ere to advance at the double quick
to the support of the vanguard. If they were attacked from behind, the
vanguard was to stand fast, and the whole proceeding was to be reversed.
If they were attacked on either flank, the two lines on that flank and
the artillery were to stand where they were, while the other two lines
wheeled and formed, one on the van and the other on the rear. The men
had been drilled repeatedly in their movements, and they executed them
with skill. It now remained to be seen whether they would do as much
under the influence of surprise and a heavy fire. Everyone believed they
would stand against any form of attack.

The commanders seemed to think of all things, and the training of the
army excited the admiration of Henry and his comrades. They felt that it
would be very hard to catch such a force in a trap, or, if it should be
caught, there was nothing in the wilderness to hold it there. The five
were not in the line. In fact, they kept ahead of the vanguard itself,
but they often came back to make their reports to Clark. It was now the
beginning of August, and the heat was great in the woods. The men were
compelled to rest in the middle of the day and they drank thirstily
from every brook they passed.

Clark expected that they would be annoyed by the Indian skirmishers, but
the first day passed, and then the second and not a shot was fired. The
five and the other scouts assured him that no warriors were near, but he
did not like the silence. Bowman and a strong force had attacked
Chillicothe the year before, but had been repulsed. Undoubtedly it would
now have a still stronger defense and he wondered what could be the plan
of Timmendiquas. A border leader, in a land covered with great forests
was compelled to guard every moment against the cunning and stratagem of
a foe who lived by cunning and stratagem.

The second night a council was held, and Henry and all his comrades were
summoned to it. Would or would not the Indians fight before the white
force reached Chillicothe? The country was rough and presented many good
places for defense. Colonel Clark asked the question, and he looked
anxiously around at the little group. Daniel Boone spoke first. He
believed that no resistance would be offered until they reached
Chillicothe. Simon Kenton and Abe Thomas shared his opinion. Henry stood
modestly in the background and waited until Colonel Clark put the
question. Then he replied with a proposition: