for he
poked a pack ahead of him, and slipped in after.

He told his story. Five hundred miles, at least, he had trudged,
always at top speed, day and night; making his own trail, through
tangled vines, across streams, up and down lonely gorges; and now he
brought powder, and the promise of reinforcements.

In all his journey eastward and westward he had not been sighted by an
Indian. It was a trip long remembered in the border country.

With such a leader, no garrison would yield. Logan's Station was
filled with courage and hope renewed. It fought on, day after day,
night after night, constantly expecting the reinforcements. Finally it
seemed that Captain Logan's venture had been for naught; a month had
elapsed since his return, and the reinforcements had not arrived. Once
more the powder was low, and by this time the scanty provisions had
been reduced to miserably small rations.

This was August 23. The end appeared near. On August 25 gun shots
sounded, in the timber behind the Shawnee lines. Indians were running.
Relief had come--the reinforcements were breaking through! Hurrah!

No! The gun-fire ceased. Hope died again. The Indians were too
thick. Logan's Station settled for another night of waiting.

But the next morning, where were the Shawnees? From the stockade weary
eyes searched to locate the shadowy forms. All was quiet. What had
happened? If the Indians actually were gone, that could mean only one
thing: relief. Could it be true, at last!

Within a short time, amidst the cheers of the men and the sobs of the
women Colonel John Bowman led his column of Virginians straight into
the widely open gate of the fort.

He had brought from the Holston one hundred rifle-men. He had already
been at Boonesborough--therefore his delay. From Boonesborough he had
advanced for Logan's Station, sweeping the timber. The Shawnees had
ambushed six of his advance scouts, and killed two. But here he was,
just in nick of time, with his hardy Long Knives, whose rifles were as
much feared as the rifles of the Long Hunters.

Logan's Station, Harrodsburg and Boonesborough were saved, for the
present. The Shawnees, Mingos and warring Delawares continued to watch
them close.

Benjamin Logan lived on, as scout, soldier and Kentucky statesman, and
died peacefully in 1802, aged fifty years.

CHAPTER III

IN THE STOCKADE AT WHEELING (1777)

AND THE GREAT LEAP OF MAJOR MCCOLLOCH

While from Vir