In another moment the pony would be off the shoal and swimming.
"Stop! Turn back, Betty, or I'll shoot the pony," shouted Wetzel, and this time there was a ring of deadly earnestness in his voice.
With the words he had cocked and thrown forward the long rifle.
Betty heard, and in alarm she turned her pony.

She looked up with great surprise and concern, for she knew Wetzel was not one to trifle.
"For God's sake!" exclaimed Colonel Zane, looking in amazement at the hunter's face, which was now white and stern.
"Why, Lew, you do not mean you would shoot Madcap ?" said Betty, reproachfully, as she reached the shore.
All present in that watching crowd were silent, awaiting the hunter's answer.

They felt that mysterious power which portends the revelation of strange events.Col.Zane and Jonathan knew the instant they saw Wetzel that something extraordinary was coming.

His face had grown cold and gray; his lips were tightly compressed; his eyes dilated and shone with a peculiar lustre.
"Where were you headin' your pony ?" asked Wetzel.
"I wanted to reach that point where the water is shallow," answered Betty.
"That's what I thought.

Well, Betty, hostile Injuns are hidin' and waitin' fer you in them high rushes right where you were makin' fer," said Wetzel.