The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-11-15


Now. we doubt not that a certain line
of procedure has suggested itself TO more
than one reader Of this tale. Why not
display magnanimity toward the dusky
chieftain?
Why not cut his bonds as Agnes had
done and let him go free? The act
might be accompanied by lofty speech
in which the white man assured the
grateful captive that he scorned to take
advantage of so brave man and was
thinking chiefly of his papooses and
squaw.
| Could The Panther fail to respond?
would he not become the friend forever
of the pale face? Would he not devote
his life TO helping him out of trouble and
strive to undo the evil he had wrought
against them?
Alas, that truth compels a negative
answer to all these queries. Instead of
expanding with gratitude the Shawanoe
would pronounce the scout a Zany, and
| lose no time in doing his utmost to Sc
cure his scalp and to slay every one on
the flatbOat Should Kenton loose the
captive and place a rifle in his hands the
miscreant would accept the boon, take
himself off, and then. if the chance was
a good one, wheel and drive a bullet
through the heart of his chivalrous con-
queror.
1t would seem that il ought to be
feasible for Kenton to hold The Panther
a hostage for the safety of those on
I.
paratively easy if he were maneuvering
against a foe with a faint idea of the
obligations Of honor; but the necessity
of being compelled at some stage of the
proceedings to trust the Shawanoes was
the unsurmountable obstacle TO the
scheme
But the ranger did not abandon the
hope of making The Panther more useful
to the whites than he had ever been in
the past.
The fatboat was drifting so near the
middle Of the stream that there was no
! necessity Of using the sweeps. A
scrutiny of the shores and all the visible
portion of the river revealed no signs OF
enemies. Jethro Juggens had toppled
over and was as profoundly unconscious
of the outer world as were those in the
cabin.
Kenton and The Panther were the only
ones awake. The former took a few
steps necessary TO place him near the
captive, where he seated himself on the
box Immediately in front of him.
"Wa-on-mon," said he, in Shawanoe,
you're my prisoner; your people don't
take prisoners, and I've treated you bet
ter than you deserve"
The Panther looked defiantly up in
the face of the white man.
"Wa-on-mon is not afraid to die"
"Mebbe that's so. but you amt going
to die just yet. 'SpOse 1 let YOU go-how
will you act toward the palefaces?"
xiii all 1 can" was the fierce re-
Spouse.
wal. I'll give you credit for speak
ing with a single tongue, which is
powerful sight more than most of your
kind do; so l won't cut them ropes and
let you swim ashore
'Wa-on-mon not afraid to die re
peated the chieftain with more defiance,
if possible, than before.
Having made that remark just now
there amt no necessity OF harping on
the same. Wen agree you amt afeard
to die; I feel that way myself now ana
then. though I'm not haukering To go
under till the good Lord calls me. /
'spose YOU fancy that you won't get
your last sickess till they run short OF
angels up above. But since you told
the truth sort Of accidentally like just
now. do you think you kin indulge in
a little more of the same luxury
Kenton had unconsciously dropped
into a mixture of Shawanoe and Eng
fish and his question was beyond the
comprehension of The Panther. The
scout therefore. became more explicit.
You spoke the truth "a minute ago;
will you use a single tongue I'm "a Few
more answers TO my questions
'Wa-On-mon always speaks with
single tongue
I'm sorry YOU said that for it's the
biggest lie you ever told. and no one
knows Il better than you. But let II
go. Have the Shawanoes made up their
mind TO go on the warpathH
"The ShaWanoes have dug up the
Ratchet" was the proud answer; they
have gone on the war-path; the WAN
dots have dug up the Ratchet; the Pot
tawatomies have dug up the Ratchet;
the Hurons have dug up the Ratchet;
the Dclawnres-'
"Thatm do" broke in Kenton, you've
dug up enough hatchets 20 keep things
moving: wen have 10 larn you 10 be-
have yourselves. We've done IL once or
twice. but you forget the lesson too
soon"
"An the red men have dug up the
hatchct." continued The Panther, with
fearless defiance which caused him TO
forget his own helpless plight; they
will drive all the palefaces into the
sea"
"Hardly any need OF that" was the
comment OF Kenton: the Ohio is big
enough 20 drown 'em In, that Is, II you
kin get hold Of 'em all and hold EN-
under the water long enough, / take II
then YOU mean 20 keep things moving
In these parts.
"The red men have joined together;
none Of them will fight each other; the
Great Spirit has whispered In their ears;
they viii do his will; they did not do II
before when they let the palefaces come
upon their hunting grounds"
1T looks as II they didn't. That would
have been the time 10 take the pale
faces by the nape Of their necks and
their trousers and fling 'em into the sea,
that Il while they was wading ashore.
Some OF em have got so far from the
sen that it'li make your people tired TO
carry em back TO it
IL was a curious contrast OF moods I'm
the two men holding this converse on
the fat-boat floating silently down the
Ohio. one was savage, filled with con-
hot dot Mt rln Haff afaI
tiger. the other was cool, goOd-tempered,
facetious. philosophical and haunting in
his peculiar badlnage.
Kenton knew The Panther was speak
ing with a single tongue" and he did
not mean 10 crafty him by showing
any fear because of his words. The
American Indian, though i'm many re-
spects a coward, despises timidity in
others, beside which II need not be re-
peated that Simon Kenton was one Of
the bravest men that ever lived.
Have you any idea where Girty and
the rest of the Shawanoes are?"
1t was a singular question to put
TO the captive, but the scout was lead
ing up TO something else.
"They are all over" was the instant
response. "They are in the woods like
the leaves on the trees: they are on the
water, like the drops that fall from the
clouds they leap through the air like
the birds"
"I alters knowed Slime Girty was
rather promiscuous, but | never knowed
ne was quite up 10 all that. It's true
Wa-on-mon, that there are more of YOU