CHAPTER V

In the misty morning twilight Colonel Zane, fully armed, paced to and fro before his cabin, on guard. All night he had maintained a watch. He had not considered it necessary to send his family into the fort, to which they had often been compelled to flee. On the previous night Jonathan had come swiftly back to the cabin, and, speaking but two words, seized his weapons and vanished into the black night. The words were "Injuns! Wetzel!" and there were none others with more power to affect hearers on the border. The colonel believed that Wetzel had signaled to Jonathan.

On the west a deep gully with precipitous sides separated the settlement from a high, wooded bluff. Wetzel often returned from his journeying by this difficult route. He had no doubt seen Indian signs, and had communicated the intelligence to Jonathan by their system of night-bird calls. The nearness of the mighty hunter reassured Colonel Zane.

When the colonel returned from his chase of the previous night, he went directly to the stable, there to find that the Indians had made off with a thoroughbred, and Betty's pony. Colonel Zane was furious, not on account of the value of the horses, but because Bess was his favorite bay, and Betty loved nothing more than her pony Madcap. To have such a march stolen on him after he had heard and seen the thieves was indeed hard. High time it was that these horse thieves be run to earth. No Indian had planned these marauding expeditions. An intelligent white man was at the bottom of the thieving, and he should pay for his treachery.

1. Who was the threat?
2. WHat did they do?
3. Who did they steal from?
4. Did he know they were a threat?
5. How?
6. Who was he?
7. Who did he comminucate with?
8. What method did he use?
9. Why would Wetzel contact Jonathan?
10. WHat did JOnathan do after hearing that?
11. What did Colonel Zane do?
12. Why did he stay behind?
13. What could he have done instead?
14. How long did he stay up?
15. Were they successful in stopping the Indians?
16. Were the stolen items valuble?
17. Was that why people were upset?
18. Why then?
19. What other reasons?
20. Did they think the natives were working alone?
21. Who did they think was responsible?

Numbered answers:
1. Indians
2. made off with a thoroughbred, and Betty's pony.
3. Colonel Zane
4. yes
5. Wetzel had signaled
6. a mighty hunter
7. Jonathan
8. system of night-bird calls
9. seen Indian signs
10. seized his weapons
11. maintained a watch.
12. his family
13. send his family into the fort
14. All night
15. no
16. yes
17. no
18. Bess was his favorite
19. Betty loved her pony
20. no
21. An intelligent white man