ut
in different ways. The evil fame of Moses Blackstaffe, second only to
that of Simon Girty, had been won by many a ruthless deed and undoubted
skill and cunning. Yet he was a white man who had departed from the
white man's ways.

Red Eagle, the great Shawnee chief, was older, past fifty, and his
bronzed face was lined deeply. His broad brow and the eyes set wide
apart, expressed intellect--the Indian often had intellect in a high
degree. He too was cruel, able to look upon the unmentionable tortures
of his foes with pleasure, but it was a cruelty that was a part of his
inheritance, the common practices of all the tribes, bred into the
blood, through untold generations of forest life.

Henry felt a certain respect for Red Eagle, but none at all for
Blackstaffe. Him he hated, with that fierceness of the forest, some of
which had crept into his blood, and if he met him in battle he would
gladly send a bullet through his heart. The man's face, burnt almost as
dark as that of an Indian, showed now in its most sinister aspect. He
was suffering from chagrin, and he did not take the trouble to hide it,
even from so great a man as Red Eagle, head chief of the Shawnees.

They were talking of Wyatt and the band they had left behind for the
siege, and Henry, with a touch of forest humor, enjoyed himself as he
listened.

"We did not see well those with whom we fought tonight and who escaped
us," said Red Eagle, "but they showed themselves to be warriors, great
white warriors. They were more than a match for my young men."

"It is true," said Blackstaffe. "I didn't see them at all, but only the
five whom we left besieged in the cave could do what they did."

"But Wyatt and good warriors hold them there."

"So they hoped, but do they, Red Eagle? The manner in which those scouts
escaped from our circle makes me believe their leader could have been
none but this Henry Ware."

"One of them was outside the cave. He may have come through the forest
and have met other white men."

"It might be so, but I'm afraid it isn't. They have broken the siege in
some manner and have eluded Wyatt. I had hoped that if he could not kill
or capture them he would at least hold them there. It is not well for
us to have them hanging upon our army and ambushing the warriors."

"You speak wisely, Blackstaffe. The one they call Ware is only a youth,
but he is full of wisdom and bravery. There was an affair of the belt
bearers, in which he tricked