no other tools than an axe and auger he soon built a sled
large and strong enough to carry all their goods.

Ree's idea proved an excellent one. The snow-fall was just enough to make
a sled run smoothly, and by a little after sunrise "all the property of
Kingdom and Jerome, Indian traders and home-seekers," as John expressed
it, was piled upon the pair of runners which the senior member of the
firm had contrived, and they and Tom Fish were steadily drawing it toward
their long-sought destination.

"We must reach the Cuyahoga river by night," Ree urged, and his own
determination gave strength to himself and his companions. Up hill and
down hill they hurried, tugging, perspiring, making the best speed
possible through the silent forest.

And as the sun burst through a sea of gray-black clouds, and shone
brilliantly just before night's coming, it seemed an omen of good to the
little party in the wilderness, for at almost the same moment, Ree,
running on a head a little way, cried: "Here we are!"

Before the daylight closed, the site of the cabin, work on which was to
begin the next day, had been selected on the long irregular mound close
to the river, which has already been described.

Ree called attention to the natural advantages of the place--its sides
sloping down in three directions while on the fourth side and thirty feet
below was the river. It was a point which could be defended in case of an
attack, and the additional fact of the natural clearing and fertile lands
surrounding it, made the place seem most desirable.

"The's only one thing the matter with this location," said Tom Fish,
surveying the mound from the semi-circular valley around it, as the
twilight settled down. "The's likely to be ague in a place like this, it
bein' so nigh the water. It's a mighty good thing to steer clear of, ague
is."

"But there are so many natural advantages," Ree persisted, "and our cabin
will be well up in the air and the sunlight."

"That's a good point, Ree," John put in, "but think of it--we will have
to carry all our firewood up that hill."

"I'll carry the wood if you play out, old chap," was the answer and the
matter ended by Ree having his own way, as was generally the case, not
because he was selfish or obstinate, but because he was sure he was right
before he made up his mind, and because he had that born spirit of
leadership which gave himself and all others confidence in his decisions
and actions.

Althoug