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that he could only groan。
〃Silvertip scalp paleface。 Ugh！〃 growled the savage； giving Loorey another
blow on the side。 This time he bent over in pain。 The bystanders were divided
in feeling； the men laughed； while the women murmured sympathetically。
〃This's not a bit funny；〃 muttered Joe； as he pushed his way nearly to the
middle of the crowd。 Then he stretched out a long arm that； bare and brawny；
looked as though it might have been a blacksmith's； and grasped the Indian's
sinewy wrist with a force that made him loosen his hold on Loorey instantly。
〃I stole the shirtfunjoke；〃 said Joe。 〃Scalp me if you want to scalp
anyone。〃
The Indian looked quickly at the powerful form before him。 With a twist he
slipped his arm from Joe's grasp。
〃Big paleface heap funall squaw play；〃 he said； scornfully。 There was a
menace in his somber eyes as he turned abruptly and left the group。
〃I'm afraid you've made an enemy；〃 said Jake Wentz to Joe。 〃An Indian never
forgets an insult； and that's how he regarded your joke。 Silvertip has been
friendly here because he sells us his pelts。 He's a Shawnee chief。 There he
goes through the willows！〃
By this time Jim and Mr。 Wells； Mrs。 Wentz and the girls had joined the group。
They all watched Silvertip get into his canoe and paddle away。
〃A bad sign；〃 said Wentz； and then； turning to Jeff Lynn； who joined the party
at that moment； he briefly explained the circumstances。
〃Never did like Silver。 He's a crafty redskin； an' not to be trusted；〃 replied
Jeff。
〃He has turned round and is looking back；〃 Nell said quickly。
〃So he has；〃 observed the fur…trader。
The Indian was now several hundred yards down the swift river； and for an
instant had ceased paddling。 The sun shone brightly on his eagle plumes。 He
remained motionless for a moment； and even at such a distance the dark；
changeless face could be discerned。 He lifted his hand and shook it
menacingly。
〃If ye don't hear from that redskin agin Jeff Lynn don't know nothin'；〃 calm
said the old frontiersman。
Chapter IV。
As the rafts drifted with the current the voyagers saw the settlers on the
landing…place diminish until they had faded from indistinct figures to mere
black specks against the green background。 Then came the last wave of a white
scarf； faintly in the distance； and at length the dark outline of the fort was
all that remained to their regretful gaze。 Quickly that； too； disappeared
behind the green hill； which； with its bold front； forces the river to take a
wide turn。
The Ohio； winding in its course between high； wooded bluffs； rolled on and on
into the wilderness。
Beautiful as was the ever…changing scenery； rugged gray…faced cliffs on one
side contrasting with green…clad hills on the other； there hovered over land
and water something more striking than beauty。 Above all hung a still
atmosphere of calmnessof loneliness。
And this penetrating solitude marred somewhat the pleasure which might have
been found in the picturesque scenery； and caused the voyagers； to whom this
country was new； to take less interest in the gaily…feathered birds and
stealthy animals that were to be seen on the way。 By the forms of wild life
along the banks of the river； this strange intruder on their peace was
regarded with attention。 The birds and beasts evinced little fear of the
floating rafts。 The sandhill crane； stalking along the shore； lifted his long
neck as the unfamiliar thing came floating by； and then stood still and silent
as a statue until the rafts disappeared from view。 Blue…herons feeding along
the bars； saw the unusual spectacle； and； uttering surprised 〃booms；〃 they
spread wide wings and lumbered away along the shore。 The crows circled above
the voyagers； cawing in not unfriendly excitement。 Smaller birds alighted on
the raised poles； and severala robin； a catbird and a little brown
wrenventured with hesitating boldness to peck at the crumbs the girls threw
to them。 Deer waded knee…deep in the shallow water； and； lifting their heads；
instantly became motionless and absorbed。 Occasionally a buffalo appeared on a
level stretch of bank； and； tossing his huge head； seemed inclined to resent
the coming of this stranger into his domain。
All day the rafts drifted steadily and swiftly down the river； presenting to
the little party ever…varying pictures of densely wooded hills； of jutting；
broken cliffs with scant evergreen growth； of long reaches of sandy bar that
glistened golden in the sunlight； and over all the flight and call of
wildfowl； the flitting of woodland songsters； and now and then the whistle and
bellow of the horned watchers in the forest。
The intense blue of the vault above began to pale； and low down in the west a
few fleecy clouds； gorgeously golden for a fleeting instant； then
crimson…crowned for another； shaded and darkened as the setting sun sank
behind the hills。 Presently the red rays disappeared； a pink glow suffused the
heavens； and at last； as gray twilight stole down over the hill…tops； the
crescent moon peeped above the wooded fringe of the western bluffs。
〃Hard an' fast she is；〃 sang out Jeff Lynn； as he fastened the rope to a tree
at the head of a small island。 〃All off now； and' we'll hev' supper。 Thar's a
fine spring under yon curly birch； an' I fetched along a leg of deer…meat。
Hungry； little 'un？〃
He had worked hard all day steering the rafts； yet Nell had seen him smiling
at her many times during the journey； and he had found time before the early
start to arrange for her a comfortable seat。 There was now a solicitude in the
frontiersman's voice that touched her。
〃I am famished；〃 she replied； with her bright smile。 〃I am afraid I could eat
a whole deer。〃
They all climbed the sandy slope； and found themselves on the summit of an
oval island； with a pretty glade in the middle surrounded by birches。 Bill；
the second raftsman； a stolid； silent man； at once swung his axe upon a log of
driftwood。 Mr。 Wells and Jim walked to and fro under the birches； and Kate and
Nell sat on the grass watching with great interest the old helmsman as he came
u from the river； his brown hands and face shining from the scrubbing he had
given them。 Soon he had a fire cheerfully blazing； and after laying out the
few utensils； he addressed himself to Joe：
〃I'll tell ye right here； lad； good venison kin be spoiled by bad cuttin' and
cookin'。 You're slicin' it too thick。 Seethar！ Now salt good； an' keep outen
the flame； on the red coals is best。〃
With a sharpened stick Jeff held the thin slices over the fire for a few
moments。 Then he laid them aside on some clean white…oak chips Bill's axe had
provided。 The simple meal of meat； bread； and afterward a drink of the cold
spring water； was keenly relished by the hungry voyagers。 When it had been
eaten； Jeff threw a log on the fire and remarked：
〃Seein' as how we won't be in redskin territory fer awhile yit； we kin hev a
fire。 I'll allow ye'll all be chilly and damp from river…mist afore long； so
toast yerselves good。〃
〃How far have we come to…day？〃 inquired Mr。 Wells； his mind always intent on
reaching the scene of his cherished undertaking。
〃'Bout thirty…odd mile； I reckon。 Not much on a trip； thet's sartin； but we'll
pick up termorrer。 We've some quicker water； an' the rafts hev to go
separate。〃
〃How quiet！〃 exclaimed Kate； suddenly breaking the silence that followed the
frontiersman's answer。
〃Beautiful！〃 impetuously said Nell； looking up at Joe。 A quick flash from his
gray eyes answered her； he did not speak； indeed he had said little to her
since the start； but his glance showed her how glad he was that she felt the
sweetness and content of this wild land。
〃I was never in a wilderness before；〃 broke in the earnest voice of the young
minister。 〃I feel an almost overpowering sense of loneliness。 I want to get
near to you all； I feel lost。 Yet it is grand； sublime！〃
〃Here is the promised landthe fruitful lifeNature as it was created by
God；〃 replied the old minister； impressively。
〃Tell us a story；〃 said Nell to the old frontiersman； as he once more joined
the circle round the fire。
〃So； little 'un； ye want a story？〃 queried Jeff； taking up a live coal and
placing it in the bowl of his pipe。 He took off his coon…skin cap and
carefully laid it aside。 His weather…beaten face beamed in answer to the
girl's request。 He drew a long and audible pull at his black pipe； and send
forth slowly a cloud of white smoke。 Deliberately poking the fire with a
stick； as if stirring into life dead embers of the past； he sucked again at
his pipe； and emitted a great puff of smoke that completely enveloped the
grizzled head。 From out that white cloud came his drawling voice。
〃Ye've seen thet big curly birch over thatthet 'un as bends kind of
sorrowful like。 Wal； it used to stand straight an' proud。