The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-11-29
CHAPTER XIV.
Nv the SpIintered Oak.


CHAPTER XIV.
By the SpIintered Oak.
No proposition could have suited ST.
mon Kenton better than that the quarrel
of the pioneers and Shawanoes should
be settled by a personal conflict between
him and The Panther That had been
his longing from the first, but he saw
no way of bringing it about. Now the
suggestion came from the chieftain's
side
As it was the scout doubted whether
anything approaching fairness would be
shown. He was confident that the In
dams would attempt treachery, hut, as
we have intimated, the scheme he had
in mind reached further than that of his
enemies.
Nothing would suit me better" he
added to Gjrty. who stood in the half
opened door talking with him. the words
Of both being audible to those within.
You and The Panther have been
huntin' each other for more'n a year"
observed the renegade. "and it's a pity
YOU hain't met afore. so you could wind
up the business as il oughter be wound
up"
1T amt my fault that we haint met.
Slime. nor do l know that it is The
Panther's, but things didn't run our
way. What's the idee?
you are TO loosen the hands and feet
OF The Panther. so he can have fair
, chance; that's the fust step" added
Girty with an expression of countenance
which satisfied the scout he was honest
so far.
to-"
There's a splintered oak-been struck
by lightning, / 'spose--about 100 yards
down stream and back just far 'nough
To be out Of sight OF the river A little
stream OF water winds at the foot OF
the oak"
II know the spot" said Kenton.
You're TO walk there without your
rifle and wait for The Panther: he'll be
only a few minutes behind you. Each
Will have his knife. but nothing else.
There isn't TO be any OF your people TO
look on nor any of ours"
What next?"
THE one as wins is to come back here
not to the cabin If it's you, but down
by the edge Of the water where the
canoe is 10 be left. II it's you YOU
must wave the sculp OF The Panther
over your head as token OF what
you've done, though the sight of your
Sposng / do that. what next?
Me and the ten Shawanoes will come
out of the front door. leave and won't
bother you any more"
Sposing it's the Panther that comes
back with my topknot?"
Then we Amt under any promise to
leave-that's ALL
II agree 10 them conditions"
It will be remembered that during this
conversation the two white men stood
within arms length Of each other, and
though the listening warriors inside
might form clear idea Of what passed
between them, no one was able TO see
their cOuntenances.
Kenton's gratitude to Girty has al
ready been explained. The latter, as
he had intimated, was not willing 10
do anything more for the scout, though
inclined TO wish him well. but the warn
ing given the preceding night Of the in
tended attack on the other fiatboat was
not without certain effect on the evil
man.
There is language of expression.
often more effective than words. Simon
Girty's good will went TO the extent of
seeking TO tell the truth to his former
friend. When his words declared there
were ten warriors i'm the building he
cOntradicted IL by gesture and gave the
correct number So, during the CONVEX
sation recorded, he and Kenton held
another exchange of thoughts by means
of the eyes. expression and stealthy
gesture This inner conversation
might be recorded as follows:
rs this proposition of yours Girty.
a sauar one?"
why do the varmints make it?"
Being thar are only five OF 'em and
thar are that many of you, they don't
feel quite so sartin as they did. If you
hadn't been along we'd have trapped
them folks with you sure as a gum
"Of course. but how is this going to
be worked?"
] kin to see it's put through straight"
That which follows was spoken. and
therefore intended for the ears of all
within hearing.
II will go back TO the large boat with
The Panther: / will give him his knife
but not his gun or tomahawk: IN bring
TO shore again, leaving my gun on the
big boat, and your promise is that no
one shall come out Of his cabin till The
Panther or me comes back from that
little argument by the splintered oak %
That's IL; none of the Shawanoes
can leave the house except by this door.
where the people on the fiatboat can
see 'em; that'll give 'em chance TO
shoot 'em down or let you know"
Enough said" was the response of
Kenton. who turned on his heel and
walked back more rapidly 10 where The
Panther awaited him in his canoe.
There. while padding slowly out to
the fatboat. he explained what had
been agreed upon He was glad to note
the flash Of The Panther's eyes when he
comprehended that they two were to
settle not only the dispute between the
parties. but the bitter. long standing
feud between themselves personally.
"Wa-on-mon will hasten to meet the
paleface." he replied "for the paleface
is a dog; he is not mt to live"
Now hold on that sort Of talk. said