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he fell。〃
Wetzel did not answer。 He lay silent and motionless； his long body rigid； and
his face like marble。
〃There comes the other young fellarJoe's brother。 He'll get plugged； too；〃
continued Zane； whispering rather to himself than to his companion。 〃Oh； I
hoped they'd show some sense！ It's noble for them to die for Christianity； but
it won't do no good。 By gum！ Heckewelder has pulled him back。 Now； that's good
judgment！〃
Half King stepped before the Christians and addressed them。 He held in his
hand a black war…club； which he wielded as he spoke。
Jonathan's attention was now directed from the maple grove to the hunter
beside him。 He had heard a slight metallic click； as Wetzel cocked his rifle。
Then he saw the black barrel slowly rise。
〃Listen； Lew。 Mebbe it ain't good sense。 We're after Girty； you remember； and
it's a long shot from herefull three hundred yards。〃
〃You're right； Jack； you're right；〃 answered Wetzel； breathing hard。
〃Let's wait； and see what comes off。〃
〃Jack； I can't do it。 It'll make our job harder； but I can't help it。 I can
put a bullet just over the Huron's left eye； an' I'm goin' to do it。〃
〃You can't do it； Lew； you can't！ It's too far for any gun。 Wait！ Wait！〃
whispered Jonathan； laying his hand on Wetzel's shoulder。
〃Wait？ Man； can't you see what the unnamable villain is doin'？〃
〃What？〃 asked Zane； turning his eyes again to the glade。
The converted Indians sat with bowed heads。 Half King raised his war…club； and
threw it on the ground in front of them。
〃He's announcin' the death decree！〃 hissed Wetzel。
〃Well！ if he ain't！〃
Jonathan looked at Wetzel's face。 Then he rose to his knees； as had Wetzel；
and tightened his belt。 He knew that in another instant they would be speeding
away through the forest。
〃Lew； my rifle's no good fer that distance。 But mebbe yours is。 You ought to
know。 It's not sense； because there's Simon Girty； and there's Jim； the men
we're after。 If you can hit one； you can another。 But go ahead； Lew。 Plug
that cowardly redskin！〃
Wetzel knelt on one knee； and thrust the black rifle forward through the fern
leaves。 Slowly the fatal barrel rose to a level； and became as motionless as
the immovable stones。
Jonathan fixed his keen gaze on the haughty countenance of Half King as he
stood with folded arms and scornful mien in front of the Christians he had
just condemned。
Even as the short； stinging crack of Wetzel's rifle broke the silence；
Jonathan saw the fierce expression of Half King's dark face change to one of
vacant wildness。 His arms never relaxed from their folded position。 He fell；
as falls a monarch of the forest trees； a dead weight。
Chapter XXV。
〃Please do not preach to…day；〃 said Nell； raising her eyes imploringly to
Jim's face。
〃Nellie； I must conduct the services as usual。 I can not shirk my duty； nor
let these renegades see I fear to face them。〃
〃I have such a queer feeling。 I am afraid。 I don't want to be left alone。
Please do not leave me。〃
Jim strode nervously up and down the length of the room。 Nell's worn face； her
beseeching eyes and trembling hands touched his heart。 Rather than almost
anything else； he desired to please her； to strengthen her； yet how could he
shirk his duty？
〃Nellie； what is it you fear？〃 he asked； holding her hands tightly。
〃Oh； I don't know whateverything。 Uncle is growing weaker every day。 Look
at Mr。 Young； he is only a shadow of his former self； and this anxiety is
wearing Mr。 Heckewelder out。 He is more concerned than he dares admit。 You
needn't shake your head； for I know it。 Then those Indians who are waiting；
waitingfor God only knows what！ Worse than all to me； I saw that renegade；
that fearful beast who made way with poor dear Kate！〃
Nell burst into tears； and leaned sobbing on Jim's shoulder。
〃Nell； I've kept my courage only because of you；〃 replied Jim； his voice
trembling slightly。
She looked up quickly。 Something in the pale face which was bent over her told
that now； if ever； was the time for a woman to forget herself； and to cheer；
to inspire those around her。
〃I am a silly baby； and selfish！〃 she cried； freeing herself from his hold。
〃Always thinking of myself。〃 She turned away and wiped the tears from her
eyes。 〃Go； Jim； do you duty； I'll stand by and help you all a woman can。〃
The missionaries were consulting in Heckewelder's cabin。 Zeisberger had
returned that morning； and his aggressive； dominating spirit was just what
they needed in an hour like this。 He raised the downcast spirits of the
ministers。
〃Hold the service？ I should say we will；〃 he declared； waving his hands。
〃What have we to be afraid of？〃
〃I do not know；〃 answered Heckewelder； shaking his head doubtfully。 〃I do not
know what to fear。 Girty himself told me he bore us no ill will； but I hardly
believe him。 All this silence； this ominous waiting perplexes； bewilders me。〃
〃Gentlemen； our duty at least is plain；〃 said Jim； impressively。 〃The faith of
these Christian Indians in us is so absolute that they have no fear。 They
believe in God； and in us。 These threatening savages have failed signally to
impress our Christians。 If we do not hold the service they will think we fear
Girty； and that might have a bad influence。〃
〃I am in favor of postponing the preaching for a few days。 I tell you I am
afraid of Girty's Indians； not for myself； but for these Christians whom we
love so well。 I am afraid。〃 Heckewelder's face bore testimony to his anxious
dread。
〃You are our leader； we have but to obey；〃 said Edwards。 〃Yet I think we owe
it to our converts to stick to our work until we are forced by violence to
desist。〃
〃Ah！ What form will that violence take？〃 cried Heckewelder； his face white。
〃You cannot tell what these savages mean。 I fear！ I fear！〃
〃Listen； Heckewelder； you must remember we had this to go through once
before；〃 put in Zeisberger earnestly。 〃In '78 Girty came down on us like a
wolf on the fold。 He had not so many Indians at his beck and call as now； but
he harangued for days； trying to scare us and our handful of Christians。 He
set his drunken fiends to frighten us； and he failed。 We stuck it out and
won。 He's trying the same game。 Let us stand against him； and hold our
services as usual。 We should trust in God！〃
〃Never give up！〃 cried Jim。
〃Gentlemen； you are right； you shame me； even though I feel that I understand
the situation and its dread possibilities better than any one of you。 Whatever
befalls we'll stick to our post。 I thank you for reviving the spirit in my
cowardly heart。 We will hold the service to…day as usual and to make it more
impressive； each shall address the congregation in turn。〃
〃And； if need be； we will give our lives for our Christians；〃 said Young；
raising his pale face。
The deep mellow peals of the church bell awoke the slum