Unfortunately, during their nightly promenade, they stumbled upon a pound, in which were a number of Indian horses.  The temptation was not to be resisted.  They severally seized a horse and mounted.  But there still remained a number of fine animals; and the adventurers cast longing, lingering looks behind.  It was melancholy—­the idea of forsaking such a goodly prize.  Flesh and blood could not resist the temptation.  Getting scalped was nothing to the loss of such beautiful specimens of horseflesh.  They turned back, and took several more.  The horses, however, seemed indisposed to change masters, and so much noise was made, in the attempt to secure them, that at last the thieves were discovered.

The cry rang through the village at once, that the Long-Knives were stealing their horses right before the doors of their wigwams.  A great hubbub ensued; and Indians, old and young, squaws, children, and warriors, all sallied out with loud screams, to save their property from the greedy spoilers.  Kenton and his friends saw that they had overshot their mark, and that they must ride for their lives.  Even in this extremity, however, they could not reconcile their minds to the surrender of a single horse which they had haltered; and while two of them rode in front and led a great number of horses, the other brought up the rear, and, plying his whip from right to left, did not permit a single animal to lag behind.

In this manner, they dashed through the woods at a furious rate with the hue and cry after them, until their course was suddenly stopped by an impenetrable swamp.  Here, from necessity, they paused a few minutes, and listened attentively.  Hearing no sounds of pursuit, they resumed their course, and, skirting the swamp for some distance in the vain hope of crossing it, they bent their course in a straight direction to the Ohio.  They rode during the whole night without resting a moment.  Halting a brief space at daylight, they continued their journey throughout the day, and the whole of the following night; and, by this uncommon celerity of movement, they succeeded in reaching the northern bank of the Ohio on the morning of the second day.

Crossing the river would now insure their safety, but this was likely to prove a difficult undertaking, and the close pursuit, which they had reason to expect, rendered it expedient to lose as little time as possible.  The wind was high, and the river rough and boisterous.  It was determined that Kenton should cross with the horses, while Clark and Montgomery should construct a raft, in order to transport their guns, baggage, and ammunition, to the opposite shore.  The necessary preparations were soon made, and Kenton, after forcing his horses into the river, plunged in himself, and swam by their side.

In a few minutes the high waves completely overwhelmed him, and forced him considerably below the horses, who stemmed the current much more successfully than he.