They started up in terror only to fall victims to the tomahawk of their merciless foe, or to hear a rifle shot and get a glimpse of a form with flying black hair disappearing with wonderful quickness in the forest.

Wetzel always left death behind him, and he was gone before his demoniac yell ceased to echo throughout the woods.
Although often pursued, he invariably eluded the Indians, for he was the fleetest runner on the border.
For many years he was considered the right hand of the defense of the fort.

The Indians held him in superstitious dread, and the fact that he was known to be in the settlement had averted more than one attack by the Indians.
Many regarded Wetzel as a savage, a man who was mad for the blood of the red men, and without one redeeming quality.

But this was an unjust opinion.

When that restless fever for revenge left him--it was not always with him--he was quiet and peaceable.