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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 not a renegade any more than you are。 I was rescued by the Indian girl；
who took me as her husband；〃 said Joe coldly。 He was surprised； and did not
know what to make of Zane's manner。
〃Good！ I'm glad to meet you；〃 instantly replied Zane； his tone and expression
changing。 He extended his hand to Joe。 〃I wanted to be sure。 I never saw the
renegade Deering。 He is here now。 I am on my way to the Wyandot town。 I have
been to Fort Henry； where my brother told me of you and the missionaries。 When
I arrived here I heard your story from Simon Girty。 If you can； you must get
away from here。 If I dared I'd take you to the Huron village； but it's
impossible。 Go； while you have a chance。〃
〃Zane； I thank you。 I've suspected something was wrong。 What is it？〃
〃Couldn't be worse；〃 whispered Zane； glancing round to see if they were
overheard。 〃Girty and Elliott； backed by this Deering； are growing jealous of
the influence of Christianity on the Indians。 They are plotting against the
Village of Peace。 Tarhe； the Huron chief； has been approached； and asked to
join in a concerted movement against religion。 Seemingly it is not so much the
missionaries as the converted Indians； that the renegades are fuming over。
They know if the Christian savages are killed； the strength of the
missionaries' hold will be forever broken。 Pipe is wild for blood。 These
renegades are slowly poisoning the minds of the few chiefs who are favorably
disposed。 The outlook is bad！ bad！〃
〃What can I do？〃
〃Cut out for yourself。 Get away； if you can； with a gun。 Take the creek below；
follow the current down to the Ohio； and then make east for Fort Henry。
〃But I want to rescue the white girl Jim Girty has concealed here somewhere。〃
〃Impossible！ Don't attempt it unless you want to throw your life away。
Buzzard Jim； as we call Girty； is a butcher； he has probably murdered the
girl。〃
〃I won't leave without trying。 And there's my wife； the India