“Here’s Nell, and Mrs. Clarke too.  Come out, both of you,” cried Jim.

Nell appeared in the doorway with Colonel Zane’s sister.  The two girls came down the steps and greeted the young man.  The bride’s sweet face was white and thin, and there was a shadow in her eyes.

“I am so glad you got safely away from—­from there,” said Christy, earnestly.

“Tell me of Benny?” asked Nell, speaking softly.

“Oh, yes, I forgot.  Why, Benny is safe and well.  He was the only Christian Indian to escape the Christian massacre.  Heckewelder hid him until it was all over.  He is going to have the lad educated.”

“Thank Heaven!” murmured Nell.

“And the missionaries?” inquired Jim, earnestly.

“Were all well when I left, except, of course, Young.  He was dying.  The others will remain out there, and try to get another hold, but I fear it’s impossible.”

“It is impossible, not because the Indian does not want Christianity, but because such white men as the Girty’s rule.  The beautiful Village of Peace owes its ruin to the renegades,” said Colonel Zane impressively.

“Captain Williamson could have prevented the massacre,” remarked Jim.

“Possibly.  It was a bad place for him, and I think he was wrong not to try,” declared the colonel.

“Hullo!” cried Jonathan Zane, getting up from the steps where he sat listening to the conversation.

A familiar soft-moccasined footfall sounded on the path.  All turned to see Wetzel come slowly toward them.  His buckskin hunting costume was ragged and worn.  He looked tired and weary, but the dark eyes were calm.

It was the Wetzel whom they all loved.

They greeted him warmly.  Nell gave him her hands, and smiled up at him.

“I’m so glad you’ve come home safe,” she said.

“Safe an’ sound, lass, an’ glad to find you well,” answered the hunter, as he leaned on his long rifle, looking from Nell to Colonel Zane’s sister.  “Betty, I allus gave you first place among border lasses, but here’s one as could run you most any kind of a race,” he said, with the rare smile which so warmly lighted his dark, stern face.

“Lew Wetzel making compliments!  Well, of all things!” exclaimed the colonel’s sister.

Jonathan Zane stood closely scanning Wetzel’s features.  Colonel Zane, observing his brother’s close scrutiny of the hunter, guessed the cause, and said: 

“Lew, tell us, did you see Wingenund over the sights of your rifle?”

“Yes,” answered the hunter simply.

A chill seemed to strike the hearts of the listeners.  That simple answer, coming from Wetzel, meant so much.  Nell bowed her head sadly.  Jim turned away biting his lip.  Christy looked across the valley.  Colonel Zane bent over and picked up some pebbles which he threw hard at the cabin wall.  Jonathan Zane abruptly left the group, and went into the house.