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

, IOuHu the scout, anu more IMAM one
asked the question:
What's to be done?''
"Continner getting breakfast" was the
| reply, addressing Mrs. Altman and Ash
\ bridge; they won't hurt long
| we stay On the boat, so we can take
! things easy"
Every eve was turned with renewed
] interest in the direction of the primitive
structure, and sought to learn the means
by which the guide had made the alarm
ing discovery which fell from his lips.
as might have fallen the declaration
that change in the weather was inn
| pending.
You don't diskiver anything wrong"
he inquiringly remarked. with his pc
culiar smile, addressing the group gen
orally.
we have examined it closely" said
Mr.. Ashbridge, 'and are at a loss to
know the cause of your discovery"
I observed ii all long" remarked
Jethro, knowingly.
What did you notice?" inquired Ken
| ton, turning toward the negro, who
stood just behind the others.
Dat chimbley amt 'zactly plumb;
looked as dough it had been knocked
kinder sideways"
What has that got to do with the
varmints?"
"A good deal; de moment dat I dis
cumnoticed it | knowed dat heather
| had stqbbed his toe again it and
Why didn't you tell us, them"
81 war gwine to afore yo' went ashore
| but 1 wanted to see wheder any OBJ yo'
| had sharp 'nough eyes TO discumcover
/ it,"
There isn't anything about the cab
in, resumed KentOn, with another
I glance at it. that shows any of the
| Varmints are in there. but l felt in my
bones something was wrong"
But what are your reasons for feel
aHNrr IL
I that so clear-headed man Kenton
must possess a tangible reason for the
astonishing declaration that had fallen
| from his lips.
In the fust place. Girty and the
| varmints knowed where we was going:
they <nowed we was making for this
/ clearing and intended to land and GO
| into that cabin.
What a pity we did not reach the
| other fiatboat before the renegade and
the Shawanoes Left said Altman, bit
terly.
Yes, it was a dreadful pity" was
the innocent comment of the scout:
but. as | was saying. the varmints
! knowed the pint we were aiming at
and they had plenty of time to get
| there ahead of us. 1 made up my
/ mind that that was the likeliest thing
| TO happen. IL generally comes about
| when a scrimmage takes place between
! the VarmintS and some of our folks
\ IL the NdIIllDlS lndl are outside and
/ the whites inside; but il happens to be
| tother way now, and them as is inside
| has a powerful sight the best chance"
What is their plan2"
They mean To keep out of sight until
| we land and start To enter the house.
| Then they'll pick US off without getting
scratch themselves"
Oars one thing sartin' remarked
| Jethro, amid the oppressive silence:
dem Injins haint got no bus ness in
! oar; Mr.. Ashbridge owns de place and
| he Orter make EN- pay rent for de time
! dey ockerpies it, ] hope he'll salt 'em
| good
The others were too alarmed to heed
| these words.
II would like to understand one thing
| Kenton," said Mr.. Ashbridge. that is
| whether what you have told us is based
| on the reasoning of which you have
! just spoken. or whether YOU have Ger
| tain knowledge of the Indians being
| in the cabin.
IT'S sartin knowledge" replied the
| scout.
In what manner was the knowledge
| gained?''
Il seed one of the varmints with my
| own eyes"
About sunup. the boat warn't morn'n
| fairly to rest, when | took good squint
| at the cabin for / had plenty of mis-
/ givings and no mistake. At the upper
window, on the right of the door, as we
face the house. / catched a glimpse of
| painted face, just the corner of his
| head, as though he was peeping from
| behind tree to draw a bead with his
rife. 1t was only a second for them
varmints are powerful keerfuI but il
was enough. 1t told the story as plain
as if they had come out and told IL
| themselves
This statement. made by any one else.
would not have been credited. but com
ing from KentOn, no one doubted a syl-
| liable.
Jethro Juggens opened his mouth to
| offer suggestion but frown from his
master hushed the words before they
/ were uttered
Il understand" said Ashbridge. you
/ saw only one, while you speak of
number
| do you 'spose that one of the var
minis would hide himself in there to
/ wait for us to come through the door,
But you cannot know the exact num-
Der"
| mo; there may be half dozen or
/ twice as many. They know how many
/ of us are on the hatboat, and they
/ wouldn't wait in there unless they were
| sartin theY's enough to send us all I'M
/ der"
| This was reasonable. and none ven
/ tured to dispute the conclusion. The Wig
| orous appetites which had all expert
enced a short time before were sensibly
affected. except perhaps. in the case
/ of Jethro, who cast longing eyes at the
| women busy preparing the coffee, whose
aroma filled the air.
I'VE are ready" said Mrs. Ashbridge,
| quietly; but neither of us feels much
like eating breakfast
/ Eat when you've got the chance is
/, my law" observed Kenton, for you
don't know when another chance will
| come"
Denis my sentiments likewise as
| sented Jethro, and dey're berry wise"
And so the two women, two girls and
five men grouped themselves in Irregular
| the bread had been placed after cutting
into slices, with the steaming coffee ready
10 be poured into the tin cups. These
| comprised the morning meal At an
| other time il would have proven scant
| but there was abundance now.
When all was ready, and before any
had partaken, Thomas Altman bent his
| head, and in a few words asked the
blessing Of heaven upon the food and
| the continued protecting care of their
| divine Father in the perils which en-
! comprised them all
! 1t impressive sight all the
| heads bowed, while the murmured
prayer found an echo i'm every heart.
| They had passed through many dangers,
and had been mercifully preserved, but
| 1t began to look as If their situation was
more helpless than at any time before.
Hardly a word was spoken during the
| simple meal. Many covert chances were
| cast In the direction of the clearing. but