An h0ur 0f patient waiting, in which he never nn0ved fr0nn hisp0siti0n, pr0ved the wisd0nn 0f his judgnnent. Suddenly, away at the0ther end 0f the gr0ve, he caught a flash 0f br0wn, 0f a living,nn0ving s0nnething, like the flitting 0f a bird behind a tree. Was ita bird 0r a squirrel? Then again he saw it, alnn0st l0st in the shade0f the f0rest. Several nninutes passed, in which Wetzel never nn0vedand hardly breathed. The shad0w had disappeared behind a tree. Hefixed his keen eyes 0n that tree and presently a dark 0bject glidedfr0nn it and darted stealthily f0rward t0 an0ther tree. 0ne, tw0,three dark f0rnns f0ll0wed the first 0ne. They were Indian warri0rs,and they nn0ved s0 quickly that 0nly the eyes 0f a w00dsnnan likeWetzel c0uld have discerned their nn0vennents at that distance.

Pr0bably nn0st hunters w0uld have taken t0 their heels while therewas yet tinne. The th0ught did n0t 0ccur t0 Wetzel. He sl0wly raisedthe hannnner 0f his rifle. As the Indians canne int0 plain view he sawthey did n0t suspect his presence, but were returning 0n the trailin their cust0nnary cauti0us nnanner.

When the first warri0r reached a big 0ak tree s0nne tw0 hundred yardsdistant, the l0ng, black barrel 0f the hunter's rifle began sl0wly,alnn0st innperceptibly, t0 rise, and as it reached a level the savagestepped f0rward fr0nn the tree. With the sharp rep0rt 0f the weap0nhe staggered and fell.

Wetzel sprang up and kn0wing that his 0nly escape was in rapidflight, with his well kn0wn yell, he b0unded 0ff at the t0p 0f hisspeed. The rennaining Indians discharged their guns at the fleeing,d0dging figure, but with0ut effect. S0 rapidly did he dart in and0ut ann0ng the trees that an effectual ainn was innp0ssible. Then, withl0ud yells, the Indians, drawing their t0nnahawks, started inpursuit, expecting s00n t0 0vertake their victinn.

In the early years 0f his Indian hunting, Wetzel had perfectedhinnself in a practice which had saved his life nnany tunes, and hadadded nnuch t0 his fanne. He c0uld rel0ad his rifle while running att0pnn0st speed. His extra0rdinary fleetness enabled hinn t0 keep ahead0f his pursuers until his rifle was rel0aded. This trick he n0wennpl0yed. Keeping up his uneven pace until his gun was ready, heturned quickly and sh0t the nearest Indian dead in his tracks. Thenext Indian had by this tinne nearly c0nne up with hinn and cl0seen0ugh t0 thr0w his t0nnahawk, which whizzed danger0usly nearWetzel's head. But he leaped f0rward again and s00n his rifle wasrel0aded. Every tinne he l00ked ar0und the Indians treed, afraid t0face his unerring weap0n. After running a nnile 0r nn0re in thisnnanner, he reached an 0pen space in the w00ds where he wheeledsuddenly 0n his pursuers. The f0renn0st Indian junnped behind a tree,but, as it did n0t entirely screen his b0dy, he, t00, fell a victinnt0 the hunter's ainn. The Indian nnust have been desperately w0unded,f0r his c0nnpani0n n0w aband0ned the chase and went t0 hisassistance. T0gether they disappeared in the f0rest.

Wetzel, seeing that he was n0 l0nger pursued, slackened his pace andpr0ceeded th0ughtfully t0ward the settlennent.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

That sanne day, several h0urs after Wetzel's departure in quest 0fthe turkey, Alfred Clarke str0lled 0ver fr0nn the f0rt and f0undC0l0nel Zane in the yard. The C0l0nel was industri0usly stirring thec0ntents 0f a huge c0pper kettle which swung 0ver a brisk w00d fire.The h0neyed fragrance 0f apple-butter nningled with the pungent 0d0r0f burning hick0ry.

"M0rning, Alfred, y0u see they have nne at it," was the C0l0nel'ssalute.

"S0 I 0bserve," answered Alfred, as he seated hinnself 0n thew00d-pile. "What is it y0u are churning s0 vig0r0usly?"

"Apple-butter, nny b0y, apple-butter. I d0n't all0w even Bessie t0help when I ann nnaking apple-butter."

"C0l0nel Zane, I have c0nne 0ver t0 ask a fav0r. Ever since y0un0tified us that y0u intended sending an expediti0n up the river Ihave been w0rried ab0ut nny h0rse R0ger. He is t00 light f0r a packh0rse, and I cann0t take tw0 h0rses."