pest interest, for he felt a strong
attachment to both of the parties, and he cherished the hope that the
fearful personal encounters between them would give way, sooner or
later, to a more charitable, if not to a gentler feeling.

"De reason de fout didn't take place," explained Jethro, "was 'cause de
Panther got scared and runned away."

The reply was, in effect, that which was made by Daniel Boone when
discussing the question with Kenton.

"You are mistaken in supposing Wa-on-mon was frightened; he is afraid of
no man."

"What den made him get skeered at Mr. Kenton?"

"He did not. The Panther's heart is full of bitterness toward the white
people. He saw, by hurrying off, a chance to do greater harm to those
whom he regards as intruders upon the hunting grounds of his people;
that is why the two did not meet."

"Mr. Kenton says de Panther hab shot women and children, and done de
wust tings dat you can tink of."

"Simon Kenton is a truthful man."

"And I know he hab tried to do a worser ting dan dat."

"Impossible! What can it be?"

"He tried to step into my mouf when I war asleep."

The brave old pioneer preachers were as full of humor as they were of
tenderness or pathos. Mr. Finley threw back his head and shook with
laughter, though it was noticeable that it was as silent as that of
Leatherstocking when that inimitable hero was amused with anything that
took place in the woods.

The missionary made the youth give him the particulars of the incident,
and despite the tragic atmosphere by which it was surrounded, he
appreciated its grotesque features. Before he had grasped the whole
occurrence he shuddered at the tempest of fury that he knew had been
awakened to life in the breast of the terrible chieftain of the
Shawanoes.

"To think of his being flung to the ground by this young man, of his
being struck by him, and then bound and held for hours in captivity--ah,
me! I pray that this colored youth may never fall into the power of
Wa-on-mon. Much I fear that yesterday's events have so deepened the
hatred of the chieftain, that the truth can make little impression upon
his heart."

By questioning and comment, Mr. Finley gradually gained an accurate idea
of the perilous situation of the pioneers who were on their way to the
block-house to escape the storm that was already bursting from the sky.
The information, however, that he filtered through the brain of Jethro
Juggens could not fail to be mystifyin