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from your side the fence。 But you can't see the Injuns from our side。 We
hunters hevn't much humanityI reckon that's what you called itbut we've
lost so many friends an' relatives； an' hearn of so many murders by the reddys
that we look on all of 'em as wild varmints that should be killed on sight。
Now； mebbe it'll interest you to know I was the feller who took the vote
Williamson told you about； an' I did it 'cause I had an interest in you。 I wus
watchin' you when Edwards and the other missionary got shot。 I like grit in a
man； an' I seen you had it clear through。 So when Heckewelder comes over I
talked to the fellers； an' all I could git interested was eighteen； but they
wanted to fight simply fer fightin' sake。 Now； ole Jeff Lynn is your friend。
You just lay low until this is over。〃
Jim thanked the old riverman and left him。 He hardly knew which way to turn。
He would make one more effort。 He crossed the clearing to where the renegades'
teepee stood。 McKee and Elliott were sitting on a log。 Simon Girty stood
beside them； his hard； keen； roving eyes on the scene。 The missionary was
impressed by the white leader。 There was a difference in his aspect； a wilder
look than the others wore； as if the man had suddenly awakened to the fury of
his Indians。 Nevertheless the young man went straight toward him。
〃Girty； I come…〃
〃Git out！ You meddlin' preacher！〃 yelled the renegade； shaking his fist at
Jim。
Simon Girty was drunk。
Jim turned from the white fiends。 He knew his life to them was not worth a
pinch of powder。
〃Lost！ Lost！ All lost！〃 he exclaimed in despair。
As he went toward the church he saw hundreds of savages bounding over the
grass； brandishing weapons and whooping fiendishly。 They were concentrating
around Girty's teepee； where already a great throng had congregated。 Of all
the Indians to be seen not one walked。 They leaped by Jim； and ran over the
grass nimble as deer。
He saw the eager； fire in their dusky eyes； and the cruelly clenched teeth
like those of wolves when they snarl。 He felt the hissing breath of many
savages as they raced by him。 More than one whirled a tomahawk close to Jim's
head； and uttered horrible yells in his ear。 They were like tigers lusting for
blood。
Jim hurried to the church。 Not an Indian was visible near the log structure。
Even the savage guards had gone。 He entered the open door to be instantly
struck with reverence and awe。
The Christians were singing。
Miserable and full of sickening dread though Jim was； he could not but realize
that the scene before him was one of extraordinary beauty and pathos。 The
doomed Indians lifted up their voices in song。 Never had they sung so
feelingly； so harmoniously。
When the song ended Zeisberger； who stood upon a platform； opened his Bible
and read：
〃In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment； but with everlasting
kindness will I have mercy on thee； saith the Lord； thy Redeemer。〃
In a voice low and tremulous the venerable missionary began his sermon。
The shadow of death hovered over these Christian martyrs； it was reflected in
their somber eyes； yet not one was sullen or sad。 The children who were too
young to understand； but instinctively feeling the tragedy soon to be enacted
there； cowered close to their mothers。
Zeisberger preached a touching and impressive； though short； sermon。 At its
conclusion the whole congregation rose and surrounded the missionary。 The men
shook his hands； the women kissed them； the children clung to his legs。 It was
a wonderful manifestation of affection。
Suddenly Glickhican； the old Delaware chief； stepped on the platform； raised
his hand and shouted one Indian word。
A long； low wail went up from the children and youths； the women slowly；
meekly bowed their heads。 The men； due to the stoicism of their nature and the
Christianity they had learned； stood proudly erect awaiting the death that had
been decreed。
Glickhican pulled the bell rope。
A deep； mellow tone pealed out。
The sound transfixed all the Christians。 No one moved。
Glickhican had given the signal which told the murderers the Christians were
ready。
〃Come； man； my God！ We can't stay here！〃 cried Jim to Zeisberger。
As they went out both men turned to look their last on the martyrs。 The death
knell which had rung in the ears of the Christians； was to them the voice of
God。 Stern； dark visages of men and the sweet； submissive faces of women were
uplifted with rapt attention。 A light seemed to shine from these faces as if
the contemplation of God had illumined them。
As Zeisberger and Jim left the church and hurried toward the cabins； they saw
the crowd of savages in a black mass round Girty's teepee。 The yelling and
leaping had ceased。
Heckewelder opened the door。 Evidently he had watched for them。
〃Jim！ Jim！〃 cried Nell； when he entered the cabin。 〃Oh…h！ I was afraid。 Oh！ I
am glad you're back safe。 See； this noble Indian has come to help us。〃
Wingenund stood calm and erect by the door。
〃Chief； what will you do？〃
〃Wingenund will show you the way to the big river；〃 answered the chieftain； in
his deep bass。
〃Run away？ No； never！ That would be cowardly。 Heckewelder； you would not go？
Nor you； Zeisberger？ We may yet be of use； we may yet save some of the
Christians。〃
〃Save the yellow…hair；〃 sternly said Wingenund。
〃Oh； Jim； you don't understand。 The chief has come to warn me of Girty。 He
intends to take me as he has others； as he did poor Kate。 did you not see the
meaning in his eyes to…day？ How they scorched me！ Ho！ Jim； take me away！ Save
me！ Do not leave me here to that horrible fate？ Oh！ Jim； take me away！〃
〃Nell； I will take you；〃 cried Jim； grasping her hands。
〃Hurry！ There's a blanket full of things I packed for you；〃 said Heckewelder。
〃Lose no time。 Ah！ hear that！ My Heavens！ what a yell！〃 Heckewelder rushed to
the door and looked out。 〃There they go； a black mob of imps； a pack of hungry
wolves！ Jim Girty is in the lead。 How he leaps！ How he waves his sledge！ He
leads the savages toward the church。 Oh！ it's the end！〃
〃Benny？ Where's Benny？〃 cried Jim； hurriedly lacing the hunting coat he had
flung about him。
〃Benny's safe。 I've hidden him。 I'll get him away from here；〃 answered young
Christy。 〃Go！ Now's your time。 Godspeed you！〃
〃I'm ready；〃 declared Mr。 Wells。 〃Ihavefinished！〃
〃There goes Wingenund！ He's running。 Follow him； quick！ Good…by！ Good…by！ God
be with you！〃 cried Heckewelder。
〃Good…by！ Good…by！〃
Jim hurried Nell toward the bushes where Wingenund's tall form could dimly be
seen。 Mr。 Wells followed them。 On the edge of the clearing Jim and Nell turned
to look back。
They saw a black mass of yelling； struggling； fighting savages crowding around
the church。
〃Oh！ Jim； look back！ Look back！〃 cried Nell； holding hard to his hand。 〃Look
back！ See if Girty