按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Christians to look after。 What would become of them？ I tell you we've all we
can do here to outwit these border ruffians。 Simon Girty is plotting our ruin。
I heard it to…day from the Delaware runner who is my friend。 He is jealous of
our influence； when all we desire is to save these poor Indians。 And； Jim；
Girty has killed our happiness。 Can we ever recover from the misery brought
upon us by poor Kate's fate？〃
The missionary raised his hand as if to exhort some power above。
〃Curse the Girty's！〃 he exclaimed in a sudden burst of uncontrollable passion。
〃Having conquered all other obstacles； must we fail because of wicked men of
our own race？ Oh； curse them！〃
〃Come；〃 he said； presently； in a voice which trembled with the effort he made
to be calm。 〃We'll go in to Nellie。〃
The three men entered Mr。 Wells' cabin。 The old missionary； with bowed head
and hands clasped behind his back； was pacing to and fro。 He greeted Jim with
glad surprise。
〃We want Nellie to see him；〃 whispered Heckewelder。 〃We think the surprise
will do her good。〃
〃I trust it may；〃 said Mr。 Wells。
〃Leave it to me。〃
They followed Heckewelder into an adjoining room。 A torch flickered over the
rude mantle…shelf； lighting up the room with fitful flare。 It was a warm
night； and the soft breeze coming in the window alternately paled and
brightened the flame。
Jim saw Nell lying on the bed。 Her eyes were closed； and her long； dark lashes
seemed black against the marble paleness of her skin。
〃Stand behind me；〃 whispered Heckewelder to Jim。
〃Nellie；〃 he called softly； but only a faint flickering of her lashes answered
him。
〃Nellie； Nellie；〃 repeated Heckewelder； his deep； strong voice thrilling。
Her eyes opened。 They gazed at Mr。 Wells on one side； at Edwards standing at
the foot of the bed； at Heckewelder leaning over her； but there was no
recognition or interest in her look。
〃Nellie； can you understand me？〃 asked Heckewelder； putting into his voice all
the power and intensity of feeling of which he was capable。
An almost imperceptible shadow of understanding shone in her eyes。
〃Listen。 You have had a terrible shock； and it has affected your mind。 You
are mistaken in what you think； what you dream of all the time。 Do you
understand？ You are wrong！〃
Nell's eyes quickened with a puzzled； questioning doubt。 The minister's
magnetic； penetrating voice had pierced her dulled brain。
〃See； I have brought you Jim！〃
Heckewelder stepped aside as Jim fell on his knees by the bed。 He took her
cold hands in his and bent over her。 For the moment his voice failed。
The doubt in Nell's eyes changed to a wondrous gladness。 It was like the
rekindling of a smoldering fire。
〃Jim？〃 she whispered。
〃Yes； Nellie； it's Jim alive and well。 It's Jim come back to you。〃
A soft flush stained her white face。 She slipped her arm tenderly around his
neck； and held her cheek close to his。
〃Jim；〃 she murmured。
〃Nellie； don't you now me？〃 asked Mr。 Wells； trembling； excited。 This was the
first word she had spoken in four days。
〃Uncle！〃 she exclaimed； suddenly loosening her hold on Jim； and sitting up in
bed； then she gazed wildly at the others。
〃Was it all a horrible dream？〃
Mr。 Wells took her hand soothingly； but he did not attempt to answer her
question。 He looked helplessly at Heckewelder； but that missionary was
intently studying the expression on Nell's face。
〃Part of it was a dream；〃 he answered；impressively。
〃Then that horrible man did take us away？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Oh…h！ but we're free now？ This is my room。 Oh； tell me？〃
〃Yes； Nellie； you're safe at home now。〃
〃Telltell me；〃 she cried； shudderingly； as she leaned close to Jim and
raised a white； imploring face to his。 〃Where is Kate？Oh！ Jimsay； say she
wasn't left with Girty？〃
〃Kate is dead；〃 answered Jim； quickly。 He could not endure the horror in her
eyes。 He deliberately intended to lie； as had Heckewelder。
It was as if the tension of Nell's nerves was suddenly relaxed。 The relief
from her worst fear was so great that her mind took in only the one
impression。 Then； presently； a choking cry escaped her； to be followed by a
paroxysm of sobs。
Chapter XX。
Early on the following day Heckewelder； astride his horse； appeared at the
door of Edwards' cabin。
〃How is George？〃 he inquired of Dave； when the latter had opened the door。
〃He had a bad night； but is sleeping now。 I think he'll be all right after a
time；〃 answered Dave。
〃That's well。 Nevertheless keep a watch on him for a few days。〃
〃I'll do so。〃
〃Dave； I leave matters here to your good judgment。 I'm off to Goshocking to
join Zeisberger。 Affairs there demand our immediate attention； and we must
make haste。〃
〃How long do you intend to be absent？〃
〃A few days； possibly a week。 In case of any unusual disturbance among the
Indians； the appearance of Pipe and his tribe； or any of the opposing
factions； send a fleet runner at once to warn me。 Most of my fears have been
allayed by Wingenund's attitude toward us。 His freeing Jim in face of the
opposition of his chiefs is a sure sign of friendliness。 More than once I have
suspected that he was interested in Christianity。 His daughter； Whispering
Winds； exhibited the same intense fervor in religion as has been manifested by
all our converts。 It may be that we have not appealed in vain to Wingenund and
his daughter； but their high position in the Delaware tribe makes it impolitic
for them to reveal a change of heart。 If we could win over those two we'd have
every chance to convert the whole tribe。 Well； as it is we must be thankful
for Wingenund's friendship。 We have two powerful allies now。 Tarhe； the
Wyandot chieftain； remains neutral； to be sure； but that's almost as helpful
as his friendship。〃
〃I； too； take a hopeful view of the situation；〃 replied Edwards。
〃We'll trust in Providence； and do our best；〃 said Heckewelder； as he turned
his horse。 〃Good…by。〃
〃Godspeed！〃 called Edwards； as his chief rode away。
The missionary resumed his work of getting breakfast。 He remained in doors all
that day； except for the few moments when he ran over to Mr。 Wells' cabin to
inquire regarding Nell's condition。 He was relieved to learn she was so much
better that she had declared her intention of moving about the house。 Dave
kept a close watch on Young。 He； himself； was suffering from the same blow
which had prostrated his friend； but his physical strength and fortitude were
such that he did not weaken。 He was overjoyed to see that George rallied； and
showed no further indications of breaking down。
True it was； perhaps； that Heckewelder's earnest prayer on behalf of the
converted Indians had sunk deeply into George's heart and thus kept it from
breaking。 No stronger plea could have been made than the allusion to those
gentle； dependent Christ