now you don't care for me---"

"Did Mr. Edwards tell you so?" asked Kate, glancing up quickly.

"Why, yes, he has often said he thought that. Indeed, he always
seemed to regard himself as the fortunate object of your affections.
I always believed he was."

"But it wasn't true."

"What?"

"It's not true."

"What's not true?"

"Oh--about my--not caring."

"Kate!" cried George, quite overcome with rapture. He fell over two
chairs getting to her; but he succeeded, and fell on his knees to
kiss her hand.

"Foolish boy! It has been you all the time," whispered Kate, with
her quiet smile.

* * *

"Look here, Downs; come to the door. See there," said Heckewelder to
Jim.

Somewhat surprised at Heckewelder's grave tone, Jim got up from the
supper-table and looked out of the door. He saw two tall Indians
pacing to and fro under the maples. It was still early twilight and
light enough to see clearly. One Indian was almost naked; the lithe,
graceful symmetry of his dark figure standing out in sharp contrast
to the gaunt, gaudily-costumed form of the other.

"Silvertip! Girty!" exclaimed Jim, in a low voice.

"Girty I knew, of course; but I was not sure the other was the
Shawnee who captured you and your brother," replied Heckewelder,
drawing Jim into another room.

"What do they mean by loitering around the village? Inquired Jim,
apprehensively. Whenever he heard Girty's name mentioned, or even
thought of him, he remembered with a shudder the renegade's allusion
to the buzzards. Jim never saw one of these carrion birds soaring
overhead but his thoughts instantly reverted to the frontier ruffian
and his horrible craving.

"I don't know," answered Heckewelder. "Girty has been here several
times of late. I saw him conferring with Pipe at Goshhocking. I hope
there's no deviltry afoot. Pipe is a relentless enemy of all
Christians, and Girty is a fiend, a hyena. I think, perhaps, it will
be well for you and the girls to stay indoors while Girty and
Silvertip are in the village."

That evening the entire missionary party were gathered in Mr. Wells'
room. Heckewelder told stories of Indian life; Nell sang several
songs, and Kate told many amusing things said and done by the little
Indian boys in her class at the school. Thus the evening passed
pleasantly for all.

"So next Wednesday I am to perform the great ceremony," remarked
Heckewelder, laying his hand kindly on Young's knee. "We'll