“Girl, they are here!” he cried, as hurrying forms loomed up between him and the gray lodges. “My brother’s captive you become--but a captive reft of life!” The tomahawk trembled on the eve of a deadly descent, when a dark, limp object left the hands of the foremost of the advancing band, and the renegade was hurled back by the stroke. “Mine!” cried a plumed person, springing to Eudora, and drawing her to his heart. It was Mayne Fairfax! “No words!” cried the hermit, seizing the young man’s arm. “The river! the river! Her cry has roused some braves!” The young hunter caught the girl in his arms, and turned to the right, to behold a dozen forms sweeping down upon them. “Save your lives!” cried Eudora, seeing the imminent danger. “They dare not harm me, and your second attempt at rescue will prove successful.” “Never!” cried Fairfax, throwing himself before Eudora, while he drew a hatchet from his belt. “We can not escape if we would. If captured, instant and disgraceful death await us. We will fight!” The last word still trembled on Mayne’s lips when the Medicine’s rifle cracked, and the foremost savage sunk to the earth, where he writhed in the agonies of death. Okolona’s shot was answered by Oonalooska’s rifle, and a second Shawnee’s life went out in death. Then the band closed around the little party, who drew nearer Eudora, for the purpose of shielding her from the blows that fell on every side like rain. Jim Girty had gained his feet, and was foremost in the conflict. If he could drive his hatchet to Eudora’s brain he could seek safety in flight, and thus avoid his brother’s vengeance. The white party, being armed with guns, kept the savages at arm’s length, for the Indians fought with tomahawks and knives, which now and then were hurled at the brave defenders. Every moment added to the numbers of the Indians, and the extermination of the defenders was but a question of time, in their eyes. Never was such a gallant fight made in Shawnee village. Suddenly a yell very near the combatants rent the air, and a dark object came whirling through the atmosphere, and fell upon the breast of a stalwart Shawnee. It was a wolf! Another quickly followed. Its claws laid bare the renegade’s cheek, as it whizzed past his head, to fall upon a brave, in his rear. The Wolf-Queen had taken part in the battle! The noise of the strife roused her from refreshing slumber. A glance proved Fairfax’s couch empty, and with her wolfish guard yelling at her heels, for already they scented Indian blood, she bounded toward the startling scene. Her wild eye fell upon Fairfax, shielding Eudora with his form, and her wolves were sent into the midst of her enemies. Jim Girty shrieked with pain, at the work of the wolf’s claws, and, with an oath, he darted upon Alaska, whose eye caught his action. “Curse you, mad woman!” he hissed. “No longer shall you baffle me!” and, as she sent the fourth wolf from her hands, his hatchet went whizzing through the air.