hardly less cleverness in snatching it from his grasp.

Kenton lost no time in speculating over the matter, but hurried swiftly
and noiselessly along the bank in quest of the daring thief. He came
upon him, only a few rods distant, making his way with great care and
skill along the bank, as though he had no fear of any dispute over the
ownership of the craft, as, indeed, he did not; for, catching sight of
the white man at the same instant the latter saw him, he leaped ashore,
and, knife in hand, attacked him with the impetuous fury of a jungle
tiger.

Ten minutes later, when Simon Kenton resumed possession of the canoe, he
muttered, with grim significance:

"Sometimes a varmint makes a mistake; that air varmint made one, but
he'll never make another, 'cause when the chance comes he won't be
there!"

CHAPTER VIII.

BY THE WAY.

Meanwhile, the families of the settlers and their escorts were not idle.

Turned back, when on the threshold as it were of success, they bore
their hard lot with the fortitude and uncomplaining courage which was
one of the most marked characteristics of the pioneers of the West.

They had entered the "promised land," as may be said, for all of the
Ashbridges and Altmans had passed through the door of the cabin in the
clearing; they had deposited their household goods and worldly
possessions in the structure erected with so much care and labor; then,
being warned of the imminent peril of staying, had set out for the
block-house, ten miles distant, there to remain until it was safe for
them to venture once more into the wilderness.

Daniel Boone was in advance of the company, scouting in the neighborhood
of Rattlesnake Gulch, for it was indispensable that he should keep watch
of the main war party of Shawanoes there, and learn, as far as possible,
their intentions towards the whites.

Kenton had turned back to the clearing in quest of the canoe with which
he hoped to carry the families across the Ohio during the favoring
darkness of the night without discovery by the dusky enemies. We left
him pushing his way up stream, after his deadly encounter with the
Shawanoe who had withdrawn the craft from where it was left by the
ranger during his temporary absence.

It may be said, that every man and woman, threading their way through
the wilderness to the block-house, understood the scheme which it was
hoped could be carried through to completion, and each, of course, was
eager to len