The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-11-29
CHAPTER XxIv-Continued.

any different 1 don't believe I could DO
much myself. If l was i'm your fix, eX
cept to butt with my head. and 1 never
seed one of your kind that was good
at that. All you've got to do is TO stay
where you are. and you can't very well
help doing that and if l can fix it so
you and me can fight this thing out, you
kin depend on me to do is
AS Kenton stepped from the canoe to
walk up the slope he took from the
inside Of his hunting skirt a large white
handkerchief which he usually carried
with him and held it above his head.
The ShawanOes could not fail to recog-
nize the flag of truce. Whether they
would respect it remained to be seen.
Probably they would do so for time,
owing to the peculiar circumstances sur
rounding it.
1t was trying situations for the scout
for many a man, as he we'll knew, had
been wantonly shot down while advanc-
ing with this sign of comfy. He showed
no faltering. however, walking with de-
liberate gait. his gaze on the front of
the cabin. assured that every eye in the
building was secretly watching him,
while his friends on the fat-boat fairly
held their breadth under the tension OF
their nerves.
Those on the craft expected him to
hail the house before reaching it, but
instead Of doing so he advanced until
close to the massive door, whose heavy
timbers rendered it as strong as the side
Of the cabin itself.
While it could be secured on the in
side with powerful wooden crossbars, yet
e IL h.
pulling in the latch string When that
was out a twitch would raise the fasten-
ing within and a gentle pressure would
cause the structure to swing back on its
hinges.
Before KentOn arrived az the door he
noted the leathern string dangling
through the oriice above the latch.
That was to be expected, for the Shaw
anoes wished the whites to walk inside
with no misgivings until too late to
save themselves.
With his rifle in his left hand he
reached out his right and pulled the
string. Instantly the latch was raised
and the door swung inward of its own
weight BY means Of the string, which
he retained in his grasp. he checked and
held the door mOtionless with only a
the windows for the dozenth time,
but saw none OF the enemies he was
certain We're inside.
Instead of entering he called i'm Shaw
anoe through the partly open door:
"The white man wishes TO speak to his
brother; he has something TO say in his
ear"
He paused for reply, but the stiffness
was unbrOken.
Could it be that he was in error after
oil? No; he knew he was not.
'HellOa, Girty l know you are In
there, so you may as we'll answer; l
know. too. you've got a lot Of varmints
with you" said kenton in English; you
may think you kin fool me, but you
can't"
The listener heard a football. Some
one was moving across the lower floor,
and taking no pains TO hide the noise.
Suddenly the renegade, with his red
face. his sandy whiskers. his small gray
eyes, his frowsy hair, his coonskin cap,
his weapons and hunting costume, pre-
scented himself at the door near enough
for his former friend and acquaintance
20 touch him had he wished with his
outstretched arm.
Girty was angered and uttered an ex-
eCratiOn.
What do you mean by this?" he de-
manded.
Kenton, who always had a perception
of the grotesque side of things. smiled.
Now, see here. Slime, do you think
it's a squar deal to bring a lot Of
friends into a mans house in this style
without asking leave2 The younker
left the latch-string out, as he always
does, but that didn't mean you were 10
fetch all the varmints you could scare
up on both sides of the Ohio with you
when you called on him.
You're the infernalest chap l ever
l<nowed" remarked the renegade. still
angry, don't you see We kin send you
hinder quickern a wink Of the eyer"
so you kin: so you kin, though /
come to you under flag of truce"
ITO the mischief with your flag Of
truce! what do we care for that?"
Not much. that's true; you kin send
me under. but in the same second The
Panther will start for his happy hunting
grounds"
That's all that saved you" remarked
Girty with a peculiar expression, but
now you're here, what do you want?"
How many varmints have you in
side?"
1t will be noted that the white men
were convePsing in English. While
most OF the tribe could not speak or
understand the language. there were
number, like The Panther, who knew
considerable Of il. The two Simons
were talking with the knowledge that
every word spoken was heard and fully
or partly cOmprehended by the Indians
within the cabin.
When. therefore. KentOn asked the
question just given. the renegade made
instant response:
Ten"
But even while he spoke he moved
the fingers and thumb of his left hand,
and partly closed one of the eyes that
were looking straight into the face Of
Kenton. The latter nodded. He caught
on" instead of ten warriors being
within the number was just half that.
Yes ten OF the best warriors Of the
Shawanoes-enough TO take the scalps
of twice as many palefaces; we are
waiting for you"
How long do you mean 10 wait +?
You see il amt a big house, Slime, and
there's hardly room for all inside
We're not going in till you come out"
I'VE will keep the house; we shall
stay as long as we wish; when We get
ready We'll set IL afire and come out
and take your scalps."
That's big talk, but IL won't work
with us. We've got Wa-On-mOn, The
Panther and I'll make you this propo-
sition, which you can explain to your
friends: If you and they will come out
and go off in the woods and not do any,
thing to harm our folks and promise to
leave us alone, / will set the chieftain
free. give him back his knife and gun
and tOmahawk and let him follow YOU -
There were some singular features
about this proposition, the most singu-
lar OF which was that in making IL
KentOn was fully aware that not the
slightest reliance could be placed upon
the Shawanoes observing a single one