made their way through the
forest in the direction in which their friends had gone.

Apparently there was no longer any peril of an immediate attack by the
Indians. None of them appeared within sight, and the sound of their wild
cries no longer was heard.

Alternately stopping and retreating, Daniel Boone and his young
companion at last regained the shelter of the settlement at the Falls of
the Ohio.

The little houses of logs were well protected, and as there was an
abundance of ammunition as well as of food on hand, the great scout said
to Peleg: "We could hold out here two months if it should be necessary."

"But we are not to stay here, are we?" inquired Peleg anxiously.

"No. We must leave just as soon as we can do so safely."

The conversation was interrupted by the entrance of the surveyors in a
body. Fear, and even panic, was manifest in the face of every one. The
unexpected attack upon their comrade had confirmed the warning which
Governor Dunmore had sent by the two scouts, and not only did no one
want to remain, but all were eager to be gone at once.

"We must start to-night," said MacHale, the oldest of the party. "We
must not remain!"

"Not to-night," said Daniel Boone quietly.

"Why not?"

"It is as necessary for us to know our way as it is for us to retreat."

"But you found your way here! Why can you not find it when you go back?"

"I can," replied Boone quietly. "It is not for myself I fear. I would
not be the leader of a party unfamiliar with the woods and facing what
we must if we leave here in the night. You must be prepared to start as
soon as the gray of dawn appears."

"But we want to go before!" persisted the surveyor.

Boone quietly shook his head and gave no further explanation. The matter
was decided, and plainly the scout thought there was nothing more to be
said. Ignoring the anger as well as the alarm of the surveyors, the
great scout at once busied himself in preparing for the departure which
would not take place until the following morning. The services of Boone,
however, were not required in caring for the wounded surveyor, because
life had fled before the party regained the settlement.

There was a hasty burial in the dim light, and then Boone bade his
companions obtain such sleep as they could, he himself preparing to
serve as guard throughout the night.

At last, however, he consented to the pleadings of Peleg and permitted
the lad to keep watch during the earlier