on the lad。 Mebbe he followed Wetzel； mebbe he didn't；〃 answered the taciturn
guide； and he spoke no more。
In his keen expectation and wonder as to what the village would be like； Jim
momentarily forgot his brother's disappearance； and when he arrived at the top
of the bank he surveyed the scene with eagerness。 What he saw was more
imposing than the Village of Peace which he had conjured up in his
imagination。 Confronting him was a level plain； in the center of which stood a
wide； low structure surrounded by log cabins； and these in turn encircled by
Indian teepees。 A number of large trees； mostly full…foliaged maples； shaded
the clearing。 The settlement swarmed with Indians。 A few shrill halloes
uttered by the first observers of the newcomers brought braves； maidens and
children trooping toward the party with friendly curiosity。
Jonathan Zane stepped before a cabin adjoining the large structure； and called
in at the open door。 A short； stoop…shouldered white man； clad in faded
linsey； appeared on the threshold。 His serious； lined face had the
unmistakable benevolent aspect peculiar to most teachers of the gospel。
〃Mr。 Zeisberger； I've fetched a party from Fort Henry；〃 said Zane； indicating
those he had guided。 Then； without another word； never turning his dark face
to the right or left； he hurried down the lane through the throng of Indians。
Jim remembered； as he saw the guide vanish over the bank of the creek； that he
had heard Colonel Zane say that Jonathan； as well as Wetzel； hated the sight
of an Indian。 No doubt long years of war and bloodshed had rendered these two
great hunters callous。 To them there could be no discriminationan Indian was
an Indian。
〃Mr。 Wells； welcome to the Village of Peace！〃 exclaimed Mr。 Zeisberger；
wringing the old missionary's hand。 〃The years have not been so long but that
I remember you。〃
〃Happy； indeed； am I to get here； after all these dark； dangerous journeys；〃
returned Mr。 Wells。 〃I have brought my nieces； Nell and Kate； who were
children when you left Williamsburg； and this young man； James Downs； a
minister of God； and earnest in his hope for our work。〃
〃A glorious work it is！ Welcome； young ladies； to our peaceful village。 And；
young man； I greet you with heartfelt thankfulness。 We need young men。 Come
in； all of your； and share my cabin。 I'll have your luggage brought up。 I have
lived in this hut alone。 With some little labor； and the magic touch women
bring to the making of a home； we can be most comfortable here。〃
Mr。 Zeisberger gave his own room to the girls； assuring them with a smile that
it was the most luxurious in the village。 The apartment contained a chair； a
table； and a bed of Indian blankets and buffalo robes。 A few pegs driven in
the chinks between the logs completed the furnishings。 Sparse as were the
comforts； they appealed warmly to the girls； who； weary from their voyage； lay
down to rest。
〃I am not fatigued；〃 said Mr。 Wells； to his old friend。 〃I want to hear all
about your work； what you have done； and what you hope to do。〃
〃We have met with wonderful success； far beyond our wildest dreams；〃 responded
Mr。 Zeisberger。 〃Certainly we have been blessed of God。〃
Then the missionary began a long； detailed account of the Moravian Mission's
efforts among the western tribes。 The work lay chiefly among the Delawares； a
noble nation of redmen； intelligent； and wonderfully susceptible to the
teaching of the gospel。 Among the eastern Delawares； living on the other side
of the Allegheny Mountains； the missionaries had succeeded in converting many；
and it was chiefly through the western explorations of Frederick Post that his
Church decided the Indians of the west could as well be taught to lead
Christian lives。 The first attempt to convert the western redmen took place
upon the upper Allegheny； where many Indians； including Allemewi； a blind
Delaware chief； accepted the faith。 The mission decided； however； it would be
best to move farther west； where the Delawares had migrated and were more
numerous。
In April； 1770； more than ten years before； sixteen canoes； filled with
converted Indians and missionaries； drifted down the Allegheny to Fort Pitt；
thence down the Ohio to the Big Beaver； up that stream and far into the Ohio
wilderness。
Upon a tributary of the Muskingong； called the Tuscarwawas； a settlement was
founded。 Near and far the news was circulated。 Redmen from all tribes came
flocking to the new colony。 Chiefs and warriors； squaws and maidens； were
attracted by the new doctrine of the converted Indians。 They were astonished
at the missionaries' teachings。 Many doubted； some were converted； all
listened。 Great excitement prevailed when old Glickhican； one of the wisest
chiefs of the Turtle tribe of the Delawares； became a convert to the
palefaces' religion。
The interest widened； and in a few years a beautiful； prosperous town arose；
which was called Village of Peace。 The Indians of the warlike tribes bestowed
the appropriate name。 The vast forests were rich in every variety of game； the
deep； swift streams were teeming with fish。 Meat and grain in abundance；
buckskin for clothing； and soft furs for winter garments were to be had for
little labor。 At first only a few wigwams were erected。 Soon a large log
structure was thrown up and used as a church。 Then followed a school； a mill；
and a workshop。 The verdant fields were cultivated and surrounded by rail
fences。 Horses and cattle grazed with the timid deer on the grassy plains。
The Village of Peace blossomed as a rose。 The reports of the love and
happiness existing in this converted community spread from mouth to mouth；
from town to town； with the result that inquisitive savages journeyed from all
points to see this haven。 Peaceful and hostile Indians were alike amazed at
the change in their brethren。 The good…fellowship and industry of the converts
had a widespread and wonderful influence。 More； perhaps； than any other thing；
the great fields of waving corn； the hills covered with horses and cattle；
those evidences of abundance； impressed the visitors with the well…being of
the Christians。 Bands of traveling Indians； whether friendly or otherwise；
were treated with hospitality； and never sent away empty…handed。 They were
asked to partake of the abundance and solicited to come again。
A feature by no means insignificant in the popularity of the village was the
church bell。 The Indians loved music； and this bell charmed them。 On still
nights the savages in distant towns could hear at dusk the deep…toned； mellow
notes of the bell summoning the worshipers to the evening service。 Its ringing
clang； so strange； so sweet； so solemn； breaking the vast dead wilderness
quiet； haunted the savage ear as though it were a call from a woodland god。
〃You have arrived most opportunely；〃 continued Mr。 Zeisberger。 〃Mr。 Edwards
and Mr。 Young are working to establish other missionary posts。 Heckewelder is
here now in the interest of this branching out。〃
〃How long will it take me to learn the Delaware language？〃 inquired Jim。
〃Not long。 You do not； however； need to speak the Indian tongue； for we have
excellent interpreters。〃
〃We heard much at Fort Pitt and Fort Henry about the danger； as well as
uselessness； of our venture；〃 Jim continued。 〃The frontiersmen declared that
every rod of the way was beset with savage foes； and that； even in the
unlikely event of our arriving safely at the Village of Peace； we would then
be hemmed in by fierce； vengeful tribes。〃
〃Hostile savages abound here； of course； but we do not fear them。 We invite
them。 Our work is to convert the wicked； to teach them to lead good； useful
lives。 We will succeed。〃
Jim could not help warming to the minister for his unswervable faith； his
earnest belief that the work of God could not fail； nevertheless； while he
felt no fear and intended to put all his heart in the work； he remembered with
disquietude Colonel Zane's warnings。 He thought of the wonderful precaution
and eternal vigilance of Jonathan and Wetzelmen of all men who most
understood Indian craft and cunning。 It might well be possible that these good
missionaries； wrapped up in saving the souls of these children of the forest
so full of God's teachings as to have little mind for aught else； had no
knowledge of the Indian nature beyond what the narrow scope of their work
invited。 If what these frontiersmen asserted was true； then the ministers'
zeal had struck them blind。
Jim had a growing idea of the way in which the savages could be best taught。
He resolved to go slowly； to study the redmen's natures； not to preach one
word of the gospel to them until he had mastered their language and could
convey to their simple minds the real truth。 He would make Christianity as
clear to them as were the deer…trails on the moss and leaves of the forest。
〃Ah； here you are。 I hope you have rested well；〃 said Mr。 Zeisberger； when at
the conclusion of this long recital Nell and Kate came into the room。
〃Thank you； we feel much better；〃 answered Kate。 The girls certainly looked
refreshed。 The substitution of clean gowns for their former travel…stained
garments made a change that called forth the minister's surprise and
admiration。
〃My！ My！ Won't Edwards and Young beg me to keep them here now！〃 he exclaimed；
his pleased eyes resting on Nell's piquant beauty and Kate's noble proportions
and rich coloring。 〃Come； I will show you over the Village of Peace。〃
〃Are all these Indians Christians？〃 asked Jim。
〃No； indeed。 These Indians you see here； and out yonder under the shade；
though they are friendly； are not Christians。 Our converts employ themselves
in the fields or shops。 Come； take a peep in here。 This is where we preach in
the evenings and during inclement weather。 On pleasant days we use the maple
grove yonder。〃
Jim and t