After the brief rest they began the long journey from what is now the middle part of the state of Ohio to the Falls of the Ohio and the new settlement of Louisville there. It was an arduous undertaking, particularly for the schoolmaster, as it led all the way through woods frequented by alert Indians, and, besides deep rivers there were innumerable creeks, which they could cross only by swimming. Bearing this in mind Henry's thoughts returned to the first boat which they had hidden in the bushes lining the banks of one of the Ohio's tributaries. As the whole country was now swarming with the warriors the passage down the Ohio would undoubtedly be more dangerous than the path through the woods, but the boat and the river would save a vast expenditure of strength. Henry laid the two plans before the others.
"What do you say, Sol?" he asked.
"I'm fur the boat an' the river," replied the shiftless one. "I'd rather be rowed by Jim Hart than walk five hundred miles."
"And you, Paul?"
"I say take to the boat. We may have to fight. We've held them off on the water before and I'm sure we can do it again."
"And you, Tom?"
"The boat."
"And you, Jim?"
"The boat, an' make Sol thar do his share uv the work."
"What do you say, Mr. Pennypacker?"