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morning； for he had been invited to take part in a 〃raising；〃 which term meant
that a new cabin was to be erected； and such task was ever an event in the
lives of the settlers。
The following morning Joe rose early； dressing himself in a complete buckskin
suit； for which he had exchanged his good garments of cloth。 Never before had
he felt so comfortable。 He wanted to hop； skip and jump。 The soft； undressed
buckskin was as warm and smooth as silk…plush； the weight so light； the
moccasins so well…fitting and springy； that he had to put himself under
considerable restraint to keep from capering about like a frolicsome colt。
The possession of this buckskin outfit； and the rifle and accouterments which
went with the bargain； marked the last stage in Joe's surrender to the border
fever。 The silent； shaded glens； the mystery of the woods； the breath of this
wild； free life claimed him from this moment entirely and forever。
He met the others； however； with a serene face； showing no trace of the
emotion which welled up strongly from his heart。 Nell glanced shyly at him；
Kate playfully voiced her admiration； Jim met him with a brotherly ridicule
which bespoke his affection as well as his amusement； but Colonel Zane； having
once yielded to the same burning； riotous craving for freedom which now
stirred in the boy's heart； understood； and felt warmly drawn toward the lad。
He said nothing； though as he watched Joe his eyes were grave and kind。 In his
long frontier life； where many a day measured the life and fire of ordinary
years； he had seen lad after lad go down before this forest fever。 It was
well； he thought； because the freedom of the soil depended on these wild；
light…footed boys； yet it always made him sad。 How many youths； his brother
among them； lay under the fragrant pine…needle carpet of the forest； in their
last earthly sleep！
The 〃raising〃 brought out all the settlementthe women to look on and gossip；
while the children played； the men to bend their backs in the moving of the
heavy timbers。 They celebrated the erection of a new cabin as a noteworthy
event。 As a social function it had a prominent place in the settlers' short
list of pleasures。
Joe watched the proceeding with the same pleasure and surprise he had felt in
everything pertaining to border life。
To him this log…raising appeared the hardest kind of labor。 Yet it was plain
these hardy men； these low…voiced women； and merry children regarded the work
as something far more significant than the mere building of a cabin。 After a
while he understood the meaning of the scene。 A kindred spirit； the spirit of
the pioneer； drew them all into one large family。 This was another cabin；
another home； another advance toward the conquering of the wilderness； for
which these brave men and women were giving their lives。 In the bright…eyed
children's glee； when they clapped their little hands at the mounting logs；
Joe saw the progress； the march of civilization。
〃Well； I'm sorry you're to leave us to…night；〃 remarked Colonel Zane to Joe；
as the young man came over to where he； his wife； and sister watched the work。
〃Jonathan said all was ready for your departure at sundown。〃
〃Do we travel by night？〃
〃Indeed； yes； my lad。 There are Indians everywhere on the river。 I think；
however； with Jack and Lew handling the paddles； you will slip by safely。 The
plan is to keep along the south shore all night； then cross over at a place
called Girty's Point； where you are to remain in hiding during daylight。 From
there you paddle up Yellow Creek； then portage across country to the head of
the Tuscarwawas。 Another night's journey will then bring you to the Village of
Peace。〃
Jim and Mr。 Wells； with his nieces； joined the party now； and all stood
watching as the last logs were put in place。
〃Colonel Zane； my first log…raising is an education to me；〃 said the young
minister； in his earnest manner。 〃This scene is so full of life。 I never saw
such goodwill among laboring men。 Look at that brawny…armed giant standing on
the topmost log。 How he whistles as he swings his ax！ Mr。 Wells； does it not
impress you？〃
〃The pioneers must be brothers because of their isolation and peril； to be
brothers means to love one another； to love one another is to love God。 What
you see in this fraternity is God。 And I want to see this same beautiful
feeling among the Indians。〃
〃I have seen it；〃 said Colonel Zane； to the old missionary。 〃When I came out
here alone twelve years ago the Indians were peaceable。 If the pioneers had
paid for land； as I paid Cornplanter； there would never have been a border
war。 But no； the settlers must grasp every acre they could。 Then the Indians
rebelled； then the Girtys and their allies spread discontent； and now the
border is a bloody warpath。〃
〃Have the Jesuit missionaries accomplished anything with these war tribes？〃
inquired Jim。
〃No； their work has been chiefly among the Indians near Detroit and northward。
The Hurons； Delawares； Shawnees and other western tribes have been demoralized
by the French traders' rum； and incited to fierce hatred by Girty and his
renegades。 Your work at Gnaddenhutten must be among these hostile tribes； and
it is surely a hazardous undertaking。〃
〃My life is God's；〃 murmured the old minister。 No fear could assail his
steadfast faith。
〃Jim； it strikes me you'd be more likely to impress these Indians Colonel Zane
spoke of if you'd get a suit like mine and wear a knife and tomahawk；〃
interposed Joe； cheerfully。 〃Then； if you couldn't convert； you could scalp
them。〃
〃Well； well； let us hope for the best；〃 said Colonel Zane； when the laughter
had subsided。 〃We'll go over to dinner now。 Come； all of you。 Jonathan； bring
Wetzel。 Betty； make him come； if you can。〃
As the party slowly wended its way toward the colonel's cabin Jim and Nell
found themselves side by side。 They had not exchanged a word since the evening
previous； when Jim had kissed her。 Unable to look at each other now； and
finding speech difficult； they walked in embarrassed silence。
〃Doesn't Joe look splendid in his hunting suit？〃 asked Jim； presently。
〃I hadn't noticed。 Yes； he looks well；〃 replied Nell； carelessly。 She was too
indifferent to be natural。
〃Are you angry with him？〃
〃Certainly not。〃
Jim was always simple and frank in his relations with women。 He had none of
his brother's fluency of speech； with neither confidence； boldness nor
understanding of the intricate mazes of a woman's moods。
〃Butyou are angry withme？〃 he whispered。
Nell flushed to her temples； yet she did not raise her eyes nor reply。
〃It was a terrible thing for me to do；〃 went on Jim； hesitatingly。 〃I don't
know why I took advantageofof your mistaking me for Joe。 If you only
hadn't held up your mouth。 NoI don't mean thatof course you didn't。
Butwell； I couldn't help it。 I'm guilty。 I have thought of little else。 Some