"By water."
"By water? What do you mean?"
"Down the Ohio and up the Licking."
Colonel Clark stared at Henry.
"That's an easy thing to talk about," he said, "but who's going down the Ohio and then up the Licking for Logan?"
"I—with your permission."
Colonel Clark stared still harder, and his eyes widened a little with appreciation, but he shook his head.
"It's a patriotic and daring thing for you to propose, my boy," he said, "but it is impossible. You could never reach the mouth of the Licking even, and yours is too valuable a life to be thrown away in a wild attempt."
But Henry was not daunted. He had thought over his plan long and well, and he believed that he could succeed.
"I have been along the Ohio before, and I have also been down the Licking," he said. "The night promises to be cloudy and dark like last night and I feel sure that I can get through. I have thought out everything, and I wish to try. Say that you are willing for me to go, Colonel."