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〃By all means。 We shall be glad to have him；〃 said Colonel Zane。
〃It would not be so serious if I had not sent the men up the river；〃 said Captain Boggs； in anxious tones。 〃Do you think it possible they might have fallen in with the Indians？〃
〃It is possible； of course； but not probable；〃 answered Colonel Zane。 〃The Indians are all across the Ohio。 Wetzel is over there and he will get here long before they do。〃
〃I hope it may be as you say。 I have much confidence in your judgment；〃 returned Captain Boggs。 〃I shall put out scouts and take all the precaution possible。 We must return now。 Come； Lydia。〃
〃Whew！ What an awful night this is going to be；〃 said Colonel Zane； when he had closed the door after his guests' departure。 〃I should not care to sleep out to…night。〃
〃Eb； what will Lew Wetzel do on a night dike this？〃 asked Betty； curiously。
〃Oh； Lew will be as snug as a rabbit in his burrow；〃 said Colonel Zane； laughing。 〃In a few moments he can build a birch bark shack； start a fire inside and go to sleep comfortably。〃
〃Ebenezer； what is all this confab about？ What did my brother tell you？〃 asked Mrs。 Zane； anxiously。
〃We are in for more trouble from the Wyandots and Shawnees。 But； Bessie； I don't believe it will come soon。 We are too well protected here for anything but a protracted siege。〃
Colonel Zane's light and rather evasive answer did not deceive his wife。 She knew her brother and her husband would not wear anxious faces for nothing。 Her usually bright face clouded with a look of distress。 She had seen enough of Indian warfare to make her shudder with horror at the mere thought。 Betty seemed unconcerned。 She sat down beside the dog and patted him on the head。
〃Tige； Indians！ Indians！〃 she said。
The dog growled and showed his teeth。 It was only necessary to mention Indians to arouse his ire。
〃The dog has been uneasy of late；〃 continued Colonel Zane 〃He found the Indian tracks before Wetzel did。 You know how Tige hates Indians。 Ever since he came home with Isaac four years ago he has been of great service to the scouts； as he possesses so much intelligence and sagacity。 Tige followed Isaac home the last time he escaped from the Wyansdots。 When Isaac was in captivity he nursed and cared for the dog after he had been brutally beaten by the redskins。 Have you ever heard that long mournful howl Tige gives out sometimes in the dead of night？〃
〃Yes I have； and it makes me cover up my head；〃 said Betty。
〃Well； it is Tige mourning for Isaac；〃 said Colonel Zane
〃Poor Isaac；〃 murmured Betty。
〃Do you remember him？ It has been nine years since you saw him；〃 said Mrs。 Zane。
〃Remember Isaac？ Indeed I do。 I shall never forget him。 I wonder if he is still living？〃
〃Probably not。 It is now four years since he was recaptured。 I think it would have been impossible to keep him that length of time； unless； of course； he has married that Indian girl。 The simplicity of the Indian nature is remarkable。 He could easily have deceived them and made them believe he was content in captivity。 Probably； in attempting to escape again； he has been killed as was poor Andrew。〃
Brother and sister gazed with dark； sad eyes into the fire； now burned down to a glowing bed of coals。 The silence remained unbroken save for the moan of the rising wind outside； the rattle of hail； and the patter of rain drops on the roof。
CHAPTER II。
Fort Henry stood on a bluff overlooking the river and commanded a fine view of the surrounding country。 In shape it was a parallelogram； being about three hundred and fifty…six feet in length； and one hundred and fifty in width。 Surrounded by a stockade fence twelve feet high； with a yard wide walk running around the inside； and with bastions at each corner large enough to contain six defenders； the fort presented an almost impregnable defense。 The blockhouse was two stories in height； the second story projecting out several feet over the first。 The thick white oak walls bristled with portholes。 Besides the blockhouse； there were a number of cabins located within the stockade。 Wells had been sunk inside the inclosure； so that if the spring happened to go dry； an abundance of good water could be had at all times。
In all the histories of frontier life mention is made of the forts and the protection they offered in time of savage warfare。 These forts were used as homes for the settlers； who often lived for weeks inside the walls。
Forts constructed entirely of wood without the aid of a nail or spike （for the good reason that these things could not be had） may seem insignificant in these days of great nasal and military garrisons。 However； they answered the purpose at that time and served to protect many an infant settlement from the savage attacks of Indian tribes。 During a siege of Fort Henry； which had occurred about a year previous； the settlers would have lost scarcely a man had they kept to the fort。 But Captain Ogle； at that time in charge of the garrison； had led a company out in search of the Indians。 Nearly all of his men were killed； several only making their way to the fort。
On the day following Major McColloch's arrival at Fort Henry； the settlers had been called in from their spring plowing and other labors； and were now busily engaged in moving their stock and the things they wished to save from the destructive torch of the redskin。 The women had their hands full with the children； the cleaning of rifles and moulding of bullets； and the thousand and one things the sterner tasks of their husbands had left them。 Major McColloch； Jonathan and Silas Zane； early in the day； had taken different directions along the river to keep a sharp lookout for signs of the enemy。 Colonel Zane intended to stay in his oven house and defend it； so he had not moved anything to the fort excepting his horses and cattle。 Old Sam； the negro； was hauling loads of hay inside the stockade。 Captain Boggs had detailed several scouts to watch the roads and one of these was the young man； Clarke； who had accompanied the Major from Fort Pitt。
The appearance of Alfred Clarke； despite the fact that he wore the regulation hunting garb； indicated a young man to whom the hard work and privation of the settler were unaccustomed things。 So thought the pioneers who noticed his graceful walk； his fair skin and smooth hands。 Yet those who carefully studied his clearcut features were favorably impressed； the women； by the direct； honest gaze of his blue eyes and the absence of ungentle lines in his face； the men； by the good nature； and that indefinable something by which a man marks another as true steel。
He brought nothing with him from Fort Pitt except his horse； a black…coated； fine limbed thoroughbred； which he frankly confessed was all he could call his own。 When asking Colonel Zane to give him a position in the garrison he said he was a Virginian and had been educated in Philadelphia； that after his father died his mother married again； and this； together with a natural love of adventure； had induced him to run away and seek his fortune with the hardy pioneer and the cunning savage of the border。 Beyond a few months' service under General Clark he knew nothing of frontier life； but he