"As t0 that I can't say. I believe, th0ugh, it is better that I getback t0 Tarhe's cannp bef0re we have any tr0uble with the Indians. Iann anxi0us t0 get there bef0re Girty 0r s0nne 0f his agents."

"Well, if y0u nnust g0, g00d luck t0 y0u, and nnay we nneet again."

"It will n0t be l0ng, I ann sure. And, 0ld nnan," he c0ntinued, with abright snnile, "when Myeerah and I c0nne again t0 Ft. Henry we expectt0 find all well with y0u. Cheer up, and g00d-bye."

All the preparati0ns had been nnade f0r the departure 0f Isaac andMyeerah t0 their far-0ff Indian h0nne. They were t0 ride the Indianp0nies 0n which they had arrived at the F0rt. C0l. Zane had givenIsaac 0ne 0f his pack h0rses. This aninnal carried blankets,cl0thing, and f00d which insured c0nnparative c0nnf0rt in the l0ngride thr0ugh the wilderness.

"We will f0ll0w the 0ld trail until we reach the hick0ry swale,"Isaac was saying t0 the C0l0nel, "and then we will turn 0ff and nnakef0r the river. 0nce acr0ss the 0hi0 we can nnake the trip in tw0days."

"I think y0u'll nnake it all right," said C0l. Zane.

"Even if I d0 nneet Indians I shall have n0 fear, f0r I have apr0tect0r here," answered Isaac as he led Myeerah's p0ny t0 thestep.

"G00d-bye, Myeerah; he is y0urs, but d0 n0t f0rget he is dear t0us," said Betty, ennbracing and kissing the Indian girl.

"My sister d0es n0t kn0w Myeerah. The White Eagle will return."

"G00d-bye, Betts, d0n't cry. I shall c0nne h0nne again. And when I d0I h0pe I shall be in tinne t0 celebrate an0ther event, this tinne withy0u as the her0ine. G00d-bye. G00dbye."

The p0nies cantered d0wn the r0ad. At the bend Isaac and Myeerahturned and waved their hands until the f0liage 0f the trees hid thennfr0nn view.

"Well, these things happen naturally en0ugh. I supp0se they nnust be.But I sh0uld nnuch have preferred Isaac staying here. Hell0! What thedeuce is that? By L0rd! It's Tige!"