gh ravines, crossed brush and forest and swamps, they
waded and swam, they ate the ripe berries and nuts of the October crop,
managed to kill a squirrel and rabbit, now and again, with a rock or a
club; their buckskin clothes and moccasins were worn to tatters, but
they slept warm in sunny nooks: and all the nights they were pushing
steadily on southward for the Ohio River and Louisville.

A journey like this, of over two hundred miles afoot, making their own
trail, avoiding the Indian villages and hunters and out-pacing the
pursuit, and living off the country, getting food by their wits, no
boys ever had achieved before.

It took them three weeks. In November they emerged upon the north
shore of the Ohio, squarely opposite Louisville. They had struck their
goal exactly. They shouted and waved, but nobody would come for them,
and the rapids of the falls ran swiftly between the two shores. They
could see people gazing; the people saw them.

"They think us Injuns," Fat Bear gasped, at last. "Blame it, guess we
do look some like Injuns, in our rigs."

"Shucks! How'll we get over? We can't swim."

"And Injuns are on our trail. You know we sighted smoke last evening.
We don't want to be caught here."

"We'll go up above the rapids and make a raft. Quick! We can manage
with this knife."

They hurried. They went up the shore about six miles, and worked hard
gathering logs, and cutting brush and vines with their one knife. They
feared that they'd hear the Indians any moment. The warriors were hot
after them. Whew! And there was home, just across!

The raft, when finished, did not amount to much.

"It won't hold all of us," puffed Fat Bear. "You get on. I'm the
heaviest. I'm the best swimmer, too. You-all paddle, and I'll swim
alongside."

They tumbled aboard, with branches for oars. Little Fat Bear shoved
off and began to swim and push. They had no time to spare--

"Listen!"

Shrill whoops sounded. The Miamis were on the fresh trail.

"Hurry!"

Fat Bear kicked and pushed mightily; the others dug with their boughs.
The clumsy raft moved slowly, and was carried down stream by the
current. Would they never get away from shore! Would the Miamis swim
after them, or shoot! They made a good target.

"Look! Somebody's coming to meet us!"

That was so. From the opposite shore a boat--two boats had put out.
The raft was drifting badly, but the danger shore gradually receded,
the rescue boat