im."

"Save him?" asked Nell, looking from Heckewelder to the trembling
Indian boy.

"Nellie, the savages have driven all our Christians into the church,
and shut them up there, until Girty and his men shall give the word
to complete their fiendish design. The converts asked but one
favor--an hour in which to pray. It was granted. The savages intend
to murder them all."

"Oh! Horrible! Monstrous!" cried Nell. "How can they be so inhuman?"
She lifted Benny up in her arms. "They'll never get you, my boy.
We'll save you--I'll save you!" The child moaned and clung to her
neck.

"They are scouring the clearing now for Christians, and will search
all the cabins. I'm positive."

"Will they come here?" asked Nell, turning her blazing eyes on
Heckewelder.

"Undoubtedly. We must try to hide Benny. Let me think; where would
be a good place? We'll try a dark corner of the loft."

"No, no," cried Nell.

"Put Benny in Young's bed," suggested Jim.

"No, no," cried Nell.

"Put him in a bucket and let him down in the well," whispered
Edwards, who had listened intently to the conversation.

"That's a capital place," said Heckewelder. "But might he not fall
out and drown?"

"Tie him in the bucket," said Jim.

"No, no, no," cried Nell.

"But Nellie, we must decide upon a hiding place, and in a hurry."

"I'll save Benny."

"You? Will you stay here to face those men? Jim Girty and Deering
are searching the cabins. Could you bear it to see them? You
couldn't."

"Oh! No, I believe it would kill me! That man! that beast! will he
come here?" Nell grew ghastly pale, and looked as if about to faint.
She shrunk in horror at the thought of again facing Girty. "For
God's sake, Heckewelder, don't let him see me! Don't let him come
in! Don't!"

Even as the imploring voice ceased a heavy thump sounded on the
door.

"Who's there?" demanded Heckewelder.

Thump! Thump!

The heavy blows shook the cabin. The pans rattled on the shelves. No
answer came from without.

"Quick! Hide Benny! It's as much as our lives are worth to have him
found here," cried Heckewelder in a fierce whisper, as he darted
toward the door.

"All right, all right, in a moment," he called out, fumbling over
the bar.

He opened the door a moment later and when Jim Girty and Deering
entered he turned to his friends with a dread uncertainty in his
haggard face.

Edwards lay on the bed with wide-open eyes staring at the intruders.
Mr. Wells sat with b