“Nonsense!  You heard Eb say Miller and Clarke had quarreled before.  They hated each other before they ever saw you.”

A door banged, quick footsteps sounded on the stairs, and Isaac came rushing into the room.  Betty, deathly pale, stood with her hands pressed to her bosom, and looked at Isaac with a question in her eyes that her tongue could not speak.

“Betty, Alfred’s badly hurt, but he’s alive.  I can tell you no more now,” said Isaac.  “Bessie, bring your needle, silk linen, liniment—­everything you need for a bad knife wound, and come quickly.”

Betty’s haggard face changed as if some warm light had been reflected on it; her lips moved, and with a sob of thankfulness she fled to her room.

Two hours later, while Annie was serving breakfast to Betty and Myeerah, Col.  Zane strode into the room.

“Well, one has to eat whatever happens,” he said, his clouded face brightening somewhat.  “Betty, there’s been bad work, bad work.  When I got to Clarke’s room I found him lying on the bed with a knife sticking in him.  As it is we are doubtful about pulling him through.”

“May I see him?” whispered Betty, with pale lips.

“If the worst comes to the worst I’ll take you over.  But it would do no good now and would surely unnerve you.  He still has a fighting chance.”

“Did they fight, or was Mr. Clarke stabbed in his sleep?”

“Miller climbed into Clarke’s window and knifed him in the dark.  As I came over I met Wetzel and told him I wanted him to trail Miller and find if there is any truth in his threat about Girty and the Indians.  Sam just now found Tige tied fast in the fence corner back of the barn.  That explains the mystery of Miller’s getting so near the house.  You know he always took pains to make friends with Tige.  The poor dog was helpless; his legs were tied and his jaws bound fast.  Oh, Miller is as cunning as an Indian!  He has had this all planned out, and he has had more than one arrow to his bow.  But, if I mistake not he has shot his last one.”

“Miller must be safe from pursuit by this time,” said Betty.

“Safe for the present, yes,” answered Col.  Zane, “but while Jonathan and Wetzel live I would not give a snap of my fingers for Miller’s chances.  Hello, I hear some one talking.  I sent for Jack and the Major.”

The Colonel threw open the door.  Wetzel, Major McColloch, Jonathan and Silas Zane were approaching.  They were all heavily armed.  Wetzel was equipped for a long chase.  Double leggins were laced round his legs.  A buckskin knapsack was strapped to his shoulders.

“Major, I want you and Jonathan to watch the river,” said Col.  Zane.  “Silas, you are to go to the mouth of Yellow Creek and reconnoiter.  We are in for a siege.  It may be twenty-four hours and it may be ten days.  In the meantime I will get the Fort in shape to meet the attack.  Lewis, you have your orders.  Have you anything to suggest?”