“I don’t know,” answered Heckewelder.  “Girty has been here several times of late.  I saw him conferring with Pipe at Goshhocking.  I hope there’s no deviltry afoot.  Pipe is a relentless enemy of all Christians, and Girty is a fiend, a hyena.  I think, perhaps, it will be well for you and the girls to stay indoors while Girty and Silvertip are in the village.”

That evening the entire missionary party were gathered in Mr. Wells’ room.  Heckewelder told stories of Indian life; Nell sang several songs, and Kate told many amusing things said and done by the little Indian boys in her class at the school.  Thus the evening passed pleasantly for all.

“So next Wednesday I am to perform the great ceremony,” remarked Heckewelder, laying his hand kindly on Young’s knee.  “We’ll celebrate the first white wedding in the Village of Peace.”

Young looked shyly down at his boots; Edwards crossed one leg over the other, and coughed loudly to hide his embarrassment.  Kate wore, as usual, her pensive smile; Nell’s eyes twinkled, and she was about to speak, when Heckewelder’s quizzical glance in her direction made her lips mute.

“I hope I’ll have another wedding on my hands soon,” he said placidly.

This ordinary remark had an extraordinary effect.  Nell turned with burning cheeks and looked out of the window.  Jim frowned fiercely and bit his lips.  Edwards began to laugh, and even Mr. Wells’ serious face lapsed into a smile.

“I mean I’ve picked out a nice little Delaware squaw for Dave,” said Heckewelder, seeing his badinage had somehow gone amiss.

“Oh-h!” suddenly cried Nell, in shuddering tones.

They all gazed at her in amazement.  Every vestige of color had receded from her face, leaving it marblelike.  Her eves were fixed in startled horror.  Suddenly she relaxed her grasp on the windowsill and fell back limp and senseless.

Heckewelder ran to the door to look out, while the others bent over the unconscious girl, endeavoring to revive her.  Presently a fluttering breath and a quivering of her dark lashes noted a return of suspended life.  Then her beautiful eyes opened wide to gaze with wonder and fear into the grave faces bent so anxiously over her.

“Nell, dearest, you are safe.  What was it?  What frightened you so?” said Kate, tenderly.

“Oh, it was fearful!” gasped Nell, sitting up.  She clung to her sister with one hand, while the other grasped Jim’s sleeve.

“I was looking out into the dark, when suddenly I beheld a face, a terrible face!” cried Nell.  Those who watched her marveled at the shrinking, awful fear in her eyes.  “It was right by the window.  I could have touched it.  Such a greedy, wolfish face, with a long, hooked nose!  The eyes, oh! the eyes!  I’ll never forget them.  They made me sick; they paralyzed me.  It wasn’t an Indian’s face.  It belonged to that white man, that awful white man!  I never saw him before; but I knew him.”