nkfort, where you can stay under cover
yourself and look right down into it. I guess by this good moonlight I
could point out old Bragg himself, if he should be up and walking around
the streets."

"That suits us, Powell," said Colonel Winchester. "You and May lead the
way."

May was the other Frankforter and they took the task eagerly. They were
about to look down upon home after an absence of more than a year, a
year that was more than a normal ten. They were both young, not over
twenty, and after a while they turned out of the path and led into the
deep woods.

"It's open forest through here, no underbrush, colonel," said Powell,
"and it makes easy riding. Besides, about a mile on there's a creek
running down to the Kentucky that will have deep water in it, no matter
how dry the season has been. Tom May and I have swum in it many a time,
and I reckon our horses need water, colonel."

"So they do, and so do we. We'll stop a bit at this creek of yours,
Powell."

The creek was all that the two Frankfort lads had claimed for it. It was
two feet deep, clear, cold and swift, shadowed by great primeval trees.
Men and horses drank eagerly, and at last Colonel Winchester, feeling
that there was neither danger nor the need of hurry, permitted them
to undress and take a quick bath, which was a heavenly relief and
stimulant, allowing them to get clear of the dust and dirt of the day.

"It's a beauty of a creek," said Powell to Dick. "About a half mile
further down the stream is a tremendous tree on which is cut with a
penknife, 'Dan'l Boone killed a bar here, June 26, 1781.' I found it
myself, and I cut away enough of the bark growth with a penknife for it
to show clearly. I imagine the great Daniel and Simon Kenton and Harrod
and the rest killed lots of bears in these hills."

"I'd go and see that inscription in the morning," said Dick, "if I
didn't have a bit of war on my hands."

"Maybe you'll have a chance later on. But I'm feeling bully after
this cold bath. Dick, I came into the creek weighing two hundred and
twenty-five pounds, one hundred and fifty pounds of human being and
seventy-five pounds of dust and dirt. I'm back to one hundred and fifty
now. Besides, I was fifty years old when I entered the stream, and I've
returned to twenty."

"That just about describes me, too, but the colonel is whistling for us
to come. Rush your jacket on and jump for your horse."

They had stayed about a half-hour at the creek