The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-11-08
CHAPTER XIX.
The SignnI.


Simon Kenton was alone at the front
of the fiatbOat, and it was past midnight.
All of his friends were asleep, and he
was their human protector while they
remained unconscious.
Little fear of those keen, alert, PEN
etrating eyes closing in slumber before
their owner willed they should do so.
Not a sign remained of the fiatbOat
to which he had applied the torch. and
the same profound stiffness broOded over
forest and river that he had noted
times without number during his jour-
neyings to and fro in the almost unset
tied West. Looking northward toward
Ohio the solemn wilderness stretched
away until lost in the obscurity. and 1t
was the same in the direction of Ken
lucky.
The moon, far up in inc sky. illumined
the tranquil stream with it's silvery
glow and shed a radiance which rem
derer it impossible for any one to ap-
proach the craft unobserved unless the
sentinel should fall asleep. and that, as
we have already said, could not occur.
The scout looked up at the gibbous
moon and the few twinkling stars.
Naturally of reflective turn of mind,
despite his roughness of speech and the
adventurous life he had led, Simon Ken
toms thoughts often took a trend al
most unknown to his comrades.
There was a missionary at the block
house last winter, and he told us about
one that lives beyond them stars and
keeps watch of his creatures down here
on earth. / know it's so, for my good
old mother used to tell me the same
thing when | was a younker just learn
ing to talk and could only kneel at her
knee and say my prayers after her
I've never forgot EN-" added the
ranger with a peculiar thrill Of pride;
that is, l haven't forgot the words,
and I've said 'em over a good many
times. though the circumstances weren't
always ca'clated to compose a fellers
mind, FIR instance, when a dozen of the
Varmints were chasing me through the
woods and me lodging their bullets.
It's all true, everything they say
about Him; He watches what every one
of us does and never forgets it. L hope
He doesn't see many things done by
Slime Kenton that brings a frown. When
l do go under. as all Of us has got to
do, one of these days, l mean that
shan't be afeard to stand up straight
when l meet Him and answer to my
name in loud voice"
The training Of the ranger would not
allow him TO forget his surroundings
He felt his responsibility i'm caring for
those on the boat. and though his
thoughts took the serious turn noted
he did not lose sight of where he was
and OF the peril that was never wholly
lifted from him and them.
From where he stood he had but to
take "A single step forward to see The
Panther, who held the position already
described. IL would have been easy to
believe the ShawanOe was asleep, but
Kenton was not deceived. The keenest
scrutiny failed TO show any movement
OH IF unCitfpn httt all that
his dark brain was busy conjuring up
some method Of outwitting his captors.
THE varmint may shet his eyes, but
he sees all the same; hes as fast on the
trail as Deerfoot, and can fight like a
catamount when he's a mind to. If I
a thrill so him and me can meet on
the squar' and have il out. where I'll
feel il my bounden duty 10 put in my
best ticks. why the amusement will be
of the highest natur' that Slime Kenton
ever sOt eyes on
Although he had examined and tight
ened the bonds Of the prisoner. the scout
could not free his mind of a certain mis-
giving. 1t seemed unnatural for the
chieftain To submit so meekly and hold
! a mOtionless posture, as though crushed
with despair. The ShawanOe had no
warrant to expect mercy from the
pioneers, and ought to fight to the end.
Hes Matching mischief" was the con-
clusion of Kenton; he isn't gOin' to set
| there and hold his head bent over for
| many hours as though inviting some one
10 come along and whack him on the
| crown; Injins amt got up in that style"
CHANGING at the bent figure of the pris-
| oner, the scout looked over the family
| illumined river. The Shawanoes knew
| that one of their leaders was a helpless
captive on the flatboat. and they were
sure to try some scheme for rescuing or
helping him to escape.
Far out in the direstion of the Ken
| lucky shore the CLASSY surface of the
! Ohio showed a widening ripple that
| could not have been caused by wind, for
there was none stirring. The night was
| sultry, rendering sleep more comfortable
in the open air than in the cabin.
1t took keen study to detect the gentle
| disturbance. but almost at the moment
il came within the field of vision, the
| ranger noted it, He knew it meant some
| thing 1t may be said he was expecting
| a demonstration of that nature.
He did not change his own posture, but
/ fixed his gaze upon the rippleS His
| woodcraft prevented his neglecting the
| other approaches TO the fiatbOat 1t was
| not impossible that this was a diversion
| designed to hold his attention while the
| real peril approached from another point.
| He was watching for the appearance
| of a canoe. but quickly perceived that
| whatever was coming was in the river
| Itself.
| lone of the varmints wants to take a
| look at this craft was the conclusion
| of the sentinel on the alert to use his
| rifle. He meant to send a bullet through
/ the brain of the enemy the moment IL
| came with range, but while awaiting the
| second to do so, he observed the resem-
| blance of the front to that of a bear.
| This might well be and still belong &c
| the head of an Indian, for. as the reader
| is aware. a favOrite practice of the
| American race is TO deceive foe by per-
| sonating animals of the forest.
| Whoever was swimming from the Ken
| lucky to the Ohio shore was not doing II
| in a line with the fiatbOat. His course
| was fifty feet or more below the craft
and the nearer the object approached
/ the more convinced became Kenton that
| il was what il seemed. In the first place
| that which he saw bore a wonderful re.
| semblance to the head of bruin and the
| swimmers method resembled that of the
| brute.
Again. the scout could not figure out
what was to be gained by an Indian
| playing the part of an animal. The sen
| tinel was certain TO penetrate the de.
/ ception before the warrior could clint
| over the side Of the boat. Nevertheless
| Kenton watched with the utmost close
| ness every movement of the unknown.
The next discovery was that the latter
! was swimming precisely bear swims
| IL IL was a warrior i'm disguise the coun.
| terfeit was the most perfect the ranger
| had ever seen.
The swimmer did not change his course
| until directly below the boat. Then foI
| the first time he seemed TO observe the
J motionless craft. His progress became