of Rosethe girl you were to marry？〃
Joe glanced quickly at his brother。 Jim's face paled slightly as he turned
away。
〃I'll speak once more of her； and then； never again；〃 he answered。 〃You knew
Rose better than I did。 Once you tried to tell me she was too fond of
admiration； and I rebuked you； but now I see that your wider experience of
women had taught you things I could not then understand。 She was untrue。 When
you left Williamsburg； apparently because you had gambled with Jewett and
afterward fought him； I was not misled。 You made the game of cards a pretense；
you sought it simply as an opportunity to wreak your vengeance on him for his
villainy toward me。 Well； it's all over now。 Though you cruelly beat and left
him disfigured for life； he will live； and you are saved from murder； thank
God！ When I learned of your departure I yearned to follow。 Then I met a
preacher who spoke of having intended to go West with a Mr。 Wells； of the
Moravian Mission。 I immediately said I would go in his place； and here I am。
I'm fortunate in that I have found both him and you。〃
〃I'm sorry I didn't kill Jewett； I certainly meant to。 Anyway； there's some
comfort in knowing I left my mark on him。 He was a sneaking； cold…blooded
fellow； with his white hair and pale face； and always fawning round the girls。
I hated him； and gave it to him good。〃 Joe spoke musingly and complacently as
though it was a trivial thing to compass the killing of a man。
〃Well； Jim； you're here now； and there's no help for it。 We'll go along with
this Moravian preacher and his nieces。 If you haven't any great regrets for
the past； why； all may be well yet。 I can see that the border is the place for
me。 But now； Jim； for once in your life take a word of advice from me。 We're
out on the frontier； where every man looks after himself。 Your being a
minister won't protect you here where every man wears a knife and a tomahawk；
and where most of them are desperadoes。 Cut out that soft voice and most of
your gentle ways； and be a little more like your brother。 Be as kind as you
like； and preach all you want to； but when some of these buckskin…legged
frontiermen try to walk all over you； as they will； take your own part in a
way you have never taken it before。 I had my lesson the first few days out
with that wagon…train。 It was a case of four fights； but I'm all right now。〃
〃Joe； I won't run； if that's what you mean；〃 answered Jim； with a laugh。
〃Yes； I understand that a new life begins here； and I am content。 If I can
find my work in it； and remain with you； I shall be happy。〃
〃Ah！ old Mose！ I'm glad to see you；〃 Joe cried to the big dog who came nosing
round him。 〃You've brought this old fellow； did you bring the horses？〃
〃Look behind the wagon。〃
With the dog bounding before him； Joe did as he was directed； and there found
two horses tethered side by side。 Little wonder that his eyes gleamed with
delight。 One was jet…black； the other iron…gray and in every line the
clean…limbed animals showed the thoroughbred。 The black threw up his slim head
and whinnied； with affection clearly shining in his soft； dark eyes as he
recognized his master。
〃Lance； old fellow； how did I ever leave you！〃 murmured Joe； as he threw his
arm over the arched neck。 Mose stood by looking up； and wagging his tail in
token of happiness at the reunion of the three old friends。 There were tears
in Joe's eyes when； with a last affectionate caress； he turned away from his
pet。
〃Come； Jim； I'll take you to Mr。 Wells。〃
They stated across the little square； while Mose went back under the wagon；
but at a word from Joe he bounded after them； trotting contentedly at their
heels。 Half way to the cabins a big； raw…boned teamster； singing in a drunken
voice； came staggering toward them。 Evidently he had just left the group of
people who had gathered near the Indians。
〃I didn't expect to see drunkenness out here；〃 said Jim； in a low tone。
〃There's lots of it。 I saw that fellow yesterday when he； couldn't walk。
Wentz told me he was a bad customer。〃
The teamster； his red face bathed in perspiration； and his sleeves rolled up；
showing brown； knotty arms； lurched toward them。 As they met he aimed a kick
at the dog； but Mose leaped nimbly aside； avoiding the heavy boot。 He did not
growl； nor show his teeth； but the great white head sank forward a little； and
the lithe body crouched for a spring。
〃Don't touch that dog； he'll tear your leg off！〃 Joe cried sharply。
〃Say； pard； cum an' hev' a drink；〃 replied the teamster； with a friendly leer。
〃I don't drink；〃 answered Joe； curtly； and moved on。
The teamster growled something of which only the word 〃parson〃 was
intelligible to the brothers。 Joe stopped and looked back。 His gray eyes
seemed to contract； they did not flash； but shaded and lost their warmth。 Jim
saw the change； and； knowing what it signified； took Joe's arm as he gently
urged him away。 The teamster's shrill voice could be heard until they entered
the fur…trader's cabin。
An old man with long； white hair flowing from beneath his wide…brimmed hat；
sat near the door holding one of Mrs。 Wentz's children on his knee。 His face
was deep…lined and serious； but kindness shone from his mild blue eyes。
〃Mr。 Wells； this is my brother James。 He is a preacher； and has come in place
of the man you expected from Williamsburg。〃
The old minister arose； and extended his hand； gazing earnestly at the
new…comer meanwhile。 Evidently he approved of what he saw in his quick
scrutiny of the other's face； for his lips were wreathed with a smile of
welcome。
〃Mr。 Downs； I am glad to meet you； and to know you will go with me。 I thank
God I shall take into the wilderness one who is young enough to carry on the
work when my days are done。〃
〃I will make it my duty to help you in whatsoever way lies in my power；〃
answered Jim； earnestly。
〃We have a great work before us。 I have heard many scoffers who claim that it
is worse than folly to try to teach these fierce savages Christianity； but I
know it can be done； and my heart is in the work。 I have no fear； yet I would
not conceal from you； young man； that the danger of going among these hostile
Indians must be great。〃
〃I will not hesitate because of that。 My sympathy is with the redman。 I have
had an opportunity of studying Indian nature and believe th