With this consoling reflection the hunter again quickened his pace, and pressed forward until the shadows of evening warned him to seek out an encampment for the gathering night.  Accordingly, sweeping the adjoining country with an experienced eye, his glance soon rested on a rocky ridge, some quarter of a mile to the right, at whose base he judged might be found a comfortable shelter from the coming rain.  Communicating his thoughts to his companions, all immediately quitted the trail and advanced toward it, where they arrived in a few minutes, and found, to their delight, that the experienced woodsman had not been wrong in his conjectures.  A cave of no mean dimensions was fortunately discovered, after a short search among the rocks, into which all now gathered; and striking a light, they made a small fire near the entrance; around which they assembled and partook of the refreshments brought with them—­Boone declaring he had not tasted a morsel of food since leaving Boonsborough early in the morning.  The meal over, the young men disposed themselves about the cave in the best manner possible for their own comfort:  and being greatly fatigued by their journey, and the revels of the night previous, they very soon gave evidence of being in a sleep too deep for dreams.  Boone sat by the fire, apparently in deep contemplation, until a few embers only remained; then pointing Caesar to his place near the entrance, he threw himself at length upon the ground, and was soon imitating the example of his young comrades.

Early in the evening it came on to blow very hard from the east; and about midnight set in to rain, as Boone had predicted; which it continued to do the rest of the night; nor were there any signs of its abatement, when the party arose to resume their journey on the following morning.

“What can’t be cured must be endured,” said Boone, quoting an old proverb, as he gazed forth upon the storm.  “We must take sech as comes, lads, without grumbling; though I do’nt know’s thar’s any sin in wishing it war a little more to our liking.  Howsomever,” he added, “prehaps it won’t be so much agin us arter all; for the red varmints mayhap ’ll think as how all traces of ’em have been washed away, and, feeling safe from pursuit, be less cautious about their proceedings; and by keeping on the same course, we may chance upon ’em unawares.  So come, lads, let’s eat and be off.”

Accordingly, making a hasty breakfast, and securing the remainder of their provision as well as ammunition in the ample bosoms of their hunting frocks—­which were always made large for such and similar purposes—­tightening the belts about their bodies, and placing their rifles, locks downward, under the ample skirts of their frocks, to shield them from the rain, the whole party sallied forth upon their second day’s adventure.  Regaining the spot they had quitted the evening before, Boone took a long look in the direction whence they first approached; and then shaping his course so as to bear as near as possible on a direct line with it, set forward at a quick pace, going a very little west of due north.