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way behind a well…screened tree； which had been uprooted； he selected a
position where； hidden themselves； they could see the creek。
Hardly had Wetzel； admonished Joe to lie perfectly still； when from a short
distance up the stream came the sound of splashing water； but nothing could be
seen above the open glade； as in that direction willows lined the creek in
dense thickets。 The noise grew more audible。
Suddenly Joe felt a muscular contraction pass over the powerful frame lying
close beside him。 It was a convulsive thrill such as passes through a tiger
when he is about to spring upon his quarry。 So subtle and strong was its
meaning； so clearly did it convey to the lad what was coming； that he felt it
himself； save that in his case it was a cold； chill shudder。
Breathless suspense followed。 Then into the open space along the creek glided
a tall Indian warrior。 He was knee…deep in the water； where he waded with low；
cautious steps。 His garish； befrilled costume seemed familiar to Joe。 He
carried a rifle at a low trail； and passed slowly ahead with evident distrust。
The lad believed he recognized that head； with its tangled black hair； and
when he saw the swarthy； villainous countenance turned full toward him； he
exclaimed：
〃Girty！ by…〃
Wetzel's powerful arm forced him so hard against the log that he could not
complete the exclamation； but he could still see。 Girty had not heard that
stifled cry； for he continued his slow wading； and presently his tall； gaudily
decorated form passed out of sight。
Another savage appeared in the open space； and then another。 Close between
them walked a white man； with hands bound behind him。 The prisoner and guards
disappeared down stream among the willows。
The splashing continuedgrew even louder than before。 A warrior came into
view； then another； and another。 They walked close together。 Two more
followed。 They were wading by the side of a raft made of several logs； upon
which were two prostrate figures that closely resembled human beings。
Joe was so intent upon the lithe forms of the Indians that he barely got a
glimpse of their floating prize； whatever it might have been。 Bringing up the
rear was an athletic warrior； whose broad shoulders； sinewy arms； and shaved；
polished head Joe remembered well。 It was the Shawnee chief； Silvertip。
When he； too； passed out of sight in the curve of willows； Joe found himself
trembling。 He turned eagerly to Wetzel； but instantly recoiled。
Terrible； indeed； had been the hunter's transformation。 All calmness of facial
expression was gone； he was now stern； somber。 An intense emotion was visible
in his white face； his eyes seemed reduced to two dark shining points； and
they emitted so fierce； so piercing a flash； so deadly a light； that Joe could
not bear their glittering gaze。
〃Three white captives； two of 'em women；〃 uttered the hunter； as if weighing
in his mind the importance of this fact。
〃Were those women on the raft？〃 questioned Joe； and as Wetzel only nodded； he
continued； 〃A white man and two women； six warriors； Silvertip； and that
renegade； Jim Girty！〃
Wetzel deigned not to answer Joe's passionate outburst； but maintained silence
and his rigid posture。 Joe glanced once more at the stern face。
〃Considering we'd go after Girty and his redskins if they were alone； we're
pretty likely to go quicker now that they've got white women prisoners； eh？〃
and Joe laughed fiercely between his teeth。
The lad's heart expanded； while along every nerve tingled an exquisite thrill
of excitement。 He had yearned for wild； border life。 Here he was in it； with
the hunter whose name alone was to the savages a symbol for all that was
terrible。
Wetzel evidently decided quickly on what was to be done； for in few words he
directed Joe to cut up so much of the buffalo meat as they could stow in their
pockets。 Then； bidding the lad to follow； he turned into the woods； walking
rapidly； and stopping now and then for a brief instant。 Soon they emerged from
the forest into more open country。 They faced a wide plain skirted on the
right by a long； winding strip of bright green willows which marked the course
of the stream。 On the edge of this plain Wetzel broke into a run。 He kept this
pace for a distance of an hundred yards； then stopped to listen intently as he
glanced sharply on all sides； after which he was off again。
Half way across this plain Joe's wind began to fail； and his breathing became
labored； but he kept close to the hunter's heels。 Once he looked back to see a
great wide expanse of waving grass。 They had covered perhaps four miles at a
rapid pace； and were nearing the other side of the plain。 The lad felt as if
his head was about to burst； a sharp pain seized upon his side； a blood…red
film obscured his sight。 He kept doggedly on； and when utterly exhausted fell
to the ground。
When； a few minutes later； having recovered his breath； he got up； they had
crossed the plain and were in a grove of beeches。 Directly in front of him ran
a swift stream； which was divided at the rocky head of what appeared to be a
wooded island。 There was only a slight ripple and fall of the water； and；
after a second glance； it was evident that the point of land was not an
island； but a portion of the mainland which divided the stream。 The branches
took almost opposite courses。
Joe wondered if they had headed off the Indians。 Certainly they had run fast
enough。 He was wet with perspiration。 He glanced at Wetzel； who was standing
near。 The man's broad breast rose and fell a little faster； that was the only
evidence of exertion。 The lad had a painful feeling that he could never keep
pace with the hunter； if this five…mile run was a sample of the speed he would
be forced to maintain。
〃They've got ahead of us； but which crick did they take？〃 queried Wetzel； as
though debating the question with himself。
〃How do you know they've passed？〃
〃We circled；〃 answered Wetzel； as he shook his head and pointed into the
bushes。 Joe stepped over and looked into the thicket。 He found a quantity of
dead leaves； sticks； and litter thrown aside； exposing to light a long；
hollowed place on the ground。 It was what would be seen after rolling over a
log that had lain for a long time。 Little furrows in the ground； holes；
mounds； and curious winding passages showed where grubs and crickets had made
their homes。 The frightened insects were now running round wildly。
〃What was here？ A log？〃
〃A twenty…foot canoe was hid under thet stuff。 The Injuns has taken one of
these streams。〃
〃How can we tell which one？〃
〃Mebbe we can't； but we'll try。 Grab up a few of them bugs； go below thet
rocky point； an' crawl close to the bank so you can jest peep over。 Be
keerful not to show the tip of your head； an' don't knock nothin' off'en the
bank into the water。 Watch fer trout。 Look everywheres； an' drop in a bug now
and then。 I'll do