There are, however, ten or twelve renegades on the border, and, excepting Jim Girty, one's as bad as another." "Then it's a common occurrence, this abducting girls from the settlements ?" "Yes, and the strange thing is that one never hears of such doings until he gets out on the frontier." "For that matter, you don't hear much of anything, except of the wonderful richness and promise of the western country." "You're right.

Rumors of fat, fertile lands induce the colonist to become a pioneer.

He comes west with his family; two out of every ten lose their scalps, and in some places the average is much greater.

The wives, daughters and children are carried off into captivity.

I have been on the border two years, and know that the rescue of any captive, as Wetzel rescued your friend, is a remarkable exception." "If you have so little hope of recovering your sweetheart, what then is your motive for accompanying this band of hunters ?" "Revenge!" "And you are a preacher ?" Jim's voice did not disguise his astonishment.
"I was a preacher, and now I am thirsting for vengeance," answered Christy, his face clouding darkly.