The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-10-18
CHAPTER XII.
Lively Work.

Wonderful as was the woodcraft of
Simon Kenton, the events of his stirring
life proved that is was not always keen
enough to protect him in personal peril,
and it would be wrong conception of
his character and career to represent
him as never failing to get the better
of his enemies in the exciting game of
strategy.
He was now confronted by two foes
as wonderfully cunning as himself.
Though they credited, like Girty, the
declaration that only one man was on
board the second flatboat, they were too
cautious to accept it as a fact without
some investigation of their own.
At the moment. therefore, when the
canoe was within a few rods of the
larger craft and the scout was bracing
himself for the encounter, one of the
Shawanoes silently let himself in to the
water and, armed only with knife and
tomahawk, began swimming toward the
flatboat.
He was repeating the tactics Of the
scout himself, and doing it with some
amazing cleverness, for instead of swim
ming on the surface he dropped beneath
and easily passed the intervening space,
coming up at the stern and near enough
to reach the gunwhale with outstretched
hand.
Doing this with the same absence of
noise shown from the first he slowly
raised himself high enough to peer over
the side of the boat
He noted the piles and boxes, but
could see only one person. He was
standing at the 'front.' looking in the
direction Of the canoe. His posture
proved he had detected it, and was Won
dering what it meant.
The fine sense of hearing enabled the
Shawanoe scout to note the gentle breath
ing of the inmates of the cabin at his
side. That was contirmatory of the sus-
picion that these helpless ones had but
the single defender.
The watching and listening friends
were so securely concealed behind the
luggage, and held their positions with so
much care that the intruder neither
heard nor saw anything of them.
But the faint moonlight told him the
solitary white man possessed great
strength and activity. He held his rifle
at his side, and doubtless was armed
in other respects. He would fight like
a tiger in the defense of his family. 1t
would not do, therefore, to make an open
attack on him. Strategy must be re-
sorted to. The dusky scout must steal
upon him unawares or wait for the help
of his companion.
An unusually large box offered a
| chance for greater concealment. 1t was
a few feet to his right, and, with the
same marvellous stiffness, the warrior
| shifted his position until the screen was
between him and the sentinel
No greater proof of the Shawanoe's
marvellous skill can be given than the
| simple statement that Simon Kenton did
not suspect his presence and would not
| have known mischief was afoot had be
hot xrr,nr heah od ~
| two Indians in the canoe he now saw
| but one.
Reaching the right spot the dusky IL
| truder again drew himself upon the GUT
vale Only that portion of his body
| that was absolutely necessary appeared
/ above the side of the f1atboat and that
was hidden from sight by the obstacle
/ already mentioned Kenton could not
detect the redskin without changing his
| own position.
| A few seconds later the Indian had
| glided over the gunwale and was crouch
| ing behind the box which had done SO
| much good service. He was on the fiat
boat at last and even the famous scout
| did not suspect the ominous fact.
| The Indian glanced toward the rude
/ CABIN whose front was open and was al
| most within arms length. His black
serpent eyes glowed like those OF de-
mon. How easily he could creep within
| the structure and with a few quick
| fierce strokes Of the glittering knife COM
| plete an awful work.
| 1t would be all over before the man al
the other end of the boat could raise his
| arm TO prevent. Why hesitate to do it,
But the native cowardice of the mis-
creant stayed his arm. True. he might
| complete the terrible deed, but he was
| certain TO encounter the man before he
| could leap from the craft into the water
The issue of such collision, to say the
| most would be doubtful.
No; the policy Of the American Indian
Is to avoid a fair, open fight. Treachery
| cunning and merclless ferocity are his
choicest weapons. First Of all, that
dreaded figure at the stern must be re-
| moved from the path. Then would come
! the delight Of the massacre Of innocents