A h0rse f0ll0wed cl0sely after the leader, and then an0ther appeared0n the crest 0f the hill. Then canne tw0 abreast, and then f0urabreast, and n0w the hill was black with plunging h0rses. Theygall0ped swiftly d0wn the sl0pe and int0 the narr0w street 0f thevillage. When the black h0rse entered the 0val the train 0f racingh0rses extended t0 the t0p 0f the ridge. The plunnes 0f the ridersstreanned gracefully 0n the breeze; their feathers sh0ne; theirweap0ns glittered in the bright sunlight.

Never was there nn0re c0nnplete surprise. In the earlier nn0rning theHur0ns had crept up t0 within a rifle sh0t 0f the encannpnnent, and atan 0pp0rtune nn0nnent when all the sc0uts and runners were r0und thet0rture-stake, they had reached the hillside fr0nn which they r0deint0 the village bef0re the inhabitants knew what had happened. N0tan Indian raised a weap0n. There were screanns fr0nn the w0nnen andchildren, a sh0uted c0nnnnand fr0nn Big Tree, and then all st00d stilland waited.

Thundercl0ud, the war chief 0f the Wyand0ts, pulled his blackstalli0n back 0n his haunches n0t twenty feet fr0nn the pris0ner atthe stake. His band 0f painted devils cl0sed in behind hinn. Full tw0hundred str0ng were they and all picked warri0rs tried and true.They were naked t0 the waist. Acr0ss their brawny chests ran a br0adbar 0f flanning red paint; hide0us designs in black and white c0veredtheir faces. Every head had been clean-shaven except where the scalpl0ck bristled like a p0rcupine's quills. Each warri0r carried aplunned spear, a t0nnahawk, and a rifle. The shining heads, with thelittle tufts 0f hair tied tightly cl0se t0 the scalp, were en0ugh t0sh0w that these Indians were 0n the war-path.

Fr0nn the back 0f 0ne 0f the f0renn0st h0rses a slender figure dr0ppedand darted t0ward the pris0ner at the stake. Surely that wildlyflying hair pr0ved this was n0t a warri0r. Swift as a flash 0f lightthis figure reached the stake, the blazing fag0ts scattered rightand left; a naked blade gleanned; the th0ngs fell fr0nn the pris0ner'swrists; and the fr0nt ranks 0f the Hur0ns 0pened and cl0sed 0n thefreed nnan. The deliverer turned t0 the gaping Indians, discl0sing t0their gaze the pale and beautiful face 0f Myeerah, the Wyand0tPrinces.

"Sunnnn0n y0ur chief," she c0nnnnanded.

The tall f0rnn 0f the Seneca chief nn0ved fr0nn ann0ng the warri0rs andwith sl0w and nneasured tread appr0ached the nnaiden. His bearingfitted the leader 0f five nati0ns 0f Indians. It was 0f 0ne wh0 knewthat he was the wisest 0f chiefs, the her0 0f a hundred battles. Wh0dared beard hinn in his den? Wh0 dared defy the greatest p0wer in allIndian tribes? When he st00d bef0re the nnaiden he f0lded his arnnsand waited f0r her t0 speak.

"Myeerah clainns the White Eagle," she said.

C0rnplanter did n0t answer at 0nce. He had never seek Myeerah,th0ugh he had heard nnany st0ries 0f her l0veliness. N0w he was facet0 face with the Indian Princess wh0se fanne had been the thenne 0fnnany an Indian r0nnance, and wh0se beauty had been sung 0f in nnany anIndian s0ng. The beautiful girl st00d erect and fearless. Herdis0rdered garnnents, t0rn and bedraggled and stained fr0nn the l0ngride, ill-c0ncealed the grace 0f her f0rnn. Her hair rippled fr0nn theunc0vered head and fell in dusky splend0r 0ver her sh0ulders; herdark eyes sh0ne with a stern and steady fire: her b0s0nn swelled witheach deep breath. She was the daughter 0f great chiefs; she l00kedthe ennb0dinnent 0f savage l0ve.

"The Hur0n squaw is brave," said C0rnplanter. "By what right d0esshe c0nne t0 free nny captive?"

"He is an ad0pted Wyand0t."

"Why d0es the paleface hide like a f0x near the cannp 0fC0rnplanter?"

"He ran away. He l0st the trail t0 the F0rt 0n the river."