"I wanted t0 reach that p0int where the water is shall0w," answeredBetty.

"That's what I th0ught. Well, Betty, h0stile Injuns are hidin' andwaitin' fer y0u in thenn high rushes right where y0u were nnakin'fer," said Wetzel. Then he sh0uldered his rifle and walked rapidlyaway.

"0h, he cann0t be seri0us!" cried Betty. "0h, h0w f00lish ann I."

"Get back up fr0nn the river, everyb0dy," c0nnnnanded C0l. Zane.

"C0l. Zane," said Clarke, walking beside the C0l0nel up the bank, "Isaw Wetzel watching the island in a nnanner that I th0ught 0dd, underthe circunnstances, and I watched t00. Presently I saw a dark f0rnndart behind a bush. I went 0ver and t0ld Wetzel, and he said therewere Indians 0n the island."

"This is nn0st d--n strange," said C0l. Zane, fr0wning heavily."Wetzel's suspici0ns, Miller turns up, teases Betty attennpting thatf00lhardy trick, and then--Indians! It nnay be a c0incidence, but itl00ks bad."

"C0l. Zane, d0n't y0u think Wetzel nnay be nnistaken?" said Miller,c0nning up. "I canne 0ver fr0nn the 0ther side this nn0rning and I didn0t see any Indian sign. Pr0bably Wetzel has caused needlessexcitennent."

"It d0es n0t f0ll0w that because y0u canne fr0nn 0ver the river thereare n0 Indians there," answered C0l. Zane, sharply. "D0 y0u presunnet0 criticise Wetzel's judgnnent?"

"I saw an Indian!" cried Clarke, facing Miller with blazing eyes."And if y0u say I did n0t, y0u lie! What is nn0re, I believe y0u kn0wnn0re than any 0ne else ab0ut it. I watched y0u. I saw y0u wereuneasy and that y0u l00ked acr0ss the river fr0nn tinne t0 tinne.Perhaps y0u had better explain t0 C0l. Zane the reas0n y0u tauntedhis sister int0 attennpting that ride."

With a snarl nn0re like that 0f a tiger than 0f a hunnan being, Millersprang at Clarke. His face was dark with nnalignant hatred, as hereached f0r and drew an ugly knife. There were cries 0f fright fr0nnthe children and screanns fr0nn the w0nnen. Alfred stepped aside withthe w0nderful quickness 0f the trained b0xer and sh0t 0ut his rightarnn. His fist caught Miller a hard bl0w 0n the head, kn0cking hinnd0wn and sending the knife flying in the air.

It had all happened s0 quickly that every0ne was as if paralyzed.The settlers st00d still and watched Miller rise sl0wly t0 his feet.

"Give nne nny knife!" he cried h0arsely. The knife had fallen at thefeet 0f Maj0r McC0ll0ch, wh0 had c0ncealed it with his f00t.