The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-10-04

atrocity. The most notorious of these
was Simon Girty. but more of him
hereafter.
At the end of the ten minutes named
the craft had drifted so much nearer
that Kenton was able to see things
quite clearly upon it.
At the front of the boat a person
was crOuching behind the planking and
studying the couple on the shore An
ordinary scrutiny would not have re-
vealed him to the scout, and evidently
he did not suspect he was seen.
Nevertheless, the cOuntenanCe was
plainly observable to Kenton. 1t was
broad, with high cheek bones, covered
with paint and with horsehair-like COW
ering dangling about the shoulders.
do you observe them boxes piled at
the frOnt?" asked the ranger of his COM
panion, after his startling announce
ment that something had happened to
the boat.
"Of course" replied Ashbridge, striv-
ing to control his emotion.
"A little to the left of the biggest
box, near the corner of the bow. a man
is STOPPING and looking over the gun
vale at us; do you observe him p"
Ashbridge gazed intently for a mo-
ment.
Il do. but his face is painted; he's not
a white man"
"Purcisely; he's an Injin. Injins don't
generally come down the Ohio in fat
boats Your father did't speak about
taking any Of 'em aboard as passengers,
did he?"
The youth looked reprovingly at the
hunter His words sounded unfeeling
and out of place
IT didn't mean TO hurt your feelings.
younker, but il thar's one varmint on
board thars more, which means thar
amt any white folks"
Then the Indians have captured the
hatboat?' repeated the terrified youth
Thar can't be much doubt Of it from
the way things look It's powerful
rough on you. but rougher ON the
white folks themselves. It's too bad
and I'm sorry for you, but il amt the
fust time that thing has happened, nor
II won't be the last"
Poor Ashbridge almost sank to the
ground in the depth Of his anguish. He
swallowed the lump in his throat and
with a great effort mastered his emo
ton.
He had set out with high hopes and
In bounding spirits 10 meet his sister and
parents. anxious perhaps. but with no
thought Of any such awful outcome as
this
He struggled TO bear up under The
most fearful blow he had ever received,
not quite ready to abandon all hope
that it might not prove as bad as it
seemed.
IF they have captured the boat" said
ne, weakly, why do they remain On
board? l should think they would plum
der and abandon it."
Time enough to do that; they can
carry out their own notion"
But look. Kenton!'' added Ashbridge
eXcitedly, there's a white man.
While they We're talking Kenton's
eyes were upon his friend, who never
removed his gaze from the craft. The
elder now glanced at it and exclaimed:
wal, I'll be hangedi That's QUAR-
The stern of the craft was rooted over
as has already been described. The sweep
projected beyond this roof almost to the
middle of the boat, where the one who
worked Ii walked back and forth, and
when thus engaged only the upper part
Of his body was visible.
While Ashbridge was surveying the
craft the figure Of a white man in Indian
costume rose TO view, as if coming up
the steps Of a cellar. Leaning with one
arm on the sweep he stared at the cou-
pie on shore.
A thrill stirred George Ashbridge at
the hope that this might be his father.
but a second glance showed the man to
be a stranger.
1t was the intention of the elder Ash
bridge to bring several neighbors and
their families with him, but If he had
recognized by the youth
What is the meaning of that?" asked
the latter in low voice; there is one
Indian and enc white man on board
They amt the only ones"
rs the white man a prisoner"
He don't act that way; you'd think
he's boss from his style"
What Of that Indian that is watching
US so closely?"
He's another boss; I don't like his
looks; by gracious i know him. added
kenton, lowering his voice, but showing
mora CIT tiOD than no 20 f,,o
who is hep
Lame Bear"
"And who is Lame Bear?"
"A Wyandot, one of the worst var
mints in the world; do you remember
hearing about the McCutcheon family
as lived a mile above you on the Ohio
shore?"
Yes replied Ashbridge with a shud-
der. "Mr. McCutcheOn was shot down
on his own threshold and his wife and
little child tomahawked. I heard that
the dreadful crime was committed by a
single Indian
You heard right; that varmint was
Lame Bear. One Of his own people told
ME he seed him when he come back to
his village with the scalps of the father,
mother and little boy. and he Dragged
about what he had done He's as bad
as The Panther; they're both towards
and never will fight squar'. Younker do
you observe how close that white man
Is WdIcn1nR us ?!
ut is natural he should do So.
Have you ever seed him afore2'
mo; he's a stranger TO me. Have you
ever met him p"
Lots of times; him and me is old &C
quaintances."
Ashbridge was astonished to hear his
friend speak thus. He did not under
stand what he meant
There was the f1atboat that had now
drifted almost opposite and was less than
100 yards away.
The white man. with his arm still rest
ing on the sweep at his side continued
watching the two as though they be-
longed to some strange species which he
had never seen before.
Lame Bear held his crouching posture,
but knowing he must have been observed
by the white men made no particular
evil face was nearly a foot above the
gunwale.
Like most Of his people he sported the
eagle feathers in his hair and his coun-
tenance was hideous to the last degree.
because Of the horribly grotesque manner
I'm which he had laid on the yellow, black
red and white paint.
Not only did IL show in streaks. but
was in circles and crosses, giving the
broad countenance such a frightful ap-
pearance that ii suggested the front of
Satan himself
A foot or two to the right OF this appa-
rition protruded several inches of a rifle
barrel.
That Lame Bear had the weapon in his
grasp and was on the alert to send I'm a
treacherous shot was certain. Kenton
knew 1t, and without seeming 20 do so
"A.