his followers; "keep stout hearts--don't get
melancholy; for in this here world we've got to take things as we find
'em; and no doubt this storm's all for the best, ef we could only see
ahead like into futurity."

With this consoling reflection the hunter again quickened his pace, and
pressed forward until the shadows of evening warned him to seek out an
encampment for the gathering night. Accordingly, sweeping the adjoining
country with an experienced eye, his glance soon rested on a rocky
ridge, some quarter of a mile to the right, at whose base he judged
might be found a comfortable shelter from the coming rain. Communicating
his thoughts to his companions, all immediately quitted the trail and
advanced toward it, where they arrived in a few minutes, and found, to
their delight, that the experienced woodsman had not been wrong in his
conjectures. A cave of no mean dimensions was fortunately discovered,
after a short search among the rocks, into which all now gathered; and
striking a light, they made a small fire near the entrance; around which
they assembled and partook of the refreshments brought with them--Boone
declaring he had not tasted a morsel of food since leaving Boonsborough
early in the morning. The meal over, the young men disposed themselves
about the cave in the best manner possible for their own comfort: and
being greatly fatigued by their journey, and the revels of the night
previous, they very soon gave evidence of being in a sleep too deep for
dreams. Boone sat by the fire, apparently in deep contemplation, until
a few embers only remained; then pointing Caesar to his place near the
entrance, he threw himself at length upon the ground, and was soon
imitating the example of his young comrades.

Early in the evening it came on to blow very hard from the east; and
about midnight set in to rain, as Boone had predicted; which it
continued to do the rest of the night; nor were there any signs of its
abatement, when the party arose to resume their journey on the following
morning.

"What can't be cured must be endured," said Boone, quoting an old
proverb, as he gazed forth upon the storm. "We must take sech as comes,
lads, without grumbling; though I do'nt know's thar's any sin in wishing
it war a little more to our liking. Howsomever," he added, "prehaps it
won't be so much agin us arter all; for the red varmints mayhap 'll
think as how all traces of 'em have been washed away, and, feeling safe
from pu