The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-12-06


be able to help hisself; consequently he
would be useless for while.
What can be accomplished by run
ming away?"
His idee is this: He believes there's
a large war party of Shawanoes or
Wyandots not far off and he's making
the tallest kind of tracks to find 'em.
When he does, he'll bring 'ern back as
fast as they kin travel through the
woods. If he arrives soon the only
chance for us is TO do the tallest travel
ing we kin, and even then the prospect
will be powerful agin u.s."
I'm other words" remarked the fright
ened youth instead of being satisfied
with taking your scalp he means to Kill
us ALL"
You hit the nail on the head that
time. That's his idee."
"But suppose he had conquered you.
Could he not have signaled to those in
the cabin If he was unable to reach
them. and send one Of them after rein
forcements? That would have accom-
plished the same thing, and put you out
of the way
THAT sounds reasonable, and l was
hoping The Panther would take the
same view, but he diden't. None Of the
warriors can travel as fast as him, and
none of 'em know how to hunt for the
war party as he does He may be right
and he may be wrong, but If he brings
'em down here before we can get pos
session we've got to do some tall travel
ing to keep out of their clutches.
but. Kenton," said the youth. earn
estly ''you are running a fearful risk.
not for ourselves alone, but for mother
and Mable and for Mrs. Altman and
Agnes
How are we going to help it?''
Lets leave the neighborhOOd at once
and start for the blockhouse up the riv-
it's OnlV ten miles off. -
And them varmints will overhaul US
afore we get half way there"
mot if we wait till night before we
start, for they won't be able to trail US.
You can take the women in the canoe
while we follow on foot and swim the
river
That's what Wen do if things don't
brighten up afore night"
But our situation will be hopeless if
they arrive while we are scattered i'm
this manner through the woods and
around the clearing"
IF they do come said Kenton, who
had considered every argument his COM
panion brought forward, I'm find it out
in time and will get the folks back on
the flatboat. Then We'll figger out the
next step"
And are we to hang around in this
fashion till night, waiting for something
to turn up?"
Not by a big majority; something's
going to turn up now
Although the scout had not explained
one point, it should be stated that he re-
garded a certain contingency as quite
probable. With him and friends guard
ing all sides of the cabin, one or two
ought TO be able to gain a fair shot at
the Shawanoes. Should this occur, they
would be so weakened that Kenton
would insist upon a rush and hand-tn-
hand conflict within the cabin. Further
-w.1r
TO happen within a few hours.
The youth wished to ask more ques-
tiOns, especially as to the prospects. if
he and his friends gained possession OF
the cabin. The Panther. he believed.
would return with the war party and
besiege the building. The defenders
would be too strong to be captured by
a force ten times as numerous as their
own, but provisions would not last for
ever and the assailants would be in
spired by the strongest of all motives
revenge.
But George refrained. The talk might
go on forever. 1t was sufficient to know
, that KentOn prepared himself to meet
| the new conditions as they presented
themselves. Besides. he was about to
attempt something he had in mind
Suddenly the scout leaped from the
ground to his full hight, and, looking
, toward the cabin, waved his cap above
| his head and uttered a shout of exulta-
ton. His action must have caused a
sensation among the Shawanoes, for it
was the first evidence that had come 10
them of the result of the meeting be-
tween the ranger and The Panther
Carefully raising his head high enough
to look over the slope young Ashbridge
watched the result.
Silence reigned for few minutes and
then Girty called from one of the upper
windows:
"Whar's the sculp of Wa-on-mon?"
Il left it on his head was the truth
full reply.
THE agreement war that you war to
bring IL to us"
Il don't trust your varmints that fur;
it's 'nough, amt it, for you to know
that I've got mine on my CROWN"
No; that won't do. Show us the
skulp of The Panther and then Wen
! leave the cabin to you" said the rene
| gade. speaking for his companions
An impossibility was required of ST.
mon Kenton, but he expected it and was
| prepared.
Send one of your warriors out here
to git It,"
I'VE hain't any warrior that wants to
| lose his own skulp, and we won't trust
ourselves in your power
Then you can't expect me to do the
| same with you. | won't go any nearer
| the cabin till we drive you out
Drive us outp' repeated Girty con-
leHlptuOuSlys come and try IT.
Wal, Wen hold you in there till you'll
| beg to come out"
"All right-begin."
We have begun; look out for your
| selves from this time forrard."
AS he spoke the ranger dropped to the
ground almost as suddenly as he had
| leaped to his feet 1t was well he did
| So for from the same window the voice
| had come rang the report Of a rifle. ac-
| companied by blue jet of smoke The
| bullet whistled over the spot where the
scout was standing only a second be-
| fore. and, striking the surface OF the
! river. skinned and skipped clean across.
burying itself among the leaves on the
| Ohio shore
1 You had a narrow escape" remarked
| young Ashbridge.
The shot did come rather close. but
| so long as II missed, what's the odds?''
| THAT was fired by that white man:
\ consider him worse than the savatses
among whom he lives. for he knows bet
| ter, while some Of them do not"
| Kenton made no reply to this remark
| and the youth added:
ITS a pity we didn't shoot him yes
/ terday on the f1atboat; hope / shall
have chance 10 draw bead on him."
Still the ranger held his peace
| Father and Mr.. Altman and Jethro
will understand the meaning of that
| shot, won't they?'
4 Its not sartin, but what difference
i does it make? They've been told to
shoot whenever they see a chance of
hitting something; Wen do the same on
! this side, and as 1 observed some time
( ago. IL we can thin. 'em out a little why
well make a rush for the door"