puffs of fire as the rifles were discharged in the undergrowth.

"It's risky," he said at last, "but I don't see anything else for us to
do. Be sure that you choose the best men, Mr. Boone."

Daniel Boone rapidly told off a hundred, all great marksmen and cautious
woodsmen. Henry, Paul, Shif'less Sol, Long Jim and Tom Ross were among
the first whom he chose. Then while the defenders increased their fire
on the eastern side, he and his hundred, hugging the ground, began to
creep toward the south. It was slow work for so large a body, and they
had to be exceedingly careful. Boone wished to effect a surprise and to
strike the foe so hard that he would be thrown into a panic. But Henry
and Paul were glad to be moving. They had something now to which they
could look forward. The two kept side by side, paying little attention
to the firing which went on in unbroken volume on their left.

Boone moved toward a slight elevation about a hundred yards away. He
believed that it was occupied by a small Indian force which his gallant
hundred could easily brush aside, if they ever came into close contact.
Amid so much confusion and darkness he could reach the desired place
unless they were revealed by the lightning. There was not another flash
until they were more than half way and then the hundred lay so low among
the bushes that they remained hidden.

"We're beatin' the savages at their own game," said Shif'less Sol. "They
are always bent on stalkin' us, but they don't 'pear to know now that
we're stalkin' them. Keep your eye skinned, Henry; we don't want to run
into 'em afore we expect it."

"I'm watching," replied Henry in the same tone, "but I don't think I'll
have to watch much longer. In two or three minutes more they'll see us
or we'll see them."

Fifty yards more and another red flash of lightning came. Henry saw a
feathered head projecting over a log. At the same time the owner of the
feathered head saw him, fired and leaped to his feet. Henry fired in
return, and the next instant he and his comrades were upon the
skirmishers, clearing them out of the bushes and sending them in
headlong flight. They had been so long in the darkness now that their
eyes had grown used to it, and they could see the fleeing forms. They
sent a decimating volley after them, and then dropped down on the ridge
that they had won. They meant to hold it, and they were fortunate enough
to find there many fallen trees swept down by a tornado.

"W