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〃As many as you like。 Who are you？〃
〃I am Isaac Zane。 Are you Wetzel's companion； or the renegade Deering？〃
〃I am not a renegade any more than you are。 I was rescued by the Indian girl；
who took me as her husband；〃 said Joe coldly。 He was surprised； and did not
know what to make of Zane's manner。
〃Good！ I'm glad to meet you；〃 instantly replied Zane； his tone and expression
changing。 He extended his hand to Joe。 〃I wanted to be sure。 I never saw the
renegade Deering。 He is here now。 I am on my way to the Wyandot town。 I have
been to Fort Henry； where my brother told me of you and the missionaries。 When
I arrived here I heard your story from Simon Girty。 If you can； you must get
away from here。 If I dared I'd take you to the Huron village； but it's
impossible。 Go； while you have a chance。〃
〃Zane； I thank you。 I've suspected something was wrong。 What is it？〃
〃Couldn't be worse；〃 whispered Zane； glancing round to see if they were
overheard。 〃Girty and Elliott； backed by this Deering； are growing jealous of
the influence of Christianity on the Indians。 They are plotting against the
Village of Peace。 Tarhe； the Huron chief； has been approached； and asked to
join in a concerted movement against religion。 Seemingly it is not so much the
missionaries as the converted Indians； that the renegades are fuming over。
They know if the Christian savages are killed； the strength of the
missionaries' hold will be forever broken。 Pipe is wild for blood。 These
renegades are slowly poisoning the minds of the few chiefs who are favorably
disposed。 The outlook is bad！ bad！〃
〃What can I do？〃
〃Cut out for yourself。 Get away； if you can； with a gun。 Take the creek below；
follow the current down to the Ohio； and then make east for Fort Henry。
〃But I want to rescue the white girl Jim Girty has concealed here somewhere。〃
〃Impossible！ Don't attempt it unless you want to throw your life away。
Buzzard Jim； as we call Girty； is a butcher； he has probably murdered the
girl。〃
〃I won't leave without trying。 And there's my wife； the Indian girl who saved
me。 Zane； she's a Christian。 She wants to go with me。 I can't leave her。〃
〃I am warning you； that's all。 If I were you I'd never leave without a try to
find the white girl； and I'd never forsake my Indian bride。 I've been through
the same thing。 You must be a good woodsman； or Wetzel wouldn't have let you
stay with him。 Pick out a favorable time and make the attempt。 I suggest you
make your Indian girl show you where Girty is。 She knows； but is afraid to
tell you； for she fears Girty。 Get your dog and horse from the Shawnee。 That's
a fine horse。 He can carry you both to safety。 Take him away from Silvertip。〃
〃How？〃
〃Go right up and demand your horse and dog。 Most of these Delawares are
honest； for all their blood…shedding and cruelty。 With them might is right。
The Delawares won't try to get your horse for you； but they'll stick to you
when you assert your rights。 They don't like the Shawnee； anyhow。 If Silvertip
refuses to give you the horse； grab him before he can draw a weapon； and beat
him good。 You're big enough to do it。 The Delawares will be tickled to see
you pound him。 He's thick with Girty； that's why he lays round here。 Take my
word； it's the best way。 Do it openly； and no one will interfere。〃
〃By Heavens； Zane； I'll give him a drubbing。 I owe him one； and am itching to
get hold of him。〃
〃I must go now。 I shall send a Wyandot runner to your brother at the village。
They shall be warned。 Good…by。 Good luck。 May we meet again。〃
Joe watched Zane ride swiftly down the land and disappear in the shrubbery。
Whispering Winds came to the door of the lodge。 She looked anxiously at him。
He went within； drawing her along with him； and quickly informed her that he
had learned the cause of the council； that he had resolved to get away； and
she must find out Girty's hiding place。 Whispering Winds threw herself into
his arms； declaring with an energy and passion unusual to her； that she would
risk anything for him。 She informed Joe that she knew the direction from which
Girty always returned to the village。 No doubt she could find his retreat。
With a cunning that showed her Indian nature； she suggested a plan which Joe
at once saw was excellent。 After Joe got his horse； she would ride around the
village； then off into the woods； where she could leave the horse and return
to say he had run away from her。 As was their custom during afternoons； they
would walk leisurely along the brook； and； trusting to the excitement created
by the councils； get away unobserved。 Find the horse； if possible rescue the
prisoner； and then travel east with all speed。
Joe left the lodge at once to begin the working out of the plan。 Luck favored
him at the outset； for he met Silvertip before the council lodge。 The Shawnee
was leading Lance； and the dog followed at his heels。 The spirit of Mose had
been broken。 Poor dog； Joe thought； he had been beaten until he was afraid to
wag his tail at his old master。 Joe's resentment blazed into fury； but he kept
cool outwardly。
Right before a crowd of Indians waiting for the council to begin； Joe planted
himself in front of the Shawnee； barring his way。
〃Silvertip has the paleface's horse and dog；〃 said Joe； in a loud voice。
The chief stared haughtily while the other Indians sauntered nearer。 They all
knew how the Shawnee had got the animals； and now awaited the outcome of the
white man's challenge。
〃Palefaceheapliar；〃 growled the Indian。 His dark eyes glowed craftily；
while his hand dropped； apparently in careless habit； to the haft of his
tomahawk。
Joe swung his long arm； his big fist caught the Shawnee on the jaw； sending
him to the ground。 Uttering a frightful yell； Silvertip drew his weapon and
attempted to rise； but the moment's delay in seizing the hatchet； was fatal to
his design。 Joe was upon him with tigerlike suddenness。 One kick sent the
tomahawk spinning； another landed the Shawnee again on the ground。 Blind with
rage； Silvertip leaped up； and without a weapon rushed at his antagonist； but
the Indian was not a boxer； and he failed to get his hands on Joe。 Shifty and
elusive； the lad dodged around the struggling savage。 One； two； three hard
blows staggered Silvertip； and a fourth； delivered with the force of Joe's
powerful arm； caught the Indian when he was off his balance； and felled him；
battered and bloody； on the grass。 The surrounding Indians looked down at the
vanquished Shawnee； expressing their approval in characteristic grunts。
With Lance prancing proudly； and Mose leaping lovingly beside him； Joe walked
back to his lodge。 Whispering Winds sprang to meet him with joyful face。 She
had feared the outcome of trouble with the Shawnee； but no queen ever bestowed
upon returning victorious lord a loftier look of pride； a sweeter glance of
love； than the Indian maiden bent upon her lover。
Whispering Winds informed Joe that an important council was to be held that
afternoon。 It would be wise for them to make the attempt to get away
immediately after the convening of the chiefs。 Accordingly she got upon Lance
and rode him up and down the village lane； much to the pleasure of the
watching Indians。 She scattered the idle crowds on the grass plots； she dashed
through the side streets； and let every one in the encampment see her clinging
to the black stallion。 Then she rode him out along the creek。 Accustomed to
her imperious will； the Indians thought nothing unusual。 When she returned an
hour later； with flying hair and disheveled costume； no one paid particular
attention to her。
That afternoon Joe and his bride were the favored of fortune。 With Mose
running before them； they got clear of the encampment and into the woods。
Once in the forest Whispering Winds rapidly led the way east。 When they
climbed to the top of a rocky ridge she pointed down into a thicket before
her； saying that somewhere in this dense hollow was Girty's hut。 Joe hesitated
about taking Mose。 He wanted the dog； but in case he had to run it was
necessary Whispering Winds should find his trail； and for this he left the dog
with her。
He started down the ridge； and had not gone a hundred paces when over some
gray boulders he saw the thatched roof of a hut。 So wild and secluded was the
spot； that he would never have discovered the cabin from any other point than
this； which he had been so fortunate as to find。
His study and practice under Wetzel now stood him in good stead。 He picked out
the best path over the rough stones and through the brambles； always keeping
under cover。 He stepped as carefully as if the hunter was behind him。 Soon he
reached level ground。 A dense laurel thicket hid the cabin； but he knew the
direction in which it lay。 Throwing himself flat on the ground； he wormed his
way through the thicket； carefully； yet swiftly； because he knew