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mused Jim。 〃What will Nell say？〃
〃We're getting warnings enough。 Do you appreciate that？〃 asked Edwards。
〃'Pipe and Half King have been influenced by Girty。' Evidently the writer
deemed that brief sentence of sufficient meaning。〃
〃Edwards； we're preachers。 We can't understand such things。 I am learning； at
least something every day。 Colonel Zane advised us not to come here。 Wetzel
said； 'Go back to Fort Henry。' Girty warned us； and now comes this peremptory
order from Isaac Zane。〃
〃Well？〃
〃It means that these border men see what we will not admit。 We ministers have
such hope and trust in God that we can not realize the dangers of this life。 I
fear that our work has been in vain。〃
〃Never。 We have already saved many souls。 Do not be discouraged。〃
All this time the runner had stood near at hand straight as an arrow。
Presently Edwards suggested that the Wyandot was waiting to be questioned； and
accordingly he asked the Indian if he had anything further to communicate。
〃Hurongo bypaleface。〃 Here he held up both hands and shut his fists
several times； evidently enumerating how many white men he had seen。
〃Herewhenhighsun。〃
With that he bounded lightly past them； and loped off with an even； swinging
stride。
〃What did he mean？〃 asked Jim； almost sure he had not heard the runner aright。
〃He meant that a party of white men are approaching； and will be here by noon。
I never knew an Indian runner to carry unreliable information。 We have joyful
news； both in regard to your brother； and the Village of Peace。 Let us go in
to tell the others。〃
The Huron runner's report proved to be correct。 Shortly before noon signals
from Indian scouts proclaimed the approach of a band of white men。 Evidently
Girty's forces had knowledge beforehand of the proximity of this band； for the
signals created no excitement。 The Indians expressed only a lazy curiosity。
Soon several Delaware scouts appeared； escorting a large party of
frontiersmen。
These men turned out to be Captain Williamson's force； which had been out on
an expedition after a marauding tribe of Chippewas。 This last named tribe had
recently harried the remote settlers； and committed depredations on the
outskirts of the white settlements eastward。 The company was composed of men
who had served in the garrison at Fort Pitt； and hunters and backwoodsmen from
Yellow Creek and Fort Henry。 The captain himself was a typical borderman；
rough and bluff； hardened by long years of border life； and； like most
pioneers； having no more use for an Indian than for a snake。 He had led his
party after the marauders； and surprised and slaughtered nearly all of them。
Returning eastward he had passed through Goshocking； where he learned of the
muttering storm rising over the Village of Peace； and had come more out of
curiosity than hope to avert misfortune。
The advent of so many frontiersmen seemed a godsend to the perplexed and
worried missionaries。 They welcomed the newcomers most heartily。 Beds were
made in several of the newly erected cabins； the village was given over for
the comfort of the frontiersmen。 Edwards conducted Captain Williamson through
the shops and schools； and the old borderman's weather…beaten face expressed a
comical surprise。
〃Wal； I'll be durned if I ever expected to see a redskin work；〃 was his only
comment on the industries。
〃We are greatly alarmed by the presence of Girty and his followers；〃 said
Edwards。 〃We have been warned to leave； but have not been actually threatened。
What do you infer from the appearance here of these hostile savages？〃
〃It hardly 'pears to me they'll bother you preachers。 They're agin the
Christian redskins； that's plain。〃
〃Why have we been warned to go？〃
〃That's natural； seein' they're agin the preachin'。〃
〃What will they do with the converted Indians？〃
〃Mighty onsartin。 They might let them go back to the tribes； but 'pears to me
these good Injuns won't go。 Another thing； Girty is afeered of the spread of
Christianity。〃
〃Then you think our Christians will be made prisoners？〃
〃'Pears likely。〃
〃And you； also； think we'd do well to leave here。〃
〃I do； sartin。 We're startin' for Fort Henry soon。 You'd better come along
with us。〃
〃Captain Williamson； we're going to stick it out； Girty or no Girty。〃
〃You can't do no good stayin' here。 Pipe and Half King won't stand for the
singin'； prayin' redskins； especially when they've got all these cattle and
fields of grain。〃
〃Wetzel said the same。〃
〃Hev you seen Wetzel？〃
〃Yes； he rescued a girl from Jim Girty； and returned her to us。〃
〃That so？ I met Wetzel and Jack Zane back a few miles in the woods。 They're
layin' for somebody； because when I asked them to come along they refused；
sayin' they had work as must be done。 They looked like it； too。 I never hern
tell of Wetzel advisin' any one before； but I'll say if he told me to do a
thing； by Gosh！ I'd do it。〃
〃As men； we might very well take the advice given us； but as preachers we must
stay here to do all we can for these Christian Indians。 One thing more： will
you help us？〃
〃I reckon I'll stay here to see the thing out；〃 answered Williamson。 Edwards
made a mental note of the frontiersman's evasive answer。
Jim had； meanwhile； made the acquaintance of a young minister； John Christy by
name； who had lost his sweetheart in one of the Chippewa raids； and had
accompanied the Williamson expedition in the hope he might rescue her。
〃How long have you been out？〃 asked Jim。
〃About four weeks now；〃 answered Christy。 〃My betrothed was captured five
weeks ago yesterday。 I joined Williamson's band； which made up at Short Creek
to take the trail of the flying Chippewas； in the hope I might find her。 But
not a trace！ The expedition fell upon a band of redskins over on the
Walhonding； and killed nearly all of them。 I learned from a wounded Indian
that a renegade had made off with a white girl about a week previous。 Perhaps
it was poor Lucy。〃
Jim related the circumstances of his own capture by Jim Girty； the rescue of
Nell； and Kate's sad fate。
〃Could Jim Girty have gotten your girl？〃 inquired Jim； in conclusion。
〃It's fairly probable。 The description doesn't tally with Girty's。 This
renegade was short and heavy； and noted especially for his strength。 Of
course； an Indian would first speak of some such distinguishing feature。
There are； however； ten or twelve renegades on the border； and； excepting Jim
Girty； one's as bad as another。〃
〃Then it's a common occurrence； this abducting girls from the settlements？〃
〃Yes； and the strange thing is that one never hears of such doings until he
gets out on the frontier。〃
〃For that matter； you don't hear much of anything； except of the wonderful
richness and promise of the western country。〃
〃You're right。 Rumors of fat； fertile lands induce the colonist to become a
pioneer。 He comes west with his family； two out of every ten lose their
scalps； and in some places the average is much greater。 The wives； daughters
and children are carried off into captivity。 I have been on the border two
years； and know that the rescue of any captive； as Wetzel rescued your friend；
is a remarkable exception。〃
〃If you have so little hope of recovering your sweetheart； what then is your
motive for accompanying this band of hunters？〃
〃Revenge！〃
〃And you are a preacher？〃 Jim's voice did not disguise his astonishment。
〃I was a preacher； and now I am thirsting for vengeance；〃 answered Christy；
his face clouding darkly。 〃Wait until you learn what frontier life means。 You
are young here yet； you are flushed with the success of your teaching； you
have lived a short time in this quiet village； where； until the last few days；
all has been serene。 You know nothing of the strife； of the necessity of
fighting； of the cruelty which makes up this border existence。 Only two years
have hardened me so that I actually pant for the blood of the renegade who has
robbed me。 A frontiersman must take his choice of succumbing or cutting his
way through flesh and bone。 Blood will be spilled； if not yours； then your
foe's。 The pioneers run from the plow to the fight； they halt in the cutting
of corn to defend themselves； and in winter must battle against cold and
hardship； which would be less cruel if there was time in summer to prepare for
winter； for the savages leave them hardly an opportunity to plant crops。 How
many pioneers have given up； and gone back east？ Find me any who would not
return home to…morrow； if they could。 All that brings them out here is the
chance for a home； and all that keeps them out here is the poor hope of
finally attaining their object。 Always there is a possibility of future
prosperity。 But this generation； if it survives； will never see prosperity and
happiness。 What does this border life engende