The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-09-27

tndL something STIRRING was gong on,
but seeing nothing of the Shawanoes the
youth did not fully compreAend matters.
hence his query.
"Quicxl Ashbridgei Get behind
tree! The varmints are out herer'
Without further questioning the young
man instantly obeyed and stood at bay.
Kenton now rose to his feet, and keep
ing the tree between him and the war
riors, hastily finished reloading his rife.
The youth whom he had addressed
as Ashbridge being somewhat TO the
rear and thus furthest from the Shaw
anoes. was prevented from seeing where
they stood.
But for that, doubtless, he would have
received one of the shots that were wait
ing and on the point of being fired at
Kenton. 49,
But If Ashbridge failed to grasp the
whole situation, The Panther and his
companion were quick to note the
changed conditions.
Instead of holding their places and
engaging in q. contest where the chances
were equal, they fed through the woods
with the speed of the wind. They were
gone before even so matchless a marks
man as Simon Kenton could give them
parting shot.
The ranger held his ground until GER
tain no enemies We're near, when he
turned about and strobe toward the
young man who stepped from behind
the tree and extended his hand.
I m powerful glad to see you" was
the greeting Of the elder. land the wust
were one of the varmints instead of
white man."
mo harm was DONE" was the CHEEKY
reply Of the youth. did this little affair
amount to anything?'
Kenton in a few words made known
what has already been told the reader.
The lifeless figure a short distance away
told its own impressive story and the
two though familiar with scenes of vio-
lence on the frontier gladly moved in
the direction of the Ohio.
How comes 1t, George" added Ken
ton, addressing his companion by his
given name, that you are in these
parts? 1 didn't expect to set eyes on
you afore night
We'll. you understand how it is;
father and ] came down the river last
spring in the flatboat landed several
miles below, put up our cabin, cleared
off some land, and got things ready for
the folks. He left a couple of weeks
ago for our old home to bring down
mother and Mabel. / stayed behind to
look after the cabin, but it was mighty
lonesome; l figured out that 1t was
about time for the fatboat to be in
sight, and started up the river to meet
1t. There are no animals at home to
look after. and 1 don't believe anyone
will run away with the house while
I'm gone"
Not likely; but If any of the var
minis happen that way they'll be sure
to burn it down."
They would do that If was there"
mot if you made as good use of your
rifle as you know how. / was on the
way to call on you, meanln' to stay
day or two"
mo one could have been as well
come, unless it was father and mother
and sister Shall we go back there
now?"
You're looking for the fatboat?"
Yes, calculate, it must be due, I'M
less" added the youth. with a dis
tressed expression, something has hap
pened."
Let us hope not, though there's no
saying what may come in these parts
I've never knowed the redskins TO be
uglier; one of them two that slipped
away was that COMPOUNDED Wa-on-mon
or The Panther. Me and him have got
TO have It out one of these times; he
knows ii as well as me, and 1 was hop
ing we'd wind up the business today"
While the two conversed they walked
in the direction of the river, which now
was not far off. The youth as well as
the elder, did not forget their vigilance
and proceeded with the utmost stealth.
There was some fear that The Panther
and his companion might attempt to steal
upon them unawares, but had they tried
it they would have Jared i'll.
Such a proceeding as catching the
white men off their guard ranked among
the impossibilities.
Have you and your father had any
trouble with the varmints?" asked Ken
ton.
Nothing serious" replied young Ash
bridge; I'VE didn't see a sign of the In
dams until most of the land was cleared
and the cabin finished. A couple of Wy
andots q think they were) came out of
. h IL. 4 - ILL
US One of them spoke English quite
well; we cooked some venison and they
ate with u.s."
That's right enough only want to
warn you not to be fooled into thinkin
that it has made 'em friends Did YOU
ever see anything more Of emp"
The face of young Ashbridge assumed
an anxious expression as he answered:
Pm not sure about that, Kenton."
Flows that?'
About month afterward. as it was
growing dark, two Indians padded past
They kept so near the other shore that
we couldn't see clearly, but when they
were opposite they fired at us. One of
the bullets wounded fathers hand. He
said he believed they were the ones that
we had fed. but 1 was sure he was mis-
taken"
1.-THE chances are ten to one your
father was right and you war wrong"
was the comment of Senton.
And father has gone back to our old
home to bring mother and my little sister
Mabel repeated young Ashbridge, with
such an expression of anguish on his
face that Kenton's heart was touched.
Here's hoping it'll come out right,
but hear that Pres Washington is going
TO send soldiers in these parts to bring
the varmints to farms. That will be a
good thing, provided they don't get
sarved like Col. Crawford. and the rest
of 'em that don't know any more about
fghtin varmints than / do about play
ing president of the country. Hello, here
we are!'
For some minutes the light had been
increasing in front of them, as though
they were approaching an opening in the
forest
Instead of that, however, they came
out on the shore of the beautiful Ohio
river lined at that time with vast for
ests and containing only here and there
the germs of the populous cities and
| towns which now mark the flourishing
west. 4
AS the couple halted on the bank of the
stream, standing within a couple of PAGES
of the water, the scene resembled that
which would have presented itself had
| they made their visit hundreds Of years
| before when Columbus first set foot on
| the shores of the new world.
Not living person beside themselves
was within sight, nor did they catch
| the first view of the dwelling of human
being.
A mile below the river wound through
| the luxuriant forest, as though it were
| swallowed UP by it, while a sweeping