The Phantom of the River | Page 8

was the beau ideal place for an ambuscade, for it not
only offered a certain chance for the destruction of the entire party of
whites, but afforded a perfect protection against any unpleasant
consequences to the ambuscaders.
CHAPTER IV.
ON THE EDGE OF THE CLEARING.
The arrival of Kenton naturally caused a stir on the part of all the
members of the party that halted on their way through the Kentucky
wilderness to the block-house, somewhat less than ten miles distant and
on the other side of the Ohio River.
Not only Hastings and his brother rangers, but the Ashbridges and
Altmans gathered around the pioneer to hear what he had to say and the
directions as to their own proceedings.
Mr. Ashbridge and his friend Altman were roused by the murmur of
voices and the subdued excitement, and joined the group that
surrounded the tall, athletic figure--all excepting little Mabel Ashbridge,
who was just getting her tiny dam in shape, and deemed that of more
importance than listening to the conversation of the elders.
The words of Weber Hastings proved that he was as quick as Boone
and Kenton to comprehend the peculiar peril which confronted the
party.
"It isn't far to the block-house," he replied to the question of Kenton,
"and we can do it in two or three hours, if the redskins would give us

the chance."
"What caused you to make this stop, Weber?"
"Rattlesnake Gulch," was the response.
"What's the matter with that?"
"There's where the Shawanoes mean to ambush us."
"You're right," replied Kenton, nodding his head and compressing his
lips. "That's just what the varmints have fixed things to do, and if they
can do it they'll wipe out every one of this party. Boone and me made
up our minds that that was their trick. He's gone ahead to watch 'em,
and I've come back to help you folks."
"From what Mr. Hastings said," remarked the elder Ashbridge, who,
like his friend Altman, was thoroughly roused, "the woods are so
matted and choked with dense undergrowth on both sides of the gulch
that it is impossible for us to pick our way through it at night without
being heard by the Indians."
"He's right," was the emphatic comment of Kenton, "the thing can't be
done."
"That being admitted," said Altman, "why would it not be wise to cross
the river at this point, or make the rest of the journey through the Ohio
woods? We who know how to swim can take over those who cannot, or
better, perhaps, construct a raft upon which to float to the other side."
"That would be the idee exactly, if it could be hid from the varmints,
but they're watching us, and have been doing so ever since we've left
the clearing. They know everything you do. Afore you could get
half-way cross the river with the raft they would open on you from the
woods on both sides, and pick off each woman and gal and them as was
pushing the raft."
"I do not doubt what you say," observed Altman, with a shudder at the

graphic picture drawn by the scout, "but it seems strange to me," he
added, with a glance around, as if he expected to catch sight of some of
their terrible enemies, "that they have not already opened upon us,
while we are here in camp, as may be said. What better chance could
they ask?"
"They could pick off a number of you, but Weber here and the rest of
the boys would make them dance to lively music if they tried it. That's
what holds 'em back, for these chaps," remarked Kenton, looking
proudly around upon his companions, "have fout the varmints afore
to-day."
"Then we are doing the only thing possible, by remaining here until it
becomes so late in the day that we shall not reach Rattlesnake Gulch
until after dark, and then, instead of attempting to go through it, we will
cross the river, I presume, though I am not aware of the decision that
has been reached by Mr. Hastings."
"What will they suspect, then, if we stop here?" asked George
Ashbridge.
"Now you've hit the trouble. When they find you don't arrive at some
p'int where they've been looking for you, they'll know you're stopped.
Some of their spies will sneak back through the woods to l'arn what 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 doing
so, they'll understand the real cause powerful quick. As soon as they
diskiver you don't mean to try the Rattlesnake Gulch route, they'll fix
things to open onto you, and send as many