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an Injun…killer。 Some people say as how he's crazy over scalp…huntin'； but I
reckon that's not so。 I've seen him a few times。 He don't hang round the
settlement 'cept when the Injuns are up； an' nobody sees him much。 At home he
sets round silent…like； an' then mebbe next mornin' he'll be gone； an' won't
show up fer days or weeks。 But all the frontier knows of his deeds。 Fer
instance； I've hearn of settlers gettin' up in the mornin' an' findin' a
couple of dead and scalped Injuns right in front of their cabins。 No one
knowed who killed 'em； but everybody says 'Wetzel。' He's allus warnin' the
settlers when they need to flee to the fort； and sure he's right every time；
because when these men go back to their cabins they find nothin' but ashes。
There couldn't be any farmin' done out there but fer Wetzel。〃
〃What does he look like？〃 questioned Joe； much interested。
〃Wetzel stands straight as the oak over thar。 He'd hev' to go sideways to git
his shoulders in that door； but he's as light of foot an' fast as a deer。 An'
his eyeswhy； lad； ye kin hardly look into 'em。 If you ever see Wetzel you'll
know him to onct。〃
〃I want to see him；〃 Joe spoke quickly； his eyes lighting with an eager flash。
〃He must be a great fighter。〃
〃Is he？ Lew Wetzel is the heftiest of 'em all； an' we hev some as kin fight
out here。 I was down the river a few years ago and joined a party to go out
an' hunt up some redskins as had been reported。 Wetzel was with us。 We soon
struck Injun sign； and then come on to a lot of the pesky varmints。 We was all
fer goin' home； because we had a small force。 When we started to go we finds
Wetzel sittin' calm…like on a log。 We said： 'Ain't ye goin' home？' and he
replied； 'I cum out to find redskins； an' now as we've found 'em； I'm not
goin' to run away。' An' we left him settin' thar。 Oh； Wetzel is a fighter！〃
〃I hope I shall see him；〃 said Joe once more； the warm light； which made him
look so boyish； still glowing in his face。
〃Mebbe ye'll git to； and sure ye'll see redskins； an' not tame ones； nuther。〃
At this moment the sound of excited voices near the cabins broke in on the
conversation。 Joe saw several persons run toward the large cabin and disappear
behind it。 He smiled as he thought perhaps the commotion had been caused by
the awakening of the Indian brave。
Rising to his feet； Joe went toward the cabin； and soon saw the cause of the
excitement。 A small crowd of men and women； all laughing and talking；
surrounded the Indian brave and the little stout fellow。 Joe heard some one
groan； and then a deep； guttural voice：
〃Palefacebig stealugh！ Injun madheap madkill paleface。〃
After elbowing his way into the group； Joe saw the Indian holding Loorey with
one hand； while he poked him on the ribs with the other。 The captive's face
was the picture of dismay； even the streaks of paint did not hide his look of
fear and bewilderment。 The poor half…witted fellow was so badly frightened
that he could only groan。
〃Silvertip scalp paleface。 Ugh！〃 growled the savage； giving Loorey another
blow on the side。 This time he bent over in pain。 The bystanders were divided
in feeling； the men laughed； while the women murmured sympathetically。
〃This's not a bit funny；〃 muttered Joe； as he pushed his way nearly to the
middle of the crowd。 Then he stretched out a long arm that； bare and brawny；
looked as though it might have been a blacksmith's； and grasped the Indian's
sinewy wrist with a force that made him loosen his hold on Loorey instantly。
〃I stole the shirtfunjoke；〃 said Joe。 〃Scalp me if you want to scalp
anyone。〃
The Indian looked quickly at the powerful form before him。 With a twist he
slipped his arm from Joe's grasp。
〃Big paleface heap funall squaw play；〃 he said； scornfully。 There was a
menace in his somber eyes as he turned abruptly and left the group。
〃I'm afraid you've made an enemy；〃 said Jake Wentz to Joe。 〃An Indian never
forgets an insult； and that's how he regarded your joke。 Silvertip has been
friendly here because he sells us his pelts。 He's a Shawnee chief。 There he
goes through the willows！〃
By this time Jim and Mr。 Wells； Mrs。 Wentz and the girls had joined the group。
They all watched Silvertip get into his canoe and paddle away。
〃A bad sign；〃 said Wentz； and then； turning to Jeff Lynn； who joined the party
at that moment； he briefly explained the circumstances。
〃Never did like Silver。 He's a crafty redskin； an' not to be trusted；〃 replied
Jeff。
〃He has turned round and is looking back；〃 Nell said quickly。
〃So he has；〃 observed the fur…trader。
The Indian was now several hundred yards down the swift river； and for an
instant had ceased paddling。 The sun shone brightly on his eagle plumes。 He
remained motionless for a moment； and even at such a distance the dark；
changeless face could be discerned。 He lifted his hand and shook it
menacingly。
〃If ye don't hear from that redskin agin Jeff Lynn don't know nothin'；〃 calm
said the old frontiersman。
Chapter IV。
As the rafts drifted with the current the voyagers saw the settlers on the
landing…place diminish until they had faded from indistinct figures to mere
black specks against the green background。 Then came the last wave of a white
scarf； faintly in the distance； and at length the dark outline of the fort was
all that remained to their regretful gaze。 Quickly that； too； disappeared
behind the green hill； which； with its bold front； forces the river to take a
wide turn。
The Ohio； winding in its course between high； wooded bluffs； rolled on and on
into the wilderness。
Beautiful as was the ever…changing scenery； rugged gray…faced cliffs on one
side contrasting with green…clad hills on the other； there hovered over land
and water something more striking than beauty。 Above all hung a still
atmosphere of calmnessof loneliness。
And this penetrating solitude marred somewhat the pleasure which might have
been found in the picturesque scenery； and caused the voyagers； to whom this
country was new； to take less interest in the gaily…feathered birds and
stealthy animals that were to be seen on the way。 By the forms of wild life
along the banks of the river； this strange intruder on their peace was
regarded with attention。 The birds and beasts evinced little fear of the
floating rafts。 The sandhill crane； stalking along the shore； lifted his long
neck as the unfamiliar thing came floating by； and then stood still and silent
as a statue until the rafts disappeared from view。 Blue…herons feeding along
the bars； saw the unusual spectacle； and； uttering surprised 〃booms；〃 they
spread wide wings and lumbered away along the shore。 The crows circled above
the voyagers； cawing in not unfriendly excitement。 Smaller birds alighted on
the raised poles； and severala robin； a catbird and a little brown
wrenventured with hesitating boldness to peck at the crumbs the girls threw
to th