The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-12-13
CHAPTER xxx.


Mrs. Altman and Agnes had been left,
while the men undertook to bring the
Shawanoes in the cabin to terms.
The scout showed his thoughtfulness
in selecting the hiding place, as 1t may
be called, for the females of the party.
It was among the trees, where there was
little underground, so near the river
that all could look out on its calm sur
face, besides watching the fiatboat only
a short distance way. The vegetation
protected them from the sun, which
shone with all the fervor Of the preced-
ing day, and they were beyond reach OF
the sharpest eyed warrior within the
cabin-that is, so long as he did not
come out of the building to look at
them.
A fallen tree afforded a seat for the
most of the party. Little Mabel, how
ever. was so tired Of her constrained po-
sition that she was playing and Hitting
back and forth, sometimes gathering
wild flower which cleaned here ana
there near the margin of the river then
arranging twigs and bits of wood and
leaves, into a semblance of dolls and
playhouses, the likeness being beyond
the power Of any other eye to detect
Her parent kept watch of her, that she
should not pass beyond her vision
Agnes had made an inviting seat OF
branches and green leaves on the ground
upon which she forced her wearied
mother to seat herself with her back
supported by the fallen tree. As young
Ashbridge approached he saw Mrs. Alt
man leaning against the trunk with her
eyes closed in gentle sleep. Agnes sat
on the log near her as If to watch her
haI
Mabel ceased her play when her
brother came in sight and the faces of
all frightened at the approach of the
handsome. sturdy young man. Leaning
his gun against tree he caught Mabel
in his arms and kissed her with much
affection.
Bless your heart" he said, as he set
her down again: I'VE have had so many
things to bother us that haven't had
much time TO give to you. You seem
happy and pleased, Mabel, dear
II am was her CHEEKY reply. looking
laughingly up in the face of her brother;
this is a good deal nicer than being on
the boat where you haven't any chance
for fun at all; when are we going into
our new house?"
Some time today, hope" replied the
youth, seating himself on the tree. after
embracing his mother; but you mustn't
stray off into the woods, for there are
bad Indians waiting TO catch such nice
little girls as you are
Il will keep in sight of mama, for she
told me to-" was the dutiful reply Of the
child, who henceforth gave all her atten-
ton to amusing herself.
The position of the youth on the fallen
tree was between his mother and Alice
Altman, who reached up her hand and
returned the warm pressure after he had
saluted his mother and turned TO seat
himself.
Maria and 1 talked the matter over
before she went to Sleep" remarked the
parent, referring to Mrs. Altman, and
we agreed that Of all strange positions
I'm which we have been placed since leav-
ing home this is the strangest."
There can be no doubt Of that; Won
der" added the son with a smile, wheth-
er any family settling in the West had
to drive the Indians out of their house
before going in themselves. L never
heard of anything Of the kind"
And yet 1t might have happened for
all that" remarked Agnes, 'for in what
way could we learn hundredth part of
the things that occur every day.
In way at all, but in all cases of
which 1 have heard it was the Indians
that were on the outside trying TO Set
at the people within"
''Mr. Kenton must have hope of driv-
ing out the ShawanoeS," continued the
mother, but L am afraid we made
sad mistake in not stopping for time
at the block house, we were urged to
do. until the Indians became quiet"
'Kenton has made the same remark
TO me-
II overheard enough said by him TO
understand that The Panther whom he
went out in the woods to fight ran away.
Now won't he be likely TO hurry off and
bring good many warriors back to at
tack us?'
bright face of Agnes at his side, as she
turned toward him with the question.
You have stated the whole thing just
as it stands. Agnes; Kenton has eX-
planned il to me. He hopes TO drive out
the Indians before The Panther can re-
turn with his warriors. And remember
we are not really sure he intends to do
that. When we get in there with our
furniture and provisions we shall be
strong enough to hold ii against the
biggest party of Shawanoes that can be
brought against u.s."
But they may besiege the cabin sug-
gested the mother.
What of it?'' coolly asked George.
What will you do for water, which
cannot last long2"
Drink all we want father and I
talked the thing over when we were
putting up the house. We concluded
that il Is a good deal worse to suffer
from thirst than from hunger, and we
made sure we never could do that. You
remember the corner on the right and
from the river? Well, in that corner
Is a well. which father and I dug. We
had to go down only about a dozen
feet when we struck water-plenty of
IT,"
ut must connect with the river" said
Agnes.
mo doubt Of that, so the well won't
run dry until the Ohio gives out, and
when that takes place the var
mints,' as Kenton calls them,
will give out, too. There is
plenty of flour and some coffee. tea,
sugar and other things on the boat.
Now. IL we get them inside the build
ing what Is to prevent our keeping the
whole tribe of Shawanoes or Wyandots
off as long as we want tor"
THAT sounds feasible enough. my son,
but danger more dreadful than thirst
and all others combined threatens peo-
pie in the position we would be. They
would burn the house and every one
inside"
II dread that more than anything"
added Agnes, with a shudder
well. It's enough TO make any one
dread IT, Father and / talked 1t over
a good many times. when we were put
ting up the house and tried to figure
on some way OF making IL proof against
fire. We couldn't think of any means
but we did all we could
What did you dor asked his mother
"In the first place, the roof Is very
long enough to do anything, for the
minute he began moving bis hands he
would slip off,
And why would he wish to go on
the roof?' asked Agnes.
They do II now and then, so as TO