The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-11-29


of you varmints to rouse "A prisoner by
saying powerful bad things, but as 1 re-
Z marked, it's altogether Unnecessary with
me, cause / hate you much that I
can't hate you any more. Don't forget
one thing, my painted beauty" added
Kenton with CLEAN of frightful feroc-
ity, that when you and me meet one
or the other dies"
An instant before reaching the side
of the fiatboat the ranger ceased pad
ding, and leaning slightly forward, cut
the thongs at the ankles and the wrists
of his prisoner.
That's just what you blamed me for
remarked Agnes Altman. who. like the
others, witnessed the act
Yes" replied Kenton. land I'm going
to do another thing you done"
As he spoke he stepped over the gun
vale to where the rifle, tomahawk and
knife Of The Panther were laid after
being taken from him. He picked up
the last named and handed il to the
/ chieftain. who retained his place in the
canoe.
IF it's you that goes down." ex-
planned KentOn, you won't need the
other things; if it's me. you can paddle
out in the canoe and get 'em. l know,
! Wa-on-mon, that that's asking you to
put some faith i'm the promises of the
palefaces, but this thing can't be man
aged without something like that. If
1t was your people they would lie,
cause they can't help it, but you can de-
pend on u.s.
ordinary arrangement to his friends,
which Kenton did in the fewest words
possible.
One and all pronounced it the widest
scheme that could possibly be devised
They set out to dissuade the ranger,
put he checked them with peremptory
gesture.
Il give The Panther a lectur' awhile
ago on the onnecessariness of saying
| Unnecessary things, which the same will
do for you. You understand that not
an Indian is to leave the cabin till this
thing is over. None of the varmints
can come out without using the front
1 door. where you'll see EN-"
IF we see them try it," said Altman,
what then?"
Drop 'em as quick as you can take
aim; If l hear gun I'll know what it
means and will see that they don't
work any tricks on me-"
Suppose" remarked Mr. Ashbridge.
| expressing the thought that was in the
| mind of every one, that instead of you
1t is The Panther that comes back from
the splintered oak-what's to become of
ut won't be The Panther that'n come
back"
Self-confdence is a good thing. but
! the friends of the scout had less faith
/ than they desired i'm the declaration Of
| the scout
''Younker, you'll take me ashore first "
said Kenton, addressing George Ash
! bridge, then you'n come back and take
/ him.
A simpler method would have been
| for the two COmbatants TO make the
| trip together. but the ranger had his
| he wished the canoe To be left beside
the fiatboat. where it would be at the
| command Of his friends, and in no other
way could this be done.
| "All right; I'm ready" replied the
| youth.
Cant ! be oh some usefulness to de
parties dat am obscerened?" asked
Jethro. not liking his total eclipse; "yo'
| SIC dat heather might try to jam one
OBJ his feet in Marse Georges mouf and
! i know how to handle him if he tries
| dat"
You can be of use by keeping quiet
| and doing nothing you are not told 10
10 do said his master sternly.
| Berry we'll; l neber was dsapprc-
| ciated," replied the African, retiring be-
| hind the group. who We're too intently
| interested for words.
| Simon Kenton was man of action.
| He stepped over the gunwale. armed
only with his knife, which was thrust
| In his grdle. He took up the paddle,
with young Ashbridge, rifle i'm hand,
| watching him.
| a few strokes carried them ashore.
no word being spoken on the way.
| "Now go back and bring The Pam
| Their" directed the scout. placing his foot
| on the land. and keep your eye open
| for squalls. Remember. II any Of the
varmints start to leave the house. pick
| him off afore he can take two steps"
Depend upon us for doing our best"
And the youth started back for the
/ hatboat where his friends and the single
| enemy awaited him.
| The Shawanoe seemed TO recover the
| full use Of his limbs the moment he was
| released. He stood apart near the stern
| OF the craft with arms folded, sternly
watching the canoe. while the pioneers
| were grouped AZ the front.
| George Ashbridge SHE'D the smaller
/ craft beside the larger one, bringing IL
broadside to and nodded to The Panther
/ to step in.
! I've got to handle the paddle" added
the youth. addressing his father and Mr..
Altman. "Be ready to shoot If he tries
| any dodge on me-"
| "Have no fear on that score" replied
| the father, COMPRISING his lips.
| If The Panther contemplated anything
/ OF the kind he reconsidered his purpose.
| He sat grim and immovable during the
/ short passage. while young Ashbridge,
/ keeping his face toward him, manipu-
lated the paddle and never took his eye
4
4 countenance.
| The moment the boat touched shore
| the chieftain rose, stepped out and strobe
| in the direction taken "A few minutes be-
/ fore by Kenton. George hurriedly pad
| died back to the flatboat and rejoined his
| friends.
| Now" he said. 'I can't help beIiev-
! ing they mean 10 play some trick on
| Kenton, but he can take care Of him
| self If he has only The Panther to deal
| with. Let's make sure that none of the
| Shawanoes leave the cabin"
81 rather wish they would try st." re-
| marked Altman, "for Il will give us a
| fine chance 10 pick them off At times
| like this every one counts, you know"
| Meanwhile the ranger, plunging into
| the wood bordering the clearing. made
| his way straight 10 the splntered oak,
| where The Panther had promised 10
meet him in mortal combat 1t was not
/ far, but the forest abounded with under
| growth and the vegetation was so dense
| that Kenton disappeared almost imme-
| diatey from sight.
| Arrived at the rendezvous the scout
closed his fingers round the buckhorn
/ handle of his knife so that IL could be
\ whipped out like a flash and faced to-
| ward the clearing, eager, eXpectant and
| with his self-conhdence diminished not
/ an iota.
| CHAPTER XXVI.
| Slip Somewhere
| II mas been stated that the splinterad
oak, where the Caucasian and the
/ American were IN maat an dao,1I,, 49,.