The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-10-25
CHAPTER XIV.

years, anu Was uOleu dS one Vi tire SWSce-
est singers at many of the old-fashioned
camp-meetings in the West during the
early years of the present century.
Although the hero of some of the
fiercest encounters with the red men and
one whose daring was never surpassed
among a class noted for personal in
trepidity, he often showed the SYM
pathetic tenderness of a woman.
1t may be said OF him that he always
fought honorably and fairly and left
name unstained by a single unworthy
deed.
1t has already been intimated that he
was under deep obligations to the man
who was his exact opposite in every
respect-Simon Girty, the renegade. This
ferocious miscreant, of whom scarcely
the slightest good can be told, once saved
Kenton from being burned to death at
the stake by Indians.
1t was Girty who sat on a horse and
laughed at the wretched Col. Crawford
when horde of warriors and squaws
were torturing him and he begged the
white man to shoot him and end his
misery.
The one service Girty rendered Kenton
prevented the latter from seeking the life
of him who was the sworn enemy Of all
his race.
The scout was ready at all times to do
his utmost to defeat the plans of the evil
person and hesitated not to shoot down
his companions in wrong-doing, but he
could not visit injury upon the renegade
himself.
This will give the key to the converse
ton between the two at the time it was
conducted in the Shawanoe language.
The listening Girty on his boat was
quick to comprehend that the scheme
of himself and The Panther had miscar-
ried even before he learned the par
ticulars.
The warrior who effected his escape so
cleverly swan desperately back to the
flatboat and made known the disaster
that had followed the attempt to out
wit the settlers on the other craft
The disguised voice of Kenton had
prevented the renegade from suspecting
the truth, and he was puZZling his brain
to understand how it had all come about,
when to his establishment he heard him
self hailed in tones which he instantly
identified and in the tongue OF the
Shawanoes.
oval. Slime. we got the best of you
that time"
The renegade felt that the occasion
which he used in demanding further ex-
PLANTATION from his old acquaintance.
THAT chap you had the talk with
awhile ago was me-" replied Kenton. Il
used another voice, for 1 was laying
low"
wal. you did play it on me fine. Ken
ton It's the worst trick L ever had
worked on me- replied the renegade,
who now comprehended it all. L don't
s'pose thar's any need asking you why
you done it, but it doesn't beat the trick
one of our men played after he got
aboard of your boat"
But it beat the way The Panther
managed things.
WHATS the matter with The Pan
ther?"
This is the boat the Ashbridges are
on: there are others beside EN-; were
strong 'nough to lick a company twice
as big as yours. I'm talking with sim
gle tongue. now. Slime; L seed your canoe
leave the other side of the fiatboat and
knowed what was up. l kept the rest
of the folks out of sight and waited for
The Panther and the warrior with him.
81 haven't heerd any gun fired, so
reckon The Panthers all right"
There's where you're mistook; we've
got him here tied hand and foot"
'Is that honest, Sime?'
LAS true as gospel
Il s'pose you'll lift his ha'r and send
him under"
mot while he's a prisoner; I'll give
him a chance and then it'll be him or
me-"
II pity him." was the complimentary
remark of the renegade; but don't for
git Kenton, that he'll fight like the
devil"
.'That suits me; itn make things
powerfully interesting"
''Why are you speaking in Shawanoe?"
"'Cause / don't want my friends to
understand what we say"
''Why not?'
81 want to give you warning; were
coming over i'm a few minutes in our
canoe to attack you; they're determined
and 1 can't make any good excuse agin
it,"
"'spose we stay and fight it out?"
It'll be bad for you; take my advice
and leave
How soon are you comin'?''
Inside of five minutes I'm doing this,
Slime. cause of the favor you once done
me; don't wait, go at once"
"Iil be gone when you arrive"
What about the varmints with your"
'Thar's only two; they'll go with me-"
You're showing good sense, for it's
all that will save you
This in substance is what passed be-
tween Kenton and Girty just before the
canoe left the side of the fiatboat with
three fully armed men to assail the party
that had exterminated the McDougall
family The reason why the Shawanoe
tongue was used is apparent to the
reader.
Nothing in the manner of the ranger,
however. indicated the harmless double
dealing on his part. He handled the
paddle with nOiseless SKILL and warned
his companions to be silent and on the
alert.
We've got a powerful advantage" he
whispered, "'cause they won't be look
ing for nothing of the kind; nevertheless
and howsumever, I'll paddle down
stream and come round by the bow
where they won't be so likely to obsarve
u.s."
He carried out this plan. Without APP
preaching the fiatboat he sent the canoe
Swimming with the current until so far
below the big craft that ii was barely
discernible through the gloom. Then,
with the same caution he turned and
padded strait for the boat of their enc
mics.
"I'n lead the way over the side, if
alPs clear" he added, checking the
canoe under the sloping stern There
don't seem to be any one on the watch,
but wait till give the word. If we git
on board without them seeing US we've
got 'em."
Ashbridge and Altman followed in
structions ia spirit and letter Firmly
grasping their rifles, they sat motionless
in the small boat and watched their
guide, who stepped from it so deity
as TO cause no perceptible jar. Then he
silently vanished.
This brought the trying moment. The
T. 81