The Phantom of the River

he party that halted on their way through the Kentucky wilderness to the block-ho

ges and Altmans gathered around the pioneer to hear what h

d the group that surrounded the tall, athletic figure-all excepting little Mabel Ashbridge, who was just gett

s as quick as Boone and Kenton to comprehend

question of Kenton, "and we can do it in two or thr

ou to make thi

Gulch," was

e matter w

he Shawanoes mea

ave fixed things to do, and if they can do it they'll wipe out every one of this party. Boone and me made u

ghly roused, "the woods are so matted and choked with dense undergrowth on both sides of the gulch t

hatic comment of Kenton,

, or make the rest of the journey through the Ohio woods? We who know how to swim can take ove

ver since we've left the clearing. They know everything you do. Afore you could get half-way cross the river with the ra

strange to me," he added, with a glance around, as if he expected to catch sight of some of their terrible enemies, "t

dance to lively music if they tried it. That's what holds 'em back, for these chaps," remark

hall not reach Rattlesnake Gulch until after dark, and then, instead of attempting to go through it, we wil

then, if we stop here?"

t it means-more'n likely they've already done so," added Kenton, with another glance around him, "and then when they see you setting or standing or lolling around, without any partic'lar reason for your doi

as to convince the Indians that we intend to follow the path through the gulch w

t precisely,

? I know of no one beside y

ack there and get it, that is, if it is still there. I'll try to keep so close in under the bank that the varmints won't know what I'm driving at. I'll manage to reach a p'int just this side o

o make two trips

s on this side not fur from the gulch. If that's there, I'l

out with the redskins," remarked

ry, for as it is you've got too much time now on your hands. If you find you're getting too near Rattlesnake Gulch afore sun-down, you

shbridge, with a smile, slyly pressing the hand of Agnes, standin

e for Jethro to get s

e him; "de bestest way to fix dat will be to stuff me so full of victuals dat I

here any longer; I leave you in charge of

away, when Jethro Juggens

t yo'," said the colored youth, with a

ger, who, as already stated, held a kindl

s it in my bones; I tink yo' oughter hab s

ou like

n, and I's willin' to take keer ob yo'

arked characteristic of Simon Kenton, sometimes un

er, you shall t

he two walked off side by side, and dis

after they were beyond sight of their friends: "You'll t

s me 'bo

do, and won't speak or move witho

r move without fust askin' me; I

bid t'other to stir or speak, we'd have to stand still forever. I'll a

y wid yo', Mr. Kenton, and let yo' start in," replied Jethro, somewhat p

bidding him to speak a word, but to watch and listen to the utmost. The sun was in the horizon when

any disturbance since the departure of the pioneers, and the unladen flatboat rested against the bank, just where it lay when the

keen vision was unable to discover the first outline of the bow or stern. Since it cou

've been there since we left, and more'n likely some of 'em are there now; but I'

ee yo' don't get hurt?"

ir, nor breathe, till I come back," replied the ranger, making ready t