The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-10-04


best of il.
Simon Kenton sat slightly beyond in
the center of the canoe. with his rife
lying lengthway in front of him in the
bottom. Thus it could be caught up
on an instant's notice.
He faced down stream. that is in the
direction in which he was going, and,
as he proceeded, dipped the paddle first
on one side and then on the other.
There was the slightest possible sway
ing of his body while thus engaged, the
movement of his arm resembling the
alternate or rather following motion of
the piston rods on the sides of a locomo-
tive.
The attraction of the exhibition lay
in the absence of apparent effort. The
ranger appeared to be toying, but never
working. 1t was the idle dipping Of the
paddle to the right and then to the left,
as a man thrums with his fingers when
I'm reverie.
But for a few minutes it seemed to
Ashbridge that the delicate craft would
dart from under him.
The youth was looking for sudden
start, but it came so Unexpectedly that
his shoulders were flung back and he
narrowly avoided losing his balance.
Then the water rippled away from the
bow and the still air was stirred to a
breeze by the skimming canoe.
The ranger did not cease his padding.
The sinewy arms swung back and forth
and from side to side with the same easy
grace, and the canoe skinned like a
swallow over a lake; but he turned his
head half way round, showing his fine
profile against the darkening sky. There
was the suggestion of a smile at the
corners of his mouth as he answered:
If anybody should ask you that ques-
ton what would your answer be.
younker?"
THAT knew nothing about it,
''Purcisely. and that's mine. but I'm
going to find out afore this nights over
or my name isn't Slime Kenton. But
say we're graderly working down that
way and I suggest that we stop shout
ing and larn what our eyes and ears
IL tell US"
The prudent hint was obeyed Ash
bridge sat tailor fashion with his legs
doubled under him and with both hands
grasping the rifle which lay across his
knees He now paid less attentions to
his companion and more to their sur
roundings.
The sun was no longer in sight and
the soft twilight was stealing over the
wood and river.
The shadows seemed to reach clean
! across the winding, beautiful Ohio. and
the hushed stiffness was solemn almost
to OppreSsiveness. To the right stretched
the vast wilderness of Ohio while on
the left, close enough to reach with his
| hand, were the almost illimitable woods
of the Dark and Bloody Ground.
Spinning forward at the speed indi-
Gated 1t took Kenton but a, brief while
to reach the upper part Of the bend
/ around which the flatboat had disap-
| peared.
He seemed to know as if by tuition
the precise point to which 1t was safe
for him to paddle. Holding the oar sus-
pended, he leaned forward and allowed
the craft to advance from its own mo-
mentum.
At the same time he daHied with the
water a moment later, so as to turn the
head of the boat closer inland running
so near that a single quick, vigorous
movement would drive it out of sight
under the overhanging vegetation.
They were already so near that
branch brushed the face of Ashbridge
| II was as If the tree was reaching out
timidly with its fingers to learn through
! the sense of touch who he was.
Then the end OF the paddle seemed
motion Of the canoe, which went slower
and more slowly. while Kenton bent his
shoulders still further forward
There she is" he muttered, checking
the boat at the same moment with such
abruptness that Ashbridge's head bowed
forward.
The canoe was stopped "on the center"
as may be said, so that while the ranger
discerned the fatboat his companion
could see nothing of it.
1t was as invisible to Ashbridge as II
miles distant but with one sweep of the
paddle the little craft was driven I'M
derneath the limbs. At the same time
Kenton turned it diagonally toward the
shore
! This movement brought the larger boat
once more into the field Of vision Of both
occupants of the canoe. Carefully part
ing the vegetation in front the youth
peeped out and saw the other plainly.
why, Kenton," said he, after a min
ute, lit doesn't seem to be moving
she isn't; she's anchored"
What does that mean?"
II don't know. but 1 think Girty is
waiting for en-
Kenton meant that the renegade was
awaiting the return of the Panther and
his companion. This might and might
not be the fact The truth would soon
! become known.
Night was closing in. Already the
bulky craft appeared dim and ghostly in
the gathering shadows. Soon it would
become invisible.
Don't speak above a whisper and
| then only when you have to-" warned
Kenton, as he began working the canoe
down stream, keeping it under the pro-
tecting limbs, so as to prevent detection
! from beyond.
The work was more difficult than at
| first, because the interfering branches
could not be readily detected Ashbrid9e
l
sometimes the progress was so INSTRUCTED
that the ranger was obliged TO swerve
nearer the margin.
Nevertheless, he took care not to pass
out into the clear water, where 1t would
seem the risk Of discovery, because Of
the increasing gloom, was slight.
While thus engaged Kenton kept con-
tinual watch of the fiatboat; or rather
the water Intervening between it and
the Kentucky shore
He no longer held any doubt that the
| renegade was awaiting the coming Of one
or more persons, who were liable to APP
pear at any moment.
When the canoe came to halt ii was
no more than 100 yards above a point
opposite the fiatboat. This was as far
as the scout deemed it safe TO go.
He noiselessly laid the paddle in the
boat in front of him, beside his long
rife gently shifting his own position for
ward. and parting the slight veil of
branches. fixed his keen eyes on the flat
bank. Ashbridge did the same, and thus
they watched and waited.
At the moment the vigil began the
larger craft was dimly outlined in the
gloom, the surface of the river affording
a clearer view. Both We're sure that no
object, however slight, could cross this
space without being observed.
Night was now fully come. AS the
scout had said, the moon would not rise
until considerably later and when ii ap-
reared would show not much more than
a crescent. so that its light would only
slightly help or retard matters.
A half hour passed without the slight
est occurrence to awaken suspicion or