The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-10-11
CHAPTER TX.
A joyful Discovery.

dlOnC III lHQidh NdhbT NAA~
overhanging bushes on the Kentucky
shore he did not dream of leaving the
spot before the return of Simon kenton.
We have told how motionless and
quiet he sat, while the boat containing
The Panther and his companions pad
died past within half dozen feet. There
was a minute or two when he was GER
tain of an attack from them and held
himself ready to use two weapons with
in his grasp, but they had no suspicion
Of his proximity and went by without
offering the least molestation.
To a man in the situation of young
Ashbridge the time moves slowly. 1t
seemed to him that full hour had
elapsed since the rangers departure.
He grew tired of peering out into the
gloom without discovering anything,
and more for relief than with the ex-
pectation of learning anything he turned
his attention up stream.
AS he did so his heart gave quick
throb, for a startling sight greeted his
vision. A bright point of light showed
just above the surface of the river and
apparently near the middle of the cur
rent.
1t glowed steadily for a full minute
and then vanished. How long it was
visible before the youth had no means
of knowing, but as may be supposed he
was dumfounded for the time.
Ashbridge listened and watched for
several minutes. Once he fancied he
heard some one speak. then there was
splash as though something had dropped
in the water and then the silence was
as profound as that of the tomb.
II am sure they are friends" was his
conclusion, land I intend to find out
what it means. / can paddle there in
a few minutes and will be back before
Kenton returns. 1 shall have news for
him..
The youth acted on this theory. and,
pushing the canoe clear of the over
hanging vegetation began padding to-
ward the point where the extraordinary
light had shown itself.
Though he started with high conf1-
dence, it must be admitted that with
every stroke of the paddle his misgiv-
ings increased.
What disturbed him as much as any
thing else was the knowledge that he
was taking Kentons rife with him. He
knew it was the hunters favorite
weapon and it's loss would leave him in
a sad plight.
That which Ashbridge had set out to
do might bring the most disastrous con-
sequences, not only to himself, but to
Kenton.
He propelled the boat slowly and with
the utmost caution. 1t is a question
whether the listening Shawanoe or Wy
andot. 100 PAGES away. would have de-
tected his movement through the sense
of hearing.
BY and by it seemed to the wander
ing Ashbridge that the gloom in front
was gradually assuming some kind of
form. The darkness appeared to he
settling upon itself as may he said, I'M
.l.,G, i
by the eye.
With another thrill of amazement he
recognized the outlines of a fatboat, such
as he had seen drift down stream hours
before.
little further advance and all doubt
was removed. 1t was one of those awk-
ward, bulky craft lying at anchor, just
as was the boat to which Kenton had
given his attention.
Without hesitation Ashbridge dipped
his paddle deep in the water and drove
the canoe swiftly toward the motionless
fiatboat. As the little craft SKINNED
over the water one on the watch called
| out in a cautions voice:
who are your"
George Ashbridge came near dropping
the paddle.
"Heavensl can it be?" he gasped and
next moment bounded over the low gun
vale.
4 " ldAitI. IL lildl YOus lie PXCldlInP0,
rushing into his arms
why. my son, what excites YOU -
/ asked the parent, at loss to under
| stand the emotion of his sturdy offspring.
Ann, mother and Mabel. are you all
| here?' asked the trembling, agitated
| youth raising his head from the shoulder
| of his parent and looking into the won
| dering, joyous faces gathered round him
| in the gloom.
81 thought you had all been killed by
| the Indians he added. growing faint
again, but quickly rallying: 90 how
grateful l am. mother and Mabelr' he
| repeated, taking each in turn in his
| arms; God be praised! 1t seems like a
| dream: too blissful to be truei''
| What gives you such fear?'' asked the
surprised father, wondering why his
brave boy was so stirred. "L am not
accustomed to seeing you thus"
| Il left Simon Kenton a little while ago.
| and what he and 1 learned made us be-
| lieve you had all been slain by the In
| dams. but you have friends with YOU
For the first time the delighted youth
| noticed that others were on the boat
| They had stood a little back during the
| touching meeting between him and his
| relatives.
| Now they came forward, first a lustv
| man in the prime of life, Mr.. Thomas
| Altman. an old neighbor of the Ash
bridges He shook the hand of the
| youth heartily and expressed his pleas
/ ure at meeting him.
Then his kind-hearted wife bestowed
motheTly kiss upon the boy that had
! always been a favorite of hers from
| his infancy
Next, a section of the night seemed
| to advance from the other side of the
| hatboat. This was Jethro Juggens. a
hurley negro lad, a servant of the Alt
| mans.
He was a year younger than George
! Ashbridge, but, heavier, larger and awk-
| ward of movement He was good
| natured, with a prodigious appetite
enormous strength and an~.afectionate
nature that stopped at no Sacrifice for
| his friends.
| He was deeplys attached to young
! Ashbr1dge, whose playmate he had
| been before the youth left with his
father to build a home in the West.
Had there been little more light on
the fiatboat his immense mouth would
have been seen stretched to the widest
] possible grin, as he shuffied forward
! and took the hand of his old friend
! Our cabin is only a few miles down
the river; but fainter how is it that you
| have anchored for the night?"
| Il intended to keep on until we
reached the clearing, but they told US
i at the block-house there was trouble
/ again with the Indians They urged us
J to stay with them until ii was over,
| but l knew you were expecting us and
l have heard so many false alarms
that 1 decided to go ahead. After talk
! ing with Mr.. Altman we concluded 1t
/ would be best to anchor till morning, so
| as to arrive at the clearing by daylight,
! but, George, you have greeted all of
your friends except one"
True, there was one member of the