The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-09-27
CHAPTER i.
In the Kentucky Forest.


Simon Kenton, the famous ranger, was
threading his way through the depths
of the Kentucky wilderness one summer
day more than hundred years ago.
Simon Kenton, in the history Of the
West, is ranked second to the great pio-
neer, Daniel Boone, but the younger
scout was the superior of the more cele-
brated one in several respects.
The stride of Kenton was long and reg
ular, and the most astonishing fact about
his pace was that it seemed absolutely
without noise.
Thus far all was well and he resumed
his rapid, noiseless tramp in the direc-
ton of the Ohio river. which was his
destination.
It was midsummer, and the sun shone
with fervor in the clearings and on the
cleaning river, but a delicious GOODNESS
brooded in the soft gloom of the forest
where not a ray of the fierce orb pene-
trated.
He took the utmost care to avoid leay-
ing the slightest impression on the damp
earth Immediately surrounding the spring
for he did not need to be told that he
was not the only person who knew Of the
cool fountain in the wilderness. Many
a dusky inhabitant of the woods had
knelt as he had done and touched his
coppery lips to the crystal element.
Less than 100 feet from the spring,
Kenton stopped as abruptly as If he had
seen a coiled rattlesnake at his feet in
front. But it was nothing that the eye
noted; his ear told him that man or ami
NAL was near at hand.
The head of the hunter darted several
times to the right and left in quick,
nervous way. and then became station
airy. He had located the point whence
came the almost inaudible rustic; it was
directly in advance. and five seconds
later he knew it was drawing near.
THE varmints are coming this way"
reflected the ranger; they know what it
is to be thirsty like us Christian folks"
The thought was hardly formed when
he lodged behind the trunk Of the near
est tree. standing rigid and erect, all his
faculties concentrated in listening.
Another moment told him the red man.
as he knew il must be, was approaching.
not directly from the front, but by q
diagonal course. He was coming to the
spring. but from the left of where the
ranger was on watch. The latter had
fixed the precise point, and peered care
fully from behind the sheltering trunk.
All at once there was a pickering of
shadows in the cool gloom. Then an In
walking with the same stride the white
man used and was heading for the
spring.
Like the ranger. too, he carried his rife
I'm trailing position, though il is hardly
10 be supposed he suspected any enemy
was near.
The single Indian would have been. OF
slight account to a scout like Simon Ken
ton. but the latter knew, even before his
eyes told him the fact, the other was not
alone.
A the moment he came fairly into
view the head and shoulders of a second
Indian appeared directly behind him. ard
then came a third. who brought up The
rear of the procession. as may be said.
Three Of EN-" thought the scout,
and they're all Shawanoes; they're ugly
varmints, and if they want 70 pass with
out saying 'Howdy?' / don't know as
Simon Kenton is going to get mad and
tear his hair"
The Indians followed the fashion COM
mon among their people Of walking d.
rectly in a line. so that their trail APP
peared as If made by single warrior.
While there was no call to use this pre-
caution IN the present instance. yet IL
was characteristic Of the red men that
they did so. They, like the scout, moved
so noiselessly that ii may be said they
were "shod with silence"
1t was easy to follow their movements
without risk. because the ShawanOes
showed no suspicion Of the presence of
an enemy in the neighborhood
Kenton peeped around the edge of the
bark. exposing only one eye and the
front of his cap, and ready TO dodge
back the instant it became necessary.
He would not have dared to do this
had the red men known a white man
was within quarter Of mile from
them.
The view Of the Shawanoes could not
have been better. They were dressed
much the same as Kenton. but without
the fringed skirt he wore.
The upper part Of their bodies was al
most bare, for, be it remembered, it was
the summer season. when many Of their
people wear no apparel at all above their
waists. The long, coarse black hair dan
gled about their shoulders. and was
parted in the middle. A number of stain
ed eagle feathers protruded from the
crown. and the faces, ugly enough by
nature, were rendered tenfold more Sc
by the splashes of red, black and white
paint which covered forehead, nose
checks and chin.
A suppressed exclamation escaped
Kenton. He had recognized the rear In
dian as Wa-On-mon, or the Panther, one
the Shawanoes.
The outrages committed by this saw.
age caused his name to be dreaded along
the Ohio and Kentucky frontier above
that OF all others.
Kenton had often expressed the wish
that some time he might meet the Pan.
Their alone in the depth of the forest
where the chances were equal and there
was no possibility of anyone interfering
with them.
From that time forrad,' said he Il
his friend Boone, "Wa-on-mon beine
the same Is the Panther or a young gen
tleTnan Of the name of Kenton viii
retire from the business of loafng IN
the woods. and I've a sort of feeling
that 1T won't be myself that will do the
retiring business, but L can't, howsum
ever, be sartin."
Had the terrible Shawanoe been alone
the account would have been settled
then and there in the true frontier fash
ion, but there could be no doubt of tn,
courage and skill Of the Panther's com
paniOns
Brave as was Simon Kenton, he hat
too much discretion TO engage in con
fict when there was no earthly prospec
Of success.
Meanwhile the three Indians strodt
forward until they reached the sprin;
which the ranger had left only few
minutes before.
There. without hesitation, they tool
turns in lying on their faces. and
quaffing from the cool fluid until thei
thirst was satisfied.
All the white mans interest now cen
tered in the question whether thos'
Migrants of the woods would detect hi
faint footprints.