"What's to be done?" said Zeisberger, with his practical common sense. "What did Williamson say? Tell us what you learned?"
"Wait—directly," answered Heckewelder, sitting down and covering his face with his hands. There was a long silence. At length he raised his white face and spoke calmly:
"Gentlemen, the Village of Peace is doomed. I entreated Captain
Williamson to help us, but he refused. Said he dared not interfere.
I prayed that he would speak at least a word to Girty, but he denied
my request."
"Where are the converts?"
"Imprisoned in the church, every one of them except Benny. Mr. Christy and I hid the child in the meal sack and were thus able to get him here. We must save him."
"Save him?" asked Nell, looking from Heckewelder to the trembling
Indian boy.
"Nellie, the savages have driven all our Christians into the church, and shut them up there, until Girty and his men shall give the word to complete their fiendish design. The converts asked but one favor—an hour in which to pray. It was granted. The savages intend to murder them all."
"Oh! Horrible! Monstrous!" cried Nell. "How can they be so inhuman?"
She lifted Benny up in her arms. "They'll never get you, my boy.
We'll save you—I'll save you!" The child moaned and clung to her
neck.
"They are scouring the clearing now for Christians, and will search all the cabins. I'm positive."
"Will they come here?" asked Nell, turning her blazing eyes on
Heckewelder.