beration and dignity. To-day they
were a yelling, running, blood-seeking mob.

"Awful! Did you ever see human beings like these?" asked Zeisberger.

"No, no!"

"I saw such a frenzy once before, but, of course, only in a small
band of savages. Many times have I seen Indians preparing for the
war-path, in search of both white men and redskins. They were fierce
then, but nothing like this. Every one of these frenzied fiends is
honest. Think of that! Every man feels it his duty to murder these
Christians. Girty has led up to this by cunning, and now the time is
come to let them loose."

"It means death for all."

"I have given up any thought of escaping," said Zeisberger, with the
calmness that had characterized his manner since he returned to the
village. "I shall try to get into the church."

"I'll join you there as soon as I see Williamson."

Jim walked rapidly across the clearing to the cabin where Captain
Williamson had quarters. The frontiersmen stood in groups, watching
the savages with an interest which showed little or no concern.

"I want to see Captain Williamson," said Jim to a frontiersman on
guard at the cabin door.

"Wal, he's inside," drawled the man.

Jim thought the voice familiar, and he turned sharply to see the
sun-burnt features of Jeff Lynn, the old riverman who had taken Mr.
Wells' party to Fort Henry.

"Why, Lynn! I'm glad to see you," exclaimed Jim.

"Purty fair to middlin'," answered Jeff, extending his big hand.
"Say, how's the other one, your brother as wus called Joe?"

"I don't know. He ran off with Wetzel, was captured by Indians, and
when I last heard of him he had married Wingenund's daughter."

"Wal, I'll be dog-goned!" Jeff shook his grizzled head and slapped
his leg. "I jest knowed he'd raise somethin'."

"I'm in a hurry. Do you think Captain Williamson will stand still
and let all this go on?"

"I'm afeerd so."

Evidently the captain heard the conversation, for he appeared at the
cabin door, smoking a long pipe.

"Captain Williamson, I have come to entreat you to save the
Christians from this impending massacre."

"I can't do nuthin'," answered Williamson, removing his pipe to puff
forth a great cloud of smoke.

"You have eighty men here!"

"If we interfered Pipe would eat us alive in three minutes. You
preacher fellows don't understand this thing. You've got Pipe and
Girty to deal with. If you don't know them, you'll be better
acquainted by sundown."

"I