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"It's hard, and he won't be able to stand up under it, for he's not strong," whispered Jim. Heckewelder was a mild, pious man, in whom no one would ever expect strong passion; but now depths were stirred within his heart that had ever been tranquil. He became livid, and his face was distorted with rage.
"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."
Perhaps for a time; possibly for a final decision, and, it may be, for a reason, the very thought of which makes me faint." "Tell us," said Edwards, speaking quietly, for he had ever been the calmest of the missionaries. "Never mind. Perhaps it's only my nerves. I'm all unstrung, and could suspect anything to-night." "Heckewelder, tell us?" Jim asked, earnestly. "My friends, I pray I am wrong.
Heckewelder, you would not go? Nor you, Zeisberger? We may yet be of use, we may yet save some of the Christians." "Save the yellow-hair," sternly said Wingenund. "Oh, Jim, you don't understand. The chief has come to warn me of Girty. He intends to take me as he has others, as he did poor Kate. did you not see the meaning in his eyes to-day? How they scorched me! Ho! Jim, take me away! Save me!
As Jim looked out over the sea of faces he started in surprise. The sudden glance of fiery eyes had impelled his gaze. He recognized Silvertip, the Shawnee chief. The Indian sat motionless on a powerful black horse. Jim started again, for the horse was Joe's thoroughbred, Lance. But Jim had no further time to think of Joe's enemy, for Heckewelder stepped back.
He then made a short address in the Indian language, speaking of the work of the mission, what wonders it had accomplished, what more good work it hoped to do, and concluded by introducing the young missionary. While Heckewelder spoke, Jim, who stood just behind, employed the few moments in running his eye over the multitude. The sight which met his gaze was one he thought he would never forget.
These, according to Heckewelder, were important items of the Indian food supply. To the Indian we are indebted for ash-cake, hoecake, succotash, samp, hominy and many other productions made from the Indian maize. The Miamis of the Wabash, with a favorable climate and a superior soil, produced a famous corn with a finer skin and "a meal much whiter" than that raised by other tribes.
"Heckewelder?" "Is safe. He has gone to see Williamson. You did hear a third shot. Half King fell dead with a bullet over his left eye. He had just folded his arms in a grand pose after his death decree to the Christians." "A judgment of God!" "It does seem so, but it came in the form of leaden death from Wetzel's unerring rifle. Do you hear all that yelling?
The other chiefs maintained a cold reserve that was baffling and exasperating. Wingenund took no active part in the councils; but his presence apparently denoted that he had sided with the others. The outlook was altogether discouraging. "I'm completely fagged out," declared Heckewelder, that night when he returned to Edwards' cabin.
"Oh-h!" suddenly cried Nell, in shuddering tones. They all gazed at her in amazement. Every vestige of color had receded from her face, leaving it marblelike. Her eves were fixed in startled horror. Suddenly she relaxed her grasp on the windowsill and fell back limp and senseless. Heckewelder ran to the door to look out, while the others bent over the unconscious girl, endeavoring to revive her.
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