not stand even at Piqua.

The order of march that had been preserved all the way from the mouth of
the Licking remained unbroken. Colonel Clark led, Colonel Logan
commanded the rear guard, the soldiers were in four lines, ready to
wheel in any direction, and the cannon were in the center. They followed
the Indian road, but ahead of all were Henry and his comrades, always
searching the woods for a sight of some flitting Indian figure. Henry
did not believe there would be any skirmishes before they reached Piqua,
but he was not among those who did not think the Indians would make a
stand there. He knew Timmendiquas too well. The Wyandot leader had
yielded, when the majority of the chiefs favored Piqua instead of
Chillicothe, but now he would certainly hold them to the agreement. The
trail led on unceasingly, but the brightening of the skies was
deceptive. The clouds soon closed in again, heavier and blacker than
ever. Although it was only mid-afternoon it became almost as dark as
night. Then the lightning began to play in swift flashes, so bright that
the men were dazzled, and the thunder cracked and roared in tremendous
volume.

"If I live through the campaign," said Paul, "I shall certainly remember
it by this storm, if by nothing else."

The thunder was so great that he was compelled fairly to shriek out his
words. Save when the lightning flashed he could see only the head of the
army. Presently both thunder and lightning ceased, the wind set up a
vast moaning and then the rain came. Colonel Clark and his officers were
already at work, instructing the men to put up as many tents as
possible, and, under any circumstances to keep their arms and powder
dry. Here again discipline and experience told, as the orders were
obeyed to the last detail.

The five sheltered themselves as well as they could under the trees and
they felt that Paul's words about the storm were true. Certainly they
could never forget it. The bottom had dropped out of the clouds, and all
the rain, stowed for months, was pouring down in a few hours. They soon
abandoned any attempt to protect themselves, and devoted all their care
to their ammunition.

For more than two hours the rain fell in seemingly solid sheets. Then it
ceased abruptly, and the late afternoon sun broke out, tingeing the
forest with gold. Yet every bush and tree still ran water. Pools and
often little lakes stood in the valleys. The earth was soaked deep. The
precious ammunition