re a good swimmer," he said. "I never saw a fellow walk
through the water faster in my life."

"We had every reason to swim fast," said Henry with a smile.

"Don't say anything more about our savin' you," said Daniel Boone. "It's
what anybody else in our place ought to have done an' would have done.
We've been hangin' around the fort havin' worned another place first,
waitin' for a chance to help. Some hunters are comin' up from the South
and we expect to join them to-morrow, but we won't be strong enough to
do much."

"All the tribes are here, are they not?" asked Henry.

"Bands from 'em all are here. They must have two or three thousand
warriors scattered around Fort Prescott. I reckon I can tell you where
most of the big bands are placed."

The three sat down on the ground and talked low. Henry felt greatly
encouraged by the presence of these two men, so skillful and so
renowned. Watchful sentinels, but little could evade them, and they
would be a source of valuable strength to fort and fleet alike.

"You saw Timmendiquas?" said Boone.

"Yes, he is here," said Henry, "and he is leading the attack."

"Then our people have got to look out," said Boone emphatically. "We'll
watch around here the best way we can while you go on with what you're
tryin' to do."

He held out his hand again as Henry rose to depart. For a man who lived
a life of constant danger and who had passed through so many great
adventures, he had a singularly gentle and winning manner. Henry's
admiration and respect were mingled with a deep liking. He would have
referred again to the saving of his life, but he knew that the great
borderer would not like it.

"Good-by, Mr. Boone," he said, and their hands met in a hearty clasp. He
and Kenton also bade farewell in the same friendly manner, and then
Henry went down to the river.

"We'll watch again," said Boone, laughing in his dry way; "you can't
tell when you'll need us."

CHAPTER XVI

THE RETURN TRAIL

Henry, with the aid of Boone and Kenton, rolled the trunk of a small
fallen tree to the river. Then he took off his clothes, made them and
his arms and ammunition into a bundle, which he put on the log, said
good-by to the two men, and launched himself and his fortunes once more
upon the Ohio. He pushed the log before him, taking care to keep it
steady, and swam easily with one hand.

Fifty yards back he looked out and saw the two hunters standing on the
bank, leaning on the mu