edge of the river, and then all six slid silently
into the water, which received them and enveloped them to the chin.
Henry, Seth Cole, and a man named Tom Wilmore bore the three iron pots
above their heads, swimming with a single hand.

CHAPTER XV

THE DEED IN THE DARK

Henry was the leading swimmer, but he paused ten yards from the shore
and the others paused with him. Six black dots hung in a row on the dark
surface of the river. But so well did they blend with the shadow of the
stream that an Indian eye on the bank, no matter how sharp, might have
passed them over.

"The thing to do," said Henry, "is to make no noise. We must swim
without splashing and we've got to find that flatboat with the cannon on
it. You understand?"

Not a word was said in reply, but five heads nodded, and the silent six
resumed their swim across the Ohio. They had entered the stream as far
up as possible in order that they might go diagonally toward the south,
thus taking advantage of the current.

Henry turned over on his back, floating easily with the help of one hand
and holding the little pot above his face. Once he opened it a little to
feel that it was still warm from within, and, satisfied that it was so,
he floated silently on. His position made it easiest for him to look
upward, but not much was to be seen there. The promise of the night
still held good in performance. Rolling clouds hid the moon and stars,
and again Henry gave thanks for so favorable a night.

His comrades swam so silently that he turned a little on his side to see
that they were there. Five black dots on the water followed him in a
close row, and, proud of their skill, he turned back again and still
floated with his face to the skies.

They soon passed the middle of the river, and now the extremely delicate
part of their task was come. The lights on the northern bank had
increased to a half dozen and were much larger. They seemed to be camp
fires. Dim outlines of canoes appeared against the bank.

Henry paused, and the five black heads behind him paused with him. He
raised his head a little from the water and studied the shore. A shape,
bigger and darker than the others, told him where the flatboat lay.
Owing to its greater draught, it was anchored in deeper water than the
canoes, which was a fortunate thing for the daring adventurers. Henry
saw the muzzles of the cannon, and a dark figure by each, evidently the
warriors on guard. He could see