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because his one shot must be for another。 Again had that lofty； haughty
figure stood before him； calm； disdainful； arrogant； and he yielded to a
woman's prayer。
The Delaware's life was his to take； and he swore he would have it！ He
trembled in the ecstasy of his triumphant passion； his great muscles rippled
and quivered； for the moment was entirely beyond his control。 Then his passion
calmed。 Such power for vengeance had he that he could almost still the very
beats of his heart to make sure and deadly his fatal aim。 Slowly he raised
himself； his eyes of cold fire glittered； slowly he raised the black rifle。
Wingenund stood erect in his old； grand pose； with folded arms； but his eyes；
instead of being fixed on the distant hills； were lowered to the ground。
An Indian girl； cold as marble； lay at his feet。 Her garments were wet； and
clung to her slender form。 her sad face was frozen into an eternal rigidity。
By her side was a newly dig grave。
The bead on the front sight of the rifle had hardly covered the chief's dark
face when Wetzel's eye took in these other details。 He had been so absorbed in
his purpose that he did not dream of the Delaware's reason for returning to
the Beautiful Spring。
Slowly Wetzel's forefinger stiffened； slowly he lowered the black rifle。
Wingenund had returned to bury Whispering Winds。
Wetzel's teethe clenched； an awful struggle tore his heart。 Slowly the rifle
rose； wavered and fell。 It rose again； wavered and fell。 Something terrible
was wrong with him； something awful was awakening in his soul。
Wingenund had not made a fool of him。 The Delaware had led him a long chase；
had given him the slip in the forest； not to boast of it； but to hurry back to
give his daughter Christian burial。
Wingenund was a Christian！
Had he not been； once having cast his daughter from him； he would never have
looked upon her face again。
Wingenund was true to his race； but he was a Christian。
Suddenly Wetzel's terrible temptation； his heart…racking struggle ceased。 He
lowered the long； black rifle。 He took one last look at the chieftain's dark；
powerful face。
Then the Avenger fled like a shadow through the forest。
Chapter XXX。
It was late afternoon at Fort Henry。 The ruddy sun had already sunk behind the
wooded hill； and the long shadows of the trees lengthened on the green square
in front of the fort。
Colonel Zane stood in his doorway watching the river with eager eyes。 A few
minutes before a man had appeared on the bank of the island and hailed。 The
colonel had sent his brother Jonathan to learn what was wanted。 The latter had
already reached the other shore in his flatboat； and presently the little boat
put out again with the stranger seated at the stern。
〃I thought； perhaps； it might be Wetzel；〃 mused the colonel； 〃though I never
knew of Lew's wanting a boat。〃
Jonathan brought the man across the river； and up the winding path to where
Colonel Zane was waiting。
〃Hello！ It's young Christy！〃 exclaimed the colonel； jumping off the steps； and
cordially extending his hand。 〃Glad to see you！ Where's Williamson。 How did
you happen over here？〃
〃Captain Williamson and his men will make the river eight or ten miles above；〃
answered Christy。 〃I came across to inquire about the young people who left
the Village of Peace。 Was glad to learn from Jonathan they got out all right。〃
〃Yes； indeed； we're all glad。 Come and sit down。 Of course you'll stay over
night。 You look tired and worn。 Well； no wonder； when you saw that Moravian
massacre。 You must tell me about it。 I saw Sam Brady yesterday； and he spoke
of seeing you over there。 Sam told me a good deal。 Ah！ here's Jim now。〃
The young missionary came out of the open door； and the two young men greeted
each other warmly。
〃How is she？〃 asked Christy； when the first greetings had been exchanged。
〃Nell's just beginning to get over the shock。 She'll be glad to see you。〃
〃Jonathan tells me you got married just before Girty came up with you at
Beautiful Spring。〃
〃Yes； it is true。 In fact； the whole wonderful story is true； yet I cannot
believe as yet。 You look thin and haggard。 When we last met you were well。〃
〃That awful time pulled me down。 I was an unwilling spectator of all that
horrible massacre； and shall never get over it。 I can still see the fiendish
savages running about with the reeking scalps of their own people。 I actually
counted the bodies of forty…nine grown Christians and twenty…seven children。
An hour after you left us the church was in ashes； and the next day I saw the
burned bodies。 Oh！ the sickening horror of the scene！ It haunts me！ That
monster Jim Girty killed fourteen Christians with his sledge…hammer。〃
〃Did you hear of his death？〃 asked Colonel Zane。
〃Yes； and a fitting end it was to the frontier 'Skull and Cross…bones'。〃
〃It was like Wetzel to think of such a vengeance。〃
〃Has Wetzel come in since？〃
〃No。 Jonathan says he went after Wingenund； and there's no telling when he'll
return。〃
〃I hoped he would spare the Delaware。〃
〃Wetzel spare an Indian！〃
〃But the chief was a friend。 He surely saved the girl。〃
〃I am sorry； too； because Wingenund was a fine Indian。 But Wetzel is
implacable。〃
〃Here's Nell； and Mrs。 Clarke too。 Come out； both of you；〃 cried Jim。
Nell appeared in the doorway with Colonel Zane's sister。 The two girls came
down the steps and greeted the young man。 The bride's sweet face was white and
thin； and there was a shadow in her eyes。
〃I am so glad you got safely away fromfrom there；〃 said Christy； earnestly。
〃Tell me of Benny？〃 asked Nell； speaking softly。
〃Oh； yes； I forgot。 Why； Benny is safe and well。 He was the only Christian
Indian to escape the Christian massacre。 Heckewelder hid him until it was all
over。 He is going to have the lad educated。〃
〃Thank Heaven！〃 murmured Nell。
〃And the missionaries？〃 inquired Jim； earnestly。
〃Were all well when I left； except； of course； Young。 He was dying。 The
others will remain out there； and try to get another hold； but I fear it's
impossible。〃
〃It is impossible； not because the Indian does not want Christianity； but
because such white men as the Girty's rule。 The beautiful Village of Peace
owes its ruin to the renegades；〃 said Colonel Zane impressively。
〃Captain Williamson could have prevented the massacre；〃 remarked Jim。
〃Possibly。 It was a bad place for him； and I think he was wrong not to try；〃
declared the colonel。
〃Hullo！〃 cried Jonathan Zane； getting up from the steps where he sat listening
to the conversation。
A familiar soft…moccasined footfall sounded on the path。 All turned to see
Wetzel come slowly toward them。 His buckskin hunting costume was ragged and
worn。 He looked tired and weary； but the dark eyes were calm。
It was the Wetzel whom they all loved。
They greeted him warmly。 Nell gave him her hands； and smiled up at him。
〃I'm so glad you've come home safe；〃 she said。
〃Safe an' sound； lass； an' glad to find you well；〃 answered the hunter； as he
leaned on his long rifle； looking from Nell to Colonel Zane's sister。 〃Betty；
I allus gave you first place among border lasses； but here's one as could run
you most any kind of a race；〃 he said； with the rare smile which so warmly
lighted his dark； stern face。
〃Lew Wetzel making compliments！ Well； of all things！〃 exclaimed the colonel's
sister。
Jonathan Zane stood closely scanning Wetzel's features。 Colonel Zane；
observing his brother's close scrutiny of the hunter； guessed the cause； and
said：
〃Lew； tell us； did you see Wingenund over the sights of your rifle？〃
〃Yes；〃 answered the hunter simply。
A chill seemed to strike the hearts of the listeners。 That simple answer；
coming from Wetzel； meant so much。 Nell bowed her head sadly。 Jim turned away
biting his lip。 Christy looked across the valley。 Colonel Zane bent over and
picked up some pebbles which he threw hard at the cabin wall。 Jonathan Zane
abruptly left the group； and went into the house。
But the colonel's sister fixed her large； black eyes on Wetzel's face。
〃Well？〃 she asked； and her voice rang。
Wetzel was silent for a moment。 He met here eyes with that old； inscrutable
smile in his own。 A slight shade flitted across his face。
〃Betty； I missed him；〃 he said； calmly； and； shouldering his long rifle； he
strode away。
Nell and Jim walked along the bluff above the river。 Twilight was deepening。
The red glow in the west was slowly darkening behind the boldly defined hills。
〃So it's all settled； Jim； that we stay here；〃 said Nell。
〃Yes； dear。 Colonel Zane has offered me work； and a church besides。 We are
very fortunate； and should be contented。 I am happy because you're my wife；
and yet I am sad when I think ofhim。 Poor Joe！〃
〃Don'