The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1906-03-24
CHAPTER XI.

| conceaIment. and the two young men
! were soon gliding down the river. Nor
| wood had not forgotten to inform his
comrade about the circumstances of lind
| ing the spot where a canoe had evidently
| been drawn up, and of the strange con-
duct of Vesuvius. For several hours
they silently piled the paddles, always
| keeping close to the shore.
They had reached place where the
river made a sudden sweep to the left.
and was much wider, when man APP
peared on the opposite bank and be-
sought them in an imprisoned manner
| to come to his assistance.
| Simon Kenton paid no attention to
his entreaties. which astonished Allan
very much. whose ears were ever open
| to the cries Of those in distress.
"What do you want?" asked our hero,
| touched with pity by the frantic en-
| treaties of the unknown. and, apparent
| ly. greatly terrified individual.
"I've escaped from the Wyandots:
| they are after me, and l cannot cross
| the river; come and take me off, if you
| are Christians" returned the man, who
| continued to run along the shore. wiring
ing his hands as the boat passed on.
"Let us take him into the boat" said
| Allan.
Kenton smiled, and shook his head,
and the man redoubled his cries, protest
| ing that the Indians would soon reca p
ture him if he did not succeed in getting
| across the river.
"Poor fellow exclaimed Norwood.
"Come, my friend, this is unlike you!
Are you not touched by the terrible
fears and miserable condition of the
wretched man?"
"Not l." said kenton. "This distress
Is not real; It is an Infamous plot to
allure us to the other side. The white
scoundrel is backed by score Of red
skins. no doubt"
"Are you really in earnest!' asked
Norwood.
Perfectly so. You are laying a trap
to deceive u.s. said KentOn, ceasing to
use his paddle.
The fellow on shore solemnly protest
ed that he was not, but was acting in
perfect good faith.
Glow many Indians are there up in
the woods behind your resumed Ken
ton. laying down his paddle.
The man swore that there was not one
there to his knowledge: but he expected
every moment the woods would be full
of them, when he, unfortunate fellow,
would perhaps be burned at the stake,
the subject of tortures impossible to de-
scribe
snow back water little. and keep
the boat steady" whispered Kenton;
then addressing the fellow In distress:
IF we go ashore. you promise to play
us no Indian tricks?''
Not trick" was the reply; and the
white impostor called heaven and earth,
and the Maker Of both, to witness his
truthfulness.
Turn the boat quite round, head to
the opposite shore, so as to bring you
between myself and him." said Kenton,
in allow voice.
What if he should prove to be no
impostor after aff?'' remarked Allan. :
Nonsense! Look! l can see a paint
ed face peeping from behind a bush.
drop your paddle and let fly at the In
dian, If you get chance"
The little boat now lay quietly upon
the water; and before the man on shore
perceived what was intended. Kenton
raised his piece and discharged it.
The white man fell-scrambled to his
feet-and fell a second time. Allan had
kept watch of the red face behind the
bush, and the instant Kenton fired, seiz-
ed his own rifle and followed his exam
pie with all the celebrity and precision of
a practiced hunter. The painted visage
disappeared, and loud warwhoop re-
sounded through the forest.
"You see I was right" said Kenton.
"You have finished your fellow, and the
white renegade has got what he won't
get over in hurry"
His distress seems to be more real
now" observed Allan, as the wounded
man attempted to recover his feet for
the third time with no better success
than before.
Indians appeared on the bank of the
river, and our two friends were saluted
| with shower of balls.
"Load your rifles" said Kenton, cool
ly, "and l will pull up close to the shore,
and get as far out of range as possible.
Several of their balls, you see, have
| touched the boat.
Simon bent smartly to the paddle, and
| the tiny vessel shot rapidly through the
yielding waters. The young hunter re-
loaded his rife, while the bullets of the
enemy occasionally whistled past his
ears, splintered the boat, or, their force
being spent, fell harmless a few feet
| from them.
| Several Of them are at work
In the water; wonder what they are
| doing?' said Allan
| 'They have doubtless sunk a canoe
there, and are now raising it; they in.
tend to follow u.s.
| You are right; they are dragging d
| birchen vessel from the water"
| The canoe had left the opposite bank
and was now rapidly approaching. pro-
PEELED by four savages.
'They are Miamis," observed Kenton
i I'VE must sink them"
But how? Rife balls make but small
holes; we might perforate the bark in
dozen places below the waterlins and
not affect our purpose"
We have been trying some expert
ments ut Boonesborough lately, with
balls linked together in this manner, =
replied Kenton. holding up two bullets
fastened together by small chain
about eight inches longs These balls,
kwhen projected from the rifle. separate