It was a sublime sight—­to behold such a tremendous caravan of wild beasts rushing past—­and one that filled each of the spectators, even when they knew all danger was over, with a sense of trembling awe; and they stood and gazed in silence, until the last of the herd was lost to their vision; then advancing to the noble hunter, Henry silently grasped his hard, weather-beaten hand, and turned away with tearful eyes—­an example that was followed by each of the others, and which was more heart touchingly expressive of their feelings, than would have been a vocabulary of appropriate words.

Our party next proceeded to examine the wounded bull, which was still bellowing with rage and pain; and having carefully approached and despatched him with their knives, they found that the ball of Boone had entered a vital part.  Taking from him a few slices of meat, to serve them in case their provisions ran short, they once more resumed their journey—­the wind still easterly and the storm raging.

About three hours past noon the storm began to show signs of abatement—­the wind blew less hard, and had veered several points to the north—­an event which the old hunter noted with great satisfaction.  They had now gained a point within ten miles of the beautiful Ohio; when the dog—­which, since he had had no trail to guide him, ran where he chose—­commenced barking spiritedly, some fifty paces to the left of the party, who immediately set off at a brisk gait to learn the cause.

“I’ll wager what you dare, lads, the pup’s found the trail,” said Boone.

The event proved him in the right; for on coming up, the footsteps of both captors and captives, who had evidently passed there not over three hours before, could be distinctly traced in the soft earth.  A shout—­not inferior in power and duration to that set up by crazy-headed politicians, on the election of some favorite—­was sent away to the hills, announcing the joy of our party; which the hills, as if partakers also of the hilarious feelings, in turn duly echoed.

This new, important, and unexpected discovery, raised the spirits of all our company to a high degree; and they again set forward at a faster gait than ever, so as to overtake the pursued if possible before they crossed the Ohio river.  The trail was now broad and distinct; and the footprints of the Indians, as also those of their captives, Algernon and Ella, could be clearly defined wherever the ground chanced to be of a clayey nature.  In something like two hours our pursuers succeeded in reaching the river; but unfortunately too late to intercept their enemies and rescue their friends, who had already crossed sometime before.  By trailing them to the water’s edge, they discovered the very spot where the canoes of the savages had been secreted on the beach, behind some drift-logs, nearly opposite the mouth of the Great Miami.

“Ef we’d only been here a little sooner,” observed Boone, musingly, “we’d ha’ saved some o’ the varmints the trouble of paddling over thar; or ef we only had the means o’ crossing now, we’d be upon ’em afore they war aware on’t.  Howsomever, as it is, I suppose we’ll have to make a raft to cross on, and so give the red heathen a little more time.”