“I brought him out here.  I persuaded him to come!” whispered Heckewelder.  “Oh, Almighty God!” he cried.  His voice broke, and his prayer ended with the mute eloquence of clasped hands and uplifted, appealing face.

“Come out,” said Zeisberger, leading him into the larger room.  The others followed, and Jim closed the door.

“What’s to be done?” said Zeisberger, with his practical common sense.  “What did Williamson say?  Tell us what you learned?”

“Wait—­directly,” answered Heckewelder, sitting down and covering his face with his hands.  There was a long silence.  At length he raised his white face and spoke calmly: 

“Gentlemen, the Village of Peace is doomed.  I entreated Captain Williamson to help us, but he refused.  Said he dared not interfere.  I prayed that he would speak at least a word to Girty, but he denied my request.”

“Where are the converts?”

“Imprisoned in the church, every one of them except Benny.  Mr. Christy and I hid the child in the meal sack and were thus able to get him here.  We must save him.”

“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!”