The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-11-22
CHAPTER xNu-Continued.


fatboat. where the ranger stood study
ing the structure with an intensity of
interest that had more significance
,Shan any one suspected.
1t is something TO be proud Of" re-
>plied Altman; you always We're ham
dy man with tools. Norman. and you've
done yourself proud-that is to say,
.ycu and George have
Father deserves all the credit" said
ffhe son; II did some hard work. but all
the planning was his. He seemed never
10 lose sight of the expected visit by
YOU" added the youth, with a meaning
glance at Agnes and her mother.
And where is to be our home?"
asked the daughter, deeply interested
in the prospect. for. childhl<e, her i'm
imagination and that Of Mabel had been
busy. They had talked about their new
home in the woods. of the fearful red
men, the bears. deer and wild animals,
and as is invariably the case, had
formed a mental picture of how every
thing would look. and is likewise the
snvariable fact. the reality proved far
different from what they had expected.
though it would seem there was little
margin for the play of fancy.
Ashbridge pointed a little to the left
of his own home and further up stream.
L think that will be a pleasant Ioca-
zion, after more of the land has been
cleared The ground is high and the
slope of the river gentle
rs it far enough back to be safe
from freshets and foods?'
George and L studied the ground
fv-s
dence that the river has ever reached
point above our cabin. How is that,
kenton?"
It's been here" replied the ranger;
''Tve seed it myself high enough to
touch the second story and swing the
building off down stream
Surely that doesn't happen often"
NO; it amt likely To be that way agin
for years. though if il had been me as
was cutting them logs together I'd
h'isted them a little further back on
higher yearth. cause il amt pleasant to
wake up in the night and find yourself
inside of a pile of logs, bobbing up and
down and turning summersets and
most of the time standing on your head
in the water with your feet sticking out
Of the chimbley-that ere thing is apt To
be powerful wearing after awhile
Il know how 10 fix dat" remarked
Jethro Juggens, who had not allowed a
word 10 escape him; mo need of being
bothered dat way"
All looked at the grave face of the
African
''Ebery time dar's a storm I'm gwine
10 roost in a tree. up among de limbs,
whar Ill be safe
Since We are likely to be crowded un-
til the new house is put up" observed
Mr.. Altman. you might as well 90 that
from the first
Berry we'll: datu SCOT me"
well. Kenton." said Mr.. Ashbridge,
cheeriy. ''let us land and eat our break
fast in our new house"
NO" quietly replied their guide:
wei eat on the boat.
Before leaving home the pioneers had
amply provided themselves with bread
The weather was too warm To preserve
meat and they had drawn most of their
supply Of solid food from the river.
which in those days. as now. contained
both variety and abundance of fish. The
fiatbOat had no stove. but near the bow
was a floor of sand spread on some
planks where primitive cooking was
done with the rude utensils at com
mand. the fish being generally prepared
Dy broiling on the Goals. Instead, now
of taking the time to catch them il was
decided to make their meal upon the
bread and the coffee. which was boiled
IN the manner already mentioned
While the two elder ladies were pre-
pairing this the others moved about the
boat, doing what they could in making
ready TO take the goods ashore. Nat
urally they were in buoyant spirits for
all felt that an epoch in their ENTERPRISE
had been reached. They seemed to for
get the perils through which they had
passed, and 10 believe that the end of
the voyage meant the end of all danger
and suffering.
kenfOn was the only roau,- .L1..-.- E,
members of the party. Now that the boat
was securely anchored off the clearing he
sat down again at the bow and continued
10 study the cabin with a closeness of in
terest shown by no one else. Rarely was
ne seen so grave and preOccupied
The Panther showed no signs OF havina,
stlrTed since taking his position the night
before. Those who stole glances at him
now and then-and all did so-fancied his
eyes We're closed and he was sleep. Posi-
Oily such was the fact. though he was
likely to awaken at any moment on tho
slightest disturbance
George Ashbridge sat a short distance
away, with his sister Mabel on his left
and Agnes Altman on his right, the
three facing the cabin on shore
We Will set 10 work at once" said he
''and in the course Of week or two will
have Just as good a home for your folks
as our own"
But they viii live with us until that
time, remarked Mabel. fondling her
brothers hand
"Of course; it would hardly be neigh
D0rly 10 make Agnes and the rest sleep
outdoors while we had a roof over US -
We shall be crowded" ventured
Agnes, with a smile.
Not so much as on the boat The
house looks small. but it is so well ar
ranged inside that we won't be incon-
venienced'
How long since you were in your new
home, GeOrge2''
Il left is yesterday before noon to pad
die up the river to meet this boat. In
stead Of meeting il ] saw another which
1 thought-but what does Kenton wish 20
asked the youth noticing that the scout
was reckoning To him.
Come here. all three Of YOU" called
the ranger in a guarded voice
The wondering group gathered around
their friend tried and true"
Now you younl<ers have all got good
eyes; | want you TO look as sharp at that
ere house As you kin and tell me whether
you see anything"
They did requested and replied that
they detected nothing 50 far as the cabin
was concerned.
IAN seems right. does it," ne asked
quzzically.
so far as we are able to Judge" re-
piled George Ashbridge, why is il you
ask the question:"
Nothing particular" replied the scout,
"oEly that ere house is full Of Ingins.
CHAPTER XXIU.
whats to Re Done.
Kenton's startling announcement that
- kf, ccnurfad ~ T~dfo Ne