Boone thought quickly. He knew the Indians had seen the men at the salt licks.
"I will lead you to my men," he told Chief Blackfish, "if you will promise not to kill them."
Chief Blackfish promised. Boone took the Indians to his men.
"We are in great danger," he whispered to them. "We must go north with the Indians, or they will kill us. The fort is in danger too. But perhaps we can escape and warn our families."
At the end of the long journey the Indians and their prisoners reached the Shawnee towns in the north. There, Chief Blackfish told Boone that he wanted him for a son. He made Boone go through a long adoption ceremony and gave him the name of Big Turtle.
Boone liked Chief Blackfish, but he did not really want to be a Shawnee. He pretended to be pleased about becoming the Chief's son, but he only pretended.
One day the Indians went hunting. While they were gone, Boone ran away and started for Boonesborough.
The Indians followed him, but he was too clever for them. They lost his trail. In four days he traveled one hundred and sixty miles.
Finally he reached Boonesborough.
"The Indians are on the way! Get ready to fight!" he told the people.