“I am at your orders, Miss. What do you wish us to do?”
“I am very hungry,” said the girl, simply. “I want something to eat first. The Shawnees are on my trail, and I must get to Harrodsburg in some way. I have no rifle, and I am too weak to shoot well with the bow. I want you to take me to see Colonel Clark.”
Boone made a sign to Kenton, and the latter disappeared among the bushes on the shallow side of the river. As soon as he was gone, the veteran hunter asked:
“How do you know the Shawnees are on your trail, Miss?”
“I saw them, only yesterday morning,” she answered. “I threw them out by floating down the river on a log, and they are by this time ranging up and down the river to find me.”
Boone frowned thoughtfully and remained silent for some minutes, when he asked:
“How far off did you leave them, do you think?”
“About thirty-five miles up the stream,” was the quiet reply.
The old hunter looked with grave admiration at the girl.
“You are a brave girl!” he said. “I have known warriors not half as brave and skillful. Simon and I did not find a single sign all of yesterday, and we were on different tracks too. Do you think they will follow you close?”