g comfort to many a timid heart。 Indian bands had penetrated far into the Wyoming Valley； but they felt sure that none were yet in the neighborhood of Forty Fort。
It was about three o'clock in the morning when the last of the fugitives who had yet come was inside Forty Fort； and the labors of the five； had they so chosen； were over for the time。 But their nerves were tuned to so high a pitch； and they felt so powerfully the presence of danger； that they could not rest； nor did they have any desire for sleep。
The boat in which they sat was a good one； with two pairs of oars。 It had been detailed for their service； and they decided to pull up the river。 They thought it possible that they might see the advance of the enemy and bring news worth the telling。 Long Jim and Tom Ross took the oars； and their powerful arms sent the boat swiftly along in the shadow of the western bank。 Henry and Paul looked back and saw dim lights at the fort and a few on either shore。 The valley； the high mountain wall； and everything else were merged in obscurity。
Both the youths were oppressed heavily by the sense of danger； not for themselves； but for others。 In that Kentucky of theirs； yet so new； few people lived beyond the palisades； but here were rich and scattered settlements； and men； even in the face of great peril； are always loth to abandon the homes that they have built with so much toil。
Tom Ross and Long Jim continued to pull steadily with the long strokes that did not tire them； and the lights of the fort and houses sank out of sight。 Before them lay the somber surface of the rippling river； the shadowy hills； and silence。 The world seemed given over to the night save for themselves； but they knew too well to trust to such apparent desertion。 At such hours the Indian scouts come； and Henry did not doubt that they were already near； gathering news of their victims for the Indian and Tory horde。 Therefore； it was the part of his comrades and himself to use the utmost caution as they passed up the river。
They bugged the western shore； where they were shadowed by banks and bushes； and now they went slowly； Long Jim and Tom Ross drawing their oars so carefully through the water that there was never a plash to tell of their passing。 Henry was in the prow of the boat； bent forward a little； eyes searching the surface of the river； and ears intent upon any sound that might pass on the bank。 Suddenly he gave a little signal to the rowers and they let their oars rest。
〃Bring the boat in closer to the bank；〃 he whispered。 Push it gently among those bushes where we cannot be seen from above。〃
Tom and Jim obeyed。 The boat slid softly among tall bushes that shadowed the water； and was hidden completely。 Then Henry stepped out； crept cautiously nearly up the bank； which was here very low； and lay pressed closely against the earth； but supported by the exposed root of a tree。 He had heard voices； those of Indians； he believed； and he wished to see。 Peering through a fringe of bushes that lined the bank he saw seven warriors and one white face sitting under the boughs of a great oak。 The face was that of Braxton Wyatt； who was now in his element； with a better prospect of success than any that he had ever known before。 Henry shuddered； and for a moment he regretted that he had spared Wyatt's life when he might have taken it。
But Henry was lying against the bank to hear what these men might be saying； not to slay。 Two of the warriors； as he saw by their paint； were Wyandots； and he understood the Wyandot tongue。 Moreover； his slight knowledge of Iroquois came into service； and gradually he gathered the drift of their talk。 Two miles nearer Forty Fort was a farmhouse one of the Wyandots had seen it…not yet abandoned by its owner； who believed that his proximity to Forty Fort assured his safety。 He lived there with his wife and five children； and Wyatt and the Indians planned to raid the place before daylight and kill them all。 Henry had heard enough。 He slid back from the bank to the water and crept into the boat。
〃Pull back down the river as gently as you can；〃 he whispered； 〃and then I'll tell you。〃
The skilled oarsmen carried the boat without a splash several hundred yards down the stream； and then Henry told the others of the fiendish plan that he had heard。
〃I know that man；〃 said Shif'less Sol。 〃His name is Standish。 I was there nine or ten hours ago； an' I told him it wuz time to take his family an' run。 But he knowed more'n I did。 Said he'd stay； he wuzn't afraid； an' now he's got to pay the price。〃
〃No； he mustn't do that；〃 said Henry。 〃It's too much to pay for just being foolish； when everybody is foolish sometimes。 Boys； we can yet save that man an' his wife and children。 Aren't you willing to do it？〃
〃Why； course；〃 said Long Jim。 〃Like ez not Standish will shoot at us when we knock on his door； but let's try it。〃
The others nodded assent。
〃How far back from the river is the Standish house； Sol？〃 asked Henry。
〃'Bout three hundred yards； I reckon； and' it ain't more'n a mile down。〃
〃Then if we pull with all our might； we won't be too late。 Tom； you and Jim give Sol and me the oars now。〃
Henry and the shiftless one were fresh； and they sent the boat shooting down stream； until they stopped at a point indicated by Sol。 They leaped ashore； drew the boat down the bank； and hastened toward a log house that they saw standing in a clump of trees。 The enemy had not yet come； but as they swiftly approached the house a dog ran barking at them。 The shiftless one swung his rifle butt； and the dog fell unconscious。
〃I hated to do it； but I had to；〃 he murmured。 The next moment Henry was knocking at the door。
〃Up！ Up！〃 he cried； 〃the Indians are at hand； and you must run for your lives！〃
How many a time has that terrible cry been heard on the American border！
The sound of a man's voice； startled and angry； came to their ears； and then they heard him at the door。
〃Who are you？〃 he cried。 〃Why are you beating on my door at such a time？〃
〃We are friends； Mr。 Standish；〃 cried Henry； 〃and if you would save your wife and children you must go at once！ Open the door！ Open； I say！〃
The man inside was in a terrible quandary。 It was thus that renegades or Indians； speaking the white man's tongue； sometimes bade a door to be opened； in order that they might find an easy path to slaughter。 But the voice outside was powerfully insistent； it had the note of truth； his wife and children； roused； too； were crying out； in alarm。 Henry knocked again on the door and shouted to him in a voice； always increasing in earnestness； to open and flee。 Standish could resist no longer。 He took down the bar and flung open the door； springing back； startled at the five figures that stood before him。 In the dusk he did not remember Shif'less Sol。
〃Mr。 Standish；〃 Henry said； speaking rapidly； 〃we are； as you can see； white。 You will be attacked here by Indians and renegades within half an hour。 We know that； because we heard them talking from the bushes。 We have a boat in the river； you can reach it in five minutes。 Take your wife and children； and pull for Forty Fort。〃
Standish was bewildered。
〃How do I know that you are not enemies； renegades； yourselves？〃 he asked。
〃If we had been that you'd be a dead man already；〃 said Shif'less Sol。
It was a grim reply； but it was unanswerable； and Standish recognized the fact。 His wife had felt the truth in the tones of the strangers； and was begging him to go。 Their children were crying at visions of the tomahawk and scalping knife now so near。
〃We'll go；〃 said Standish。 〃At any rate； it can't do any harm。 We'll get a few things together。〃
〃Do not wait for anything！ 〃exclaimed Henry。 〃You haven't a minute to spare！ Here are more blankets！ Take them and run for the boat！ Sol and Jim； see them on board； and then come back！〃
Carried away by such fire and earnestness； Standish and his family ran for the boat。 Jim and the shiftless one almost threw them on board； thrust a pair of oars into the bands of Standish； another into the hands of his wife； and then told them to pull with all their might for the fort。
〃And you；〃 cried Standish； 〃what becomes of you？〃
Then a singular expression passed over his face…he had guessed Henry's plan。
〃Don't you trouble about us；〃 said the shiftless one。 〃We will come later。 Now pull！ pull！〃
Standish and his wife swung on the oars； and in two minutes the boat and its occupants were lost in the darkness。 Tom Ross and Sol did not pause to watch them； but ran swiftly back to the house。 Henry was at the door。
〃Come in；〃 he said briefly； and they entered。 Then he closed the door and dropped the bar into place。 Shif'less Sol and Paul were already inside； one sitting on the chair and the other on the edge of the bed。 Some coals； almost hidden under ashes； smoldered and cast a faint light in the room； the only one that the house had； although it was divided into two parts by a rough homespun curtain。 Henry opened one of the window shutters a little and looked out。 The dawn had not yet come； but it was not a dark night； and he looked over across the little clearing to the trees beyond。 On that side was a tiny garden； and near the wall of the house some roses were blooming。 He could see the glow of pink and red。 But no enemy bad yet approached。 Searching the clearing carefully with those eyes of his； almost preternaturally keen； he was confident that the Indians were still in the woods。 He felt an intense thrill of satisfaction at the success of his plan so far。
He was not cruel； he never rejoiced in bloodshed； but the borderer alone knew what the border suffered； and only those who never saw or felt the torture could turn the other cheek to be smitten。 The Standish house had made a sudden and ominous change of tenants。
〃It will soon be day；〃 said Henry； 〃and farmers are early risers。 Kindle up that fire a little； will you； Sol？ I want some smoke to come out of the chimney。〃
The shiftless one raked away the ashes； and put on two or three pieces of wood that lay on the hearth。 Little flames and smoke arose。 Henry looked curiously about the house。