The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-09-27
CHAPTER III.
Between Two Fires.


ing the ground near the spring, straight
ened up at the same moment, so stimuli
taneously indeed that the head of one
of them bumped against that of The
Panther.
The latter uttered an angry exclama-
ton, but the furry passed the next mo-
ment, for all were interested in the start.
ling discovery just made.
They knew a stranger had been at the
spring a brief while before, but since he
wore moccasins. like themselves. they
could not know of a certainty whether
he was a white or red man.
The Panther pointed to the almost in
visible footprints left by the visitor when
he moved toward the river, which was
not distant.
The eyes of the party were able to fol-
low the trail for a rod or two, and TO
note its course. and doing so their vision
naturally passed beyond and took note
Of the trees in advance.
Meanwhile Kenton was peering around
the edge of the tree. He had removed
his cap. which he held in one hand, while
the deadly rifle was grasped in the other
ready for instant use.
This amt the most comfortable spot
I've stood in he reflected, though I've
knowed powerful worse"
The time came very quickly when II
would not do to continue his scrutiny.
Slight as was the exposure of his face,
II was certain to attract attention, when
ever the gaze Of the red men should rest
upon the tree itself.
The scout. therefore. drew back. re-
placed his cap. grasped his gun more
firmly. and waited.
The eye was useless for the moment
Everything depended on hearing, as it
had on more than one occasion in his ex-
perience.
He was counting upon detecting the
noise of their approach in case they ad-
vanced. There seemed no reason why
they should bestow special attention up
on the trunk behind which he had taken
shelter. for II was similar to others in
the immediate neighborhood. and there
was nothing in the appearance Of the
trail to reveal his exact hiding place,
Tor human eye could not trace the foot
prints from the spring to the tree, so
long as no change was made in the posi-
ton of the spectators.
But the most natural action of the
Shawanoes was to follow the trail. The
fact that but single person had pre-
coded them at the spring pointed to his
being white man and therefore an en-
envy for the American race is not ad-
dicted 10 solitary wandering
Nothing, therefore, appeared more like
~ than that the Indians would approach
the spot where the rangers stood at bay
Kenton had fixed his course Of action
Men like him are obliged to think and
act quickly.
If the Shawenoes were coming his in
teptiOn was to take to flight. AS yet
he had never met an Indian who could
outrun him, end he had no fear of being
overtaken by the three.
A prompt start would enable him to
dodge among the trees while increasing
the space between them and so confuse
their aim that there was little danger
of being hit Beside he was not without
hope that he might cause his enemies to
separate while pursuing him.
In that event one or more of them
would be likely to find the tables turned,
for Simon Kenton was never known to
flee from any single Indian that ever
lived.
One minute-two minutes-three Of
them passed and still the trunk of the
oak was not more rigid than the body of
the ranger. He had not stirred a mus
Gle; he was listening intently.
But to his surprise his ears told him
nothing. Not the slightest rustling or
sound came through the intervening
space. The woods were as silent as at
Creations MORN"
This would not do. II was not to be
supposed that The Panther and his COM
panions would remain motionless. They
pace so noiseless that even Kenton
could not detect ii.
If such were the fact he had only 20
wait where he was for a brief while to
find himself in an inextricable trap. The
red men would be upon him before he
could escape.
The eye must be appealed to once
| more. Accordingly he darted his head
forward and back again like flash,
doing it with quickness that had all
three of the Shawanoes been on the
watch they could not have shot him.
Brief as was the glance of Kenton, ii
was sufficient, for 1t took in his whole
field of vision. The result was astound-
ing.
Not a Shawanoe was in sight. The
three had vanished as utterly as If the
earth had opened and swallowed then
up.
Whittier had they gone? For single
moment the ranger was bewildered by
| the amazing discovery. Then his con-
| summate woOdcraft came to his help.
The red men had seen him. despite
the care he used in peering from behind
| the tree
The corner of his forehead, the eye
| and the temple, slight as was the ex-
/ posture, had been observed by them and
/ they knew on the instant they were
close to the white man who had taken
/ refuge behind the trunk of the oak
Like a flash came the full knowledge
/ TO Kenton. The three had separated,
| and were surrounding him. Perhaps
/ they had already done so.
If that took place nothing could save
I him, for he would be exposed to the fire
| of at least one of them, no matter how
\ he crouched and sought to shelter him
| self
| Instead of looking in the direction of
/ the spring Kenton glanced to the right
| and left, 70 learn whether the shawn
noes had already reached a position
| from which TO command his own.
The first glance revealed nothing, but
a second showed him the figure of an
| Indian as he darted from behind one
/ tree to the shelter of another
He was far over to the right, but
! had already advanced so far that he
may be described as almost abreast OF
/ the white man. If the other Shawanoes
or indeed IL one of them had succeeded
| In doing as well, Kenton's situation was
already hopeless.
Naturally a person in his dilemma
would have kept watch for the next
movement of the enemy, OF whom he
had just caught a glimpse.
Instead OF doing that, the ranger in
stantly turned his attention in the OPP
posite point, holding the rifle ready for
4 use.
He fancied he saw the serpent-like eye
/ and the painted edge of a warriors face