The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-11-01


to clear the space and bring down the
weapon with vicious and resistless force.
At this moment a bright light flashed
from the rear of the other fiatboat.
The flame spread fast and wrapped the
cabin in its glare. Kenton had applied
the torch and the craft was on fire.
The sight was so striking, so unex-
pected and so strange that The Panther
drew his gaze from his victim, relaxed
his viselike grip on the handle of his
knife and turned his head to learn the
meaning of what had burst upon his
vision.
Still George AshbTidge saw nothing of
that dark figure stealing forward and al
most upon him. His attention was riv-
eted more intensely than ever upon the
other fiatbnat.
And The Panther, secure of his prey.
also saw and dreamed naught of an
equally noiseless form that was close be-
hind him.
Agnes Altman had returned to the
cabin, serenely happy in the belief that
she had saved a man, even though I'M
worthy, from death. Lying down she
murmured:
Il think I have done right; if not,
God will forgive me"
But she was i'm that mood of nervous
intensity that sleep was impossible. Sud
denly a pang of doubt pierced her
mind.
Had she done right? Had she not
committed blunder that would bring
sorrow and death to her beloved ones?
The remembrance that The Panther
had persisted in keeping the knife after
freeing himself caused her an increasing
misgiving.
He does not climb over the side of the
boat" she reflected. peeping out at the
crouching figure; "he hesitates, he can
not shrink from the venture; the way is
open; what does it mean? o, heavens!
She saw him pass from sight between
the boxes Then she read his awful pur-
pose; he meant to slay those that had
despitefully used him.
The first impulse of the girl was to
utter a warning cry to her friends, but
she dreaded they could not be awakened
in time Believing all were asleep, as
was Jethro. she was certain the Shawano
would be upon them like a lightning
stroke before they could be aroused
Had she been certain that the faintest
outcry would have been sufficient her
voice would have rung out on the in
slant of her fearful discovery, but she
did not know that. Some other scheme
must be devised.
At the instant The Panther passed
from sight between the piles of boxes, on
his way to slay young Ashbridge, Agnes
emerged from the cabin and crossed In
absolute silence to the other side, thus
taking a course parallel to that of the
Indian Moving slightly faster than he
because the way was more open, she
came out only a few PAGES behind him.
Had The Panther cast a single glance
over his shoulder he would have seen the
pale-faced crouching maiden advancing
like a phantom at his heels, but what
possible thought could come to him OF
such a thing?
All his imaginings were of the sweet
revenge now within his reach.
Agnes saw. too, the figure Of the youth
one arm lightly supported on the long
sweep. the other hand gently clasping
the barrel of his rife. whose stock rested
on the floor at his feet
She saw the miscreant was making fol-
him with the friEhtful knife in hand
the one she had brought forth and used
to sever the thongs at his wrists.
She was in that state of mental exalta-
ton when one crosses the boundary OF
misgiving and nervousness and becomes
as cool. as collected. as set of purpose as
a man of iron. There was no tremor OF
nerve or limb.
George Ashbridge, The Panther and
Agnes were equidistant when the Shaw
anoe paused and for the moment turned
his attention from the victim to the blaze
on the other boat. He stood still. but the
maiden did not.
ing like that of a fawn on the planking
and then the second followed.
Once more and she stood directly be-
hind the Shawanoe, in whose black heart
ragged the flames of hatred and ven.
geance.
He paused. with grip relaxed, and
stared across the water. which reflected
the increasing glare.
A few pulse beats more and the mus
eles would become rigid again and with
one bound he would crash down upon
the head and shoulders Of the youth like
an avalanche
Agnes Altman could touch the chief
tain in front of her. STOPPING slightly
she reached her right hand forward
closed her dainty fingers around the
handle of the knife just below where
The Panther loosely grasped il, and with
marvellous deftness whipped il free and
flung IT behind her. the implement fall
ing with a ringing sound in front of the
cabin.
At the same instant she called:
George, George; the Indian means tc
kill your
The youth whirled like flash. but
quick as he was The Panther was
quicker. With no weapon to use, his
only thought was to save himself.
Compromising this astonishing trick
that was played on him, he would have
weapon had he dared to pause to do so
but intent only on flight, he dashed fol-
the rear of the boat intending to lear
overheard from the furtherest point sc
as to disconcert the aim of the youth
who was desperately seeking him
Ashbridge darted forward, meaning &c
fire the instant he caught sight Of the
redskin. who. instead of taking a direct
line or plunging over, when the chance
was his, lodged and dashed back over
the course taken a moment before
Then IL came about that by one OF
those strange condolences which now
and then take place I'm the affairs of this
life, The Panther. with no time to meas
ure his pace or to note where he placed
his feet, stepped upon the stomach OF
Jethro Juggens with a force that drove
the breath from his body.
Instinctively the startled African
threw up his arms TO protect himself
and, by a movement purely voluntary
seized the ankle Of the offending foot
''I'll be hanged to gracious!' he called
out, grasping the situation quicker thar
usual with him, "If dat painted heather
amt trying TO put his foot In my moul
agini Dis am gettin' too obstraneous e
be put wild any longerP'
CHAPTER XVII. -
Delays Are Dangerous"
II certainly was a curious coincidence