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about him。 In brief； among all the border scouts and hunters Wetzel stands
alone。 No wonder the Indians fear him。 He is as swift as an eagle； strong as
mountain…ash； keen as a fox； and absolutely tireless and implacable。〃
〃How long have you been here； Colonel Zane？〃
〃More than twelve years； and it has been one long fight。〃
〃I'm afraid I'm too late for the fun；〃 said Joe； with his quiet laugh。
〃Not by about twelve more years；〃 answered Colonel Zane； studying the
expression on Joe's face。 〃When I came out here years ago I had the same
adventurous spirit which I see in you。 It has been considerably quelled；
however。 I have seen many a daring young fellow get the border fever； and with
it his death。 Let me advise you to learn the ways of the hunters； to watch
some one skilled in woodcraft。 Perhaps Wetzel himself will take you in hand。 I
don't mind saying that he spoke of you to me in a tone I never heard Lew use
before。〃
〃He did？〃 questioned Joe； eagerly； flushing with pleasure。 〃Do you think he'd
take me out？ Dare I ask him？〃
〃Don't be impatient。 Perhaps I can arrange it。 Come over here now to Metzar's
place。 I want to make you acquainted with him。 These boys have all been
cutting timber； they've just come in for dinner。 Be easy and quiet with them；
then you'll get on。〃
Colonel Zane introduced Joe to five sturdy boys and left him in their company。
Joe sat down on a log outside a cabin and leisurely surveyed the young men。
They all looked about the same： strong without being heavy； light…haired and
bronze…faced。 In their turn they carefully judged Joe。 A newcomer from the
East was always regarded with some doubt。 If they expected to hear Joe talk
much they were mistaken。 He appeared good…natured； but not too friendly。
〃Fine weather we're havin'；〃 said Dick Metzar。
〃Fine；〃 agreed Joe； laconically。
〃Like frontier life？〃
〃Sure。〃
A silence ensued after this breaking of the ice。 The boys were awaiting their
turn at a little wooden bench upon which stood a bucket of water and a basin。
〃Hear ye got ketched by some Shawnees？〃 remarked another youth； as he rolled
up his shirt…sleeves。 They all looked at Joe now。 It was not improbably their
estimate of him would be greatly influenced by the way he answered this
question。
〃Yes； was captive for three days。〃
〃Did ye knock any redskins over？〃 This question was artfully put to draw Joe
out。 Above all things； the bordermen detested boastfulness； tried on Joe the
ruse failed signally。
〃I was scared speechless most of the time；〃 answered Joe； with his pleasant
smile。
〃By gosh； I don't blame ye！〃 burst out Will Metzar。 〃I hed that experience
onct； an' onct's enough。〃
The boys laughed and looked in a more friendly manner at Joe。 Though he said
he had been frightened； his cool and careless manner belied his words。 In
Joe's low voice and clear； gray eye there was something potent and magnetic；
which subtly influence those with whom he came in contact。
While his new friends were at dinner Joe strolled over to where Colonel Zane
sat on the doorstep of his home。
〃How did you get on with the boys？〃 inquired the colonel。
〃All right； I hope。 Say； Colonel Zane； I'd like to talk to your Indian guide。〃
Colonel Zane spoke a few words in the Indian language to the guide； who left
his post and came over to them。 The colonel then had a short conversation with
him； at the conclusion of which he pointed toward Joe。
〃How doshake；〃 said Tome； extending his hand。
Joe smiled； and returned the friendly hand…pressure。
〃Shawneeketch'um？〃 asked the Indian； in his fairly intelligible English。
Joe nodded his head； while Colonel Zane spoke once more in Shawnee； explaining
the cause of Silvertip's emnity。
〃ShawneechiefonebadInjun；〃 replied Tome； seriously。
〃Silvertipmadthunder…mad。 Ketch'um palefacescalp'um sure。〃
After giving this warning the chief returned to his former position near the
corner of the cabin。
〃He can talk in English fairly well； much better than the Shawnee brave who
talked with me the other day；〃 observed Joe。
〃Some of the Indians speak the language almost fluently；〃 said Colonel Zane。
〃You could hardly have distinguished Logan's speech from a white man's。
Corn…planter uses good English； as also does my brother's wife； a Wyandot
girl。〃
〃Did your brother marry an Indian？〃 and Joe plainly showed his surprise。
〃Indeed he did； and a most beautiful girl she is。 I'll tell you Isaac's story
some time。 He was a captive among the Wyandots for ten years。 The chief's
daughter； Myeerah； loved him； kept him from being tortured； and finally saved
him from the stake。〃
〃Well； that floors me；〃 said Joe； 〃yet I don't see why it should。 I'm just
surprised。 Where is your brother now？〃
〃He lives with the tribe。 He and Myeerah are working hard for peace。 We are
now on more friendly terms with the great Wyandots； or Hurons； as we call
them； than ever before。〃
〃Who is this big man coming from the the fort？〃 asked Joe； suddenly observing
a stalwart frontiersman approaching。
〃Major Sam McColloch。 You have met him。 He's the man who jumped his horse from
yonder bluff。〃
〃Jonathan and he have the same look； the same swing；〃 observed Joe； as he ran
his eye over the major。 His faded buckskin costume； beaded； fringed； and
laced； was similar to that of the colonel's brother。 Powder…flask and
bullet…pouch were made from cow…horns and slung around his neck on deerhide
strings。 The hunting coat was unlaced； exposing； under the long； fringed
borders； a tunic of the same well…tanned； but finer and softer； material。 As
he walked； the flaps of his coat fell back； showing a belt containing two
knives； sheathed in heavy buckskin； and a bright tomahawk。 He carried a long
rifle in the hollow of his arm。
〃These hunters have the same kind of buckskin suits；〃 continued Joe； 〃still；
it doesn't seem to me the clothes make the resemblance to each other。 The way
these men stand； walk and act is what strikes me particularly； as in the case
of Wetzel。〃
〃I know what you mean。 The flashing eye； the erect poise of expectation； and
the springy stepthose； my lad； come from a life spent in the woods。 Well；
it's a grand way to live。〃
〃Colonel； my horse is laid up；〃 said Major McColloch； coming to the steps。 He
bowed pleasantly to Joe。
〃So you are going to Short Creek？ You can have one of my horses； but first
come inside and we'll talk over you expedition。〃
The afternoon passed uneventfully for Joe。 His brother and Mr。 Wells were
absorbed in plans for their future work； and Nell and Kate were resting；
therefore he was forced to find such amusement or occupation as was possible
in or near the stockade。
Chapter IX。
Joe went to bed that night with a promise to himself to rise early next
morning； for he had been invited to take part in a 〃raising；〃 which term meant