now afforded, although
Oghwaga had not been stained by blood.

It was a long journey to "The Alcove," but they did not hurry, seeing no
need of it, although they were warned of the wisdom of their decision by
the fact that the cold was increasing. The country in which the lake was
situated lay high, and, as all of them were quite sure that the cold
was going to be great there, they thought it wise to make preparations
against it, which they discussed as they walked in, leisurely fashion
through the woods. They spoke, also, of greater things. All felt that
they had been drawn into a mightier current than any in which they had
swam before. They fully appreciated the importance to the Revolution
of this great rearguard struggle, and at present they did not have the
remotest idea of returning to Kentucky under any circumstances.

"We've got to fight it out with Braxton Wyatt and the Iroquois," said
Henry. "I've heard that Braxton is organizing a band of Tories of his
own, and that he is likely to be as dangerous as either of the Butlers."

"Some day we'll end him for good an' all," said Shif'less Sol.

It was four or five days before they reached their alcove, and now all
the forest was bare and apparently lifeless. They came down the creek,
and found their boat unharmed and untouched still among the foliage at
the base of the cliff.

"That's one thing safe," said Long Jim, "an' I guess we'll find 'The
Alcove' all right, too."

"Unless a wild animal has taken up its abode there," said Paul.

"'Tain't likely," replied Long Jim. "We've left the human smell thar,
an' even after all this time it's likely to drive away any prowlin' bear
or panther that pokes his nose in."

Long Jim was quite right. Their snug nest, like that of a squirrel in
the side of a tree, had not been disturbed. The skins which they
had rolled up tightly and placed on the higher shelves of stone were
untouched, and several days' hunting increased the supply. The hunting
was singularly easy, and, although the five did not know it, the
quantity of game was much greater in that region than it had been
for years. It had been swept of human beings by the Iroquois and Tory
hordes, and deer, bear, and panther seemed to know instinctively that
the woods were once more safe for them.

In their hunting they came upon the ruins of charred houses, and more
than once they saw something among the coals that caused them to turn
away with a shudder. At every pla