“Injuns.  Go back and be natur’l like.  Don’t say nothin’ and watch Miller,” whispered Wetzel.

Much perturbed by the developments of the last few moments, and wondering what was going to happen, Alfred turned away.  He had scarcely reached the others when he heard Betty’s voice raised in indignant protest.

“I tell you I did swim my pony across the river,” cried Betty.  “It was just even with that point and the river was higher than it is now.”

“You probably overestimated your feat,” said Miller, with his disagreeable, doubtful smile.  “I have seen the river so low that it could be waded, and then it would be a very easy matter to cross.  But now your pony could not swim half the distance.”

“I’ll show you,” answered Betty, her black eyes flashing.  She put her foot in the stirrup and leaped on Madcap.

“Now, Betty, don’t try that foolish ride again,” implored Mrs. Zane.  “What do you care whether strangers believe or not?  Eb, make her come back.”

Col.  Bane only laughed and made no attempt to detain Betty.  He rather indulged her caprices.

“Stop her!” cried Clarke.

“Betty, where are you goin’?” said Wetzel, grabbing at Madcap’s bridle.  But Betty was too quick for him.  She avoided the hunter, and with a saucy laugh she wheeled the fiery little pony and urged her over the bank.  Almost before any one could divine her purpose she had Madcap in the water up to her knees.

“Betty, stop!” cried Wetzel.

She paid no attention to his call.  In another moment the pony would be off the shoal and swimming.

“Stop!  Turn back, Betty, or I’ll shoot the pony,” shouted Wetzel, and this time there was a ring of deadly earnestness in his voice.  With the words he had cocked and thrown forward the long rifle.

Betty heard, and in alarm she turned her pony.  She looked up with great surprise and concern, for she knew Wetzel was not one to trifle.

“For God’s sake!” exclaimed Colonel Zane, looking in amazement at the hunter’s face, which was now white and stern.

“Why, Lew, you do not mean you would shoot Madcap?” said Betty, reproachfully, as she reached the shore.

All present in that watching crowd were silent, awaiting the hunter’s answer.  They felt that mysterious power which portends the revelation of strange events.  Col.  Zane and Jonathan knew the instant they saw Wetzel that something extraordinary was coming.  His face had grown cold and gray; his lips were tightly compressed; his eyes dilated and shone with a peculiar lustre.

“Where were you headin’ your pony?” asked Wetzel.

“I wanted to reach that point where the water is shallow,” answered Betty.

“That’s what I thought.  Well, Betty, hostile Injuns are hidin’ and waitin’ fer you in them high rushes right where you were makin’ fer,” said Wetzel.  Then he shouldered his rifle and walked rapidly away.