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the old steely flash； the indomitable spiritwhile there was life there was
hope。
〃Let the Shawnee chief paint his prisoner black；〃 commanded Wingenund。
When the missionary left the lodge with the runner； Whispering Winds had
smiled； for she had saved him whom she loved to hear speak； but the dread
command that followed paled her cheek。 Black paint meant hideous death。 She
saw this man so like the white father。 Her piteous gaze tried to turn from
that white face； but the cold； steely eyes fascinated her。
She had saved one only to be the other's doom！
She had always been drawn toward white men。 Many prisoners had she rescued。
She had even befriended her nation's bitter foe； Deathwind。 She had listened
to the young missionary with rapture； she had been his savior。 And now when
she looked into the eyes of this young giant； whose fate had rested on her all
unwitting words； she resolved to save him。
She had been a shy； shrinking creature； fearing to lift her eyes to a
paleface's； but now they were raised clear and steadfast。
As she stepped toward the captive and took his hand； her whole person radiated
with conscious pride in her power。 It was the knowledge that she could save。
When she kissed his hand； and knelt before him； she expressed a tender
humility。
She had claimed questionable right of an Indian maiden； she asked what no
Indian dared refuse a chief's daughter； she took the paleface for her husband。
Her action was followed by an impressive silence。 She remained kneeling。
Wingenund resumed his slow march to and fro。 Silvertip retired to his corner
with gloomy face。 The others bowed their heads as if the maiden's decree was
irrevocable。
Once more the chieftain's sonorous command rang out。 An old Indian； wrinkled
and worn； weird of aspect； fanciful of attire； entered the lodge and waved his
wampum wand。 He mumbled strange words； and departed chanting a long song。
Whispering Winds arose； a soft； radiant smile playing over her face； and；
still holding Joe's hand； she led him out of the lodge； through long rows of
silent Indians； down a land bordered by teepees； he following like one in a
dream。
He expected to awaken at any minute to see the stars shining through the
leaves。 Yet he felt the warm； soft pressure of a little hand。 Surely this
slender； graceful figure was real。
She bade him enter a lodge of imposing proportions。 Still silent； in amazement
and gratitude； he obeyed。
The maiden turned to Joe。 Though traces of pride still lingered； all her fire
had vanished。 Her bosom rose with each quick…panting breath； her lips
quivered； she trembled like a trapped doe。
But at last the fluttering lashes rose。 Joe saw two velvety eyes dark with
timid fear； yet veiling in their lustrous depths an unuttered hope and love。
〃Whispering Windssavepaleface；〃 she said； in a voice low and tremulous。
〃Fearfather。 FeartellWingenundsheChristian。〃
Indian summer； that enchanted time； unfolded its golden； dreamy haze over the
Delaware village。 The forests blazed with autumn fire； the meadows boomed in
rich luxuriance。 All day low down in the valleys hung a purple smoke which
changed； as the cool evening shades crept out of the woodland； into a cloud of
white mist。 All day the asters along the brooks lifted golden…brown faces to
the sun as if to catch the warning warmth of his smile。 All day the plains and
forests lay in melancholy repose。 The sad swish of the west wind over the tall
grass told that he was slowly dying way before his enemy； the north wind。 The
sound of dropping nuts was heard under the motionless trees。
For Joe the days were days of enchantment。 His wild heart had found its mate。
A willing captive he was now。 All his fancy for other women； all his memories
faded into love for his Indian bride。
Whispering Winds charmed the eye； mind； and heart。 Every day her beauty seemed
renewed。 She was as apt to learn as she was quick to turn her black…crowned
head； but her supreme beauty was her loving； innocent soul。 Untainted as the
clearest spring； it mirrored the purity and simplicity of her life。 Indian she
might be； one of a race whose morals and manners were alien to the man she
loved； yet she would have added honor to the proudest name。
When Whispering Winds raised her dark eyes they showed radiant as a lone star；
when she spoke low her voice made music。
〃Beloved；〃 she whispered one day to him； 〃teach the Indian maiden more love
for you； and truth； and God。 Whispering Winds yearns to go to the Christians；
but she fears her stern father。 Wingenund would burn the Village of Peace。 The
Indian tribes tremble before the thunder of his wrath。 Be patient； my chief。
Time changes the leaves； so it will the anger of the warriors。 Whispering
Winds' will set you free； and be free herself to go far with you toward the
rising sun； where dwell your people。 She will love； and be constant； as the
northern star。 Her love will be an eternal spring where blossoms bloom ever
anew； and fresh； and sweet。 She will love your people； and raise Christian
children； and sit ever in the door of your home praying for the west wind to
blow。 Or； if my chief wills； we shall live the Indian life； free as two eagles
on their lonely crag。〃
Although Joe gave himself up completely to his love for his bride； he did not
forget that Kate was in the power of the renegade； and that he must rescue
her。 Knowing Girty had the unfortunate girls somewhere near the Delaware
encampment； he resolved to find the place。 Plans of all kinds he resolved in
his mind。 The best one he believed lay through Whispering Winds。 First to find
the whereabouts of Girty； kill him if possible； or at least free Kate； and
then get away with her and his Indian bride。 Sanguine as he invariably was； he
could not but realize the peril of this undertaking。 If Whispering Winds
betrayed her people； it meant death to her as well as to him。 He would far
rather spend the remaining days of his life in the Indian village； than doom
the maiden whose love had saved him。 Yet he thought he might succeed in
getting away with her； and planned to that end。 His natural spirit； daring；
reckless； had gained while he was associated with Wetzel。
Meanwhile he mingled freely with the Indians； and here； as elsewhere； his
winning personality； combined with his athletic prowess； soon made him well
liked。 He was even on friendly terms with Pipe。 The swarthy war chief liked
Joe because； despite the animosity he had aroused in some former lovers of
Whispering Winds； he actually played jokes on them。 In fact； Joe's pranks
raised many a storm； but the young braves who had been suitors for Wingenund's
lovely daughter； feared the muscular paleface； and the tribe's ridicule more；
so he continued his trickery unmolested。 Joe's idea was to lead the savages to
believe he was thoroughly happy in his new life； and so he was； but it suited
him better to be free。 He succeeded in misleading the savages。 At first he was
closely watched； the the vigilance relaxed； and finally ceased。
This last circumstance was owing； no doubt； to a ferment of excitement that
had suddenly possessed the Delawares。 Council after council was held in the
big lodge。 The encampment was visited by runner after runner。 Some important
crisis was pending。
Joe could not learn what it all meant； and the fact that Whispering Winds
suddenly lost her gladsome spirit and became sad caused him further anxiety。
When he asked her the reason for her unhappiness； she was silent。 Moreover；
he was surprised to learn； when he questioned her upon the subject of their
fleeing together； that she was eager to go immediately。 While all this
mystery puzzled Joe； it did not make any difference to him or in his plans。 It
rather favored the latter。 He understood that the presence of Simon Girty and
Elliott； with several other renegades unknown to him； was significant of
unrest among the Indians。 These presagers of evil were accustomed to go from
village to village； exciting the savages to acts of war。 Peace meant the
downfall and death of these men。 They were busy all day and far into the
night。 Often Joe heard Girty's hoarse voice lifted in the council lodge。 Pipe
thundered incessantly for war。 But Joe could not learn against whom。
Elliott's suave； oily oratory exhorted the Indians to vengeance。 But Joe could
not guess upon whom。 He was； however； destined to learn。
The third day of the councils a horseman stopped before Whispering Winds'
lodge； and called out。 Stepping to the door； Joe saw a white man； whose dark；
keen； handsome face seemed familiar。 Yet Joe know he had never seen this
stalwart man。
〃A word with you；〃 said the stranger。 His tone was curt； authoritative； as
that of a man used to power。
〃As many as you like。 Who are you？〃
〃I am Isaac Zane。 Are you Wetzel's companion； or the renegade Deering？〃
〃I am n