The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-11-08

slower, and for moment Kenton was
certain the other intended to swim
straight to him.
The instant move was made i'm that
direction all doubt Of the others identity
would vanish
THE best way to settle this thing is to
let him have it between the eyes"
He felt no computations about solving
the problem in that startling manner.
The long deadly rifle was brought to the
shoulder and the eye was ranging along
the barrel, when the weapon was abrupt
~ lowered again
The creature i'm the water had given a
snl1 OF alright. turned and was swim
ming vigorously down stream. The whole
was done so naturally that all distrust
vanished from Kenton's mind; il was a
bear after all, and there was no call to
waste shot on him.
The scout watched the head of the
brute until he was lost i'm the direction
OF the Ohio shore The animal seemed
TO have made UP his mind to postpone
his visit TO Ohio to a less dangerous
season.
Kenton stepped softly forward and
peeped at The Panther. He held the
same position with bowed head and eX-
tended legs. Anyone but the ranger
would have believed him asleep but. as
already stated, Kenton knew all the pris-
onerS senses We're at command and he
was liable at any moment to attempt
something desperate, bound and helpless
though he seemed to be.
Apparently only one thing was posi-
bic for him; that was to draw his feet
under him and fling himself over the gum
vale into the water, but his recapture
could be effected with so little trouble
that the effort was altogether improba-
BILE.
IT can foller him in the canoe and
bring him back; the best way, howsum-
ever, would be this" thought Kenton.
compressing his muscular fingers around
his rifle BARREL "a single shot would wind
up the business in a style that wouldn't
leave anything to be done; I'll do it,
too"
One truth. however. was not to be
lost sight Of Girty and the Shawanoes
that had fled TO the Ohio shore knew of
the mishap of The Panther He was
such a noted and important leader of
that warlike tribe that he was not likely
to be abandoned 10 his fate if any pos
sible way should present itself for his
rescue
What method should be taken to effect
this was the problem that caused much
speculation on the part Of Kenton. II
the Indians could gather enough war
riorS, they might venture out i'm their
canoes and openly attack the flatbOat;
but none knew better than they the cost
of such an attempt with the chances
against success. Girty was aware tina
besides the peerless scout three men
were on the craft, not counting Jethro
Juggens, all of whom were fully armed
and would fight desperately. In so ad-
vantageous a position they could beat
off ten times their number. who were
certain to suffer great loss. 1t was
quite reasonable, therefore, to conclude
that if no other way appeared for res
cuing The Panther he would be aban-
doned to his fate.
But were the Shawanoes helpless, so
far as the recapture of their leader was
concerned? Could they not bring their
cunning into play and outwit the whites
without too great risk to themselves?
1t cannot be denied that with the ma
jority Of frontiersmen the gordian knot
would have been cut i'm the most eX-
peditious and straightforward fashion
by placing the prisoner beyond the pos
Sibility OF rescue by any one. Further
more most frontiersmen would have
scoffed at Kenton for his tenderness.
Looking up the river, where the sur
face family shone in the pale moon
light, the sentinel detected a faint,
said on the line of invsbility. 1t was
so dimly seen that he could not identify
il. though he suspected its nature Turn
ing to the right, so as not to pass near
the captive. he walked softly to the
stern, where most Of the sleepers lay,
in order to gain a better view.
1t was an Indian canoe with several
occupants They were the friends of
The Panther, and were accommodating.
If they could find any way TO help him
they would seize II, but remembering
that if they could distinguish any one
on the fatboat that one could see them,
they hesitated TO approach nearer be-
fore learning how matters stood
1t might be that the pioneers i'm their
fanced security would partially relax
their vigilance. If SO they could be
made to pay dearly for it,
All at once a faint, tremulous whistle.
barely audible, came across the water
from the canoe. Kenton glanced at the
prisoner who started and raised his
head. The movement was slight, but
unmistakable.
The meaning was clear to Kenton,
who reflected:
THE varmlnts are signaling to The
Panther, and he knows it,"