“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 don’t care who they are.  Drunken ruffians and savages!  That’s enough.  Will you help us?  We are men of your own race, and we come to you for help.  Can you withhold it?”

“I won’t hev nuthin’ to do with this bizness.  The chiefs hev condemned the village, an’ it’ll hev to go.  If you fellars hed been careful, no white blood would hev been spilled.  I advise you all to lay low till it’s over.”

“Will you let me speak to your men, to try and get them to follow me?”

“Heckewelder asked that same thing.  He was persistent, and I took a vote fer him just to show how my men stood.  Eighteen of them said they’d follow him; the rest wouldn’t interfere.”

“Eighteen!  My God!” cried Jim, voicing the passion which consumed him.  “You are white men, yet you will stand by and see these innocent people murdered!  Man, where’s your humanity?  Your manhood?  These converted Indians are savages no longer, they are Christians.  Their children are as good, pure, innocent as your own.  Can you remain idle and see these little ones murdered?”