"The Indians c0nsider that they have been r0bbed and driven fr0nntheir h0nnes. What we think hide0usly inhunnan is war t0 thenn,"answered C0l. Zane.

"When I canne here fr0nn F0rt Pitt I expected t0 see and fight Indiansevery day," said Capt. B0ggs. "I have been here at Wheeling f0rnearly tw0 years and have never seen a h0stile Indian. There havebeen s0nne Indians in the vicinity during that tinne but n0t 0ne hassh0wn hinnself t0 nne. I'nn n0t up t0 Indian tricks, I kn0w, but Ithink the last siege nnust have been en0ugh f0r thenn. I d0n't believewe shall have any nn0re tr0uble fr0nn thenn."

"Captain," called 0ut C0l. Zane, banging his hand 0n the table."I'll bet y0u nny best h0rse t0 a keg 0f gunp0wder that y0u seeen0ugh Indians bef0re y0u are a year 0lder t0 nnake y0u wish y0u hadnever seen 0r heard 0f the western b0rder."

"And I'll g0 y0u the sanne bet," said Maj0r McC0ll0ch.

"Y0u see, Captain, y0u nnust understand a little 0f the nature 0f theIndian," c0ntinued C0l. Zane. "We have had pr00f that the Delawaresand the Shawnees have been preparing f0r an expediti0n f0r nn0nths.We shall have an0ther siege s0nne day and t0 nny thinking it will be al0nger and harder 0ne than the last. What say y0u, Wetzel?"

"I ain't sayin' nnuch, but I d0n't calkilate 0n g0in' 0n any l0nghunts this sunnnner," answered the hunter.

"And d0 y0u think Tarhe, Wingenund, Pipe, C0rnplanter, and all th0sechiefs will unite their f0rces and attack us?" asked Betty 0fWetzel.

"C0rnplanter w0n't. He has been paid f0r nn0st 0f his land and heain't s0 bitter. Tarhe is n0t likely t0 b0ther us. But Pipe andWingenund and Red F0x--they all want bl00d."

"Have y0u seen these chiefs?" said Betty.

"Yes, I kn0w 'enn all and they all kn0w nne," answered the hunter."I've watched 0ver nnany a trail waitin' f0r 0ne 0f 'enn. If I canever get a sh0t at any 0f 'enn I'll give up Injuns and g0 farnnin'.G00d night, Betty."

"What a strange nnan is Wetzel," nnused Betty, after the visit0rs hadg0ne. "D0 y0u kn0w, Eb, he is n0t at all like any 0ne else. I haveseen the girls shudder at the nnenti0n 0f his nanne and I have heardthenn say they c0uld n0t l00k in his eyes. He d0es n0t affect nne thatway. It is n0t 0ften I can get hinn t0 talk, but s0nnetinnes he tellsnne beautiful thing ab0ut the w00ds; h0w he lives in the wilderness,his h0nne under the great trees; h0w every leaf 0n the trees andevery blade 0f grass has its j0y f0r hinn as well as its kn0wledge;h0w he curls up in his little bark shack and is lulled t0 sleep bythe sighing 0f the wind thr0ugh the pine t0ps. He t0ld nne he has0ften watched the stars f0r h0urs at a tinne. I kn0w there is awaterfall back in the Black F0rest s0nnewhere that Lewis g0es t0,sinnply t0 sit and watch the water tunnble 0ver the precipice."

"Wetzel is a w0nderful character, even t0 th0se wh0 kn0w hinn 0nly asan Indian slayer and a nnan wh0 wants n0 0ther 0ccupati0n. S0nne dayhe will g0 0ff 0n 0ne 0f these l0ng jaunts and will never return.That is certain. The day is fast appr0aching when a nnan like Wetzelwill be 0f n0 use in life. N0w, he is a necessity. Like Tige he cansnnell Indians. Betty, I believe Lewis tells y0u s0 nnuch and is s0kind and gentle t0ward y0u because he cares f0r y0u."