flemen, dealing
out death on every side, were coming to meet them. The battle was short.
Surprised, caught on both flanks, the savages gave way. There was a
tremendous firing, a medley of shouts and cries for a few minutes, and
then the warriors of the allied tribes fled deep into the woods, not to
stop this time until they were on the other side of the Ohio River.

Forth from the smoke and flame burst a tall, gaunt frame.

"Long Jim!" cried Henry, seizing his hand. "It's you that's saved us,
Jim!"

After him came a fine, ascetic face--the Reverend Silas Pennypacker--and
he fairly threw himself upon his beloved pupil, Paul. And then the brave
men from Wareville pressed forward, and some from Marlowe, too, welcoming
these new people, whom they needed so badly, and who had needed them. But
Daniel Poe said solemnly, in the presence of all:

"It is these who saved us in the first instance!"

He indicated the valiant five--Henry Ware, Paul Cotter, Tom Ross,
Shif'less Sol Hyde, and Long Jim Hart. And the whole camp, seeing and
hearing him, burst into a roar of applause.

The next morning the train resumed its march in peace and safety.

* * * * *

It was a month later, and spring had fully come. Once more the vast
wilderness was in deep green, and little wild flowers sprang up here and
there where the sun could reach them. Two youths, unusually alert in face
and figure, were loading pack horses with heavy brown sacks filled to
bursting.

"This powder has kept dry and good all through the winter," said the
larger of the youths.

"Yes, Henry," replied the other, "and we are lucky to come back here and
be able to take it into Marlowe, after all."

Henry Ware laughed. It was a low, satisfied laugh.

"We have certainly been through many trials, Paul," he said; "but, with
Tom, Sol, and Jim, we bore our part in turning the allied tribes back from
the great war trail."

Paul Cotter's face was illumined.

"Kentucky is saved," he said, "and I shall be happy all my life because of
the knowledge that we helped."

"It is surely a pleasant thought," said Henry.

Then they whistled to their loaded horses, and marched away through the
greenwood, this time to reach Marlowe in safety.

THE END

End of Project Gutenberg's The Forest Runners, by Joseph A. Altsheler

*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE FOREST RUNNERS ***

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