the Colonel.

"I'm sure of it."

Colonel Clark paced back and forth for a minute or two.

"It looks terribly dangerous," he said at last, "but from all I have
heard you've done some wonderful things, and if you can reach Logan in
time, it will relieve us from this coil."

"I can do it! I can do it!" said Henry eagerly.

Colonel Clark looked at him long and scrutinizingly. He noted his
height, his powerful figure, the wonderful elasticity that showed with
every step he took, and his firm and resourceful gaze.

"Well, go," he said, "and God be with you."

"I shall start the moment full darkness comes," said Henry.

"But we must arrange a signal in case you get through to Logan," said
Colonel Clark. "He has a twelve pound bronze gun. I know positively that
he left Lexington with it. Now if he approaches, have him fire a shot.
We will reply with two shots from our guns, you answer with another from
yours, and the signal will be complete. Then Logan is to attack the
Indian ring from the outside with all his might, and, at the same moment
and at the same point, we will attack from the inside with all of ours.
Then, in truth, it will be strange if we do not win the victory."

Henry returned to his comrades and told them the plan. They were loth to
see him go, but they knew that attempts to dissuade him would be
useless. Nevertheless, Shif'less Sol had an amendment.

"Let me go with you, Henry," he said. "Two are better than one."

"No," replied Henry, "I must go alone, Sol. In this case the smaller the
party the less likely it is to be seen. I'll try, and then if I fail, it
will be your time."

The night, as Henry had foreseen, was cloudy and dark. The moon and
stars were hidden again, and two hundred yards from shore the surface of
the river blended into the general blur. His little raft was made all
ready. Four broad planks from the wagons had been nailed securely
together with cross-strips. Upon them he laid his rifle and pistols--all
in holsters--ammunition secured from the wet, and food and his clothing
in tight bundles. He himself was bare, save for a waist cloth and belt,
but in the belt he carried a hatchet and his long hunting knife.

Only his four comrades, Colonel Clark and Boone were present when he
started. Every one of the six in turn, wrung his hand. But the four who
had known him longest and best were the most confident that he would
reach Logan and achieve his task.

Henry slipped silently int