"But what if his story should be true?" objected Mr. Harkness. "We should feel like murderers if we abandoned a poor wretch of our own color. And surely success could not come to an expedition founded on cruelty." "Your first duty is toward your own families," spoke up Boone, sternly. "If, then, his story is true, demand that he enter the river, and swim out to you, while you hold the boat stationary by the anchor, but at a safe distance away. If he refuse to do this, and suddenly disappear, see to it that you lay low, for there will immediately rain a tempest of bullets and deadly arrows from the bushes, behind which his red allies lie hidden." In this strain, then, did the great pioneer warn those who were about to trust themselves and their precious families to the waters of the lower Ohio. Hearing all he said, both Sandy and Bob were greatly impressed, and secretly resolved to profit by the advice. Boone admitted that it was a great misfortune to have lost that magic wampum belt of Pontiac's, which he had seen on a former visit. "I know Pontiac, and how far his influence goes with nearly every tribe between here and the Mississippi," he said; "and there will be many times, I fear, when you will deeply regret that you did not hold tighter to his gift, as it would save you from troubles that ever beset the pioneer's life." When Boone shook hands with every soul in the settlement, kissed the babies, and hurried away, to head for his own little settlement, there was not one among them but felt that the mere presence of such a man was a tower of strength to any struggling community on the border of civilization. CHAPTER XII STARTING FOR THE NEW WEST "THE great day has come at last!" said Sandy, early one morning, as they started down toward the river from the blockhouse, where they had been quartered ever since the flood, their cabin having been occupied by a family with a numerous brood of young children, whose shelter had been carried away by the ruthless waters. "Yes," Bob replied, stretching himself; "days and weeks have crept along, and this has been a busy hamlet, what with the rebuilding of cabins, planting crops for those who expect to stay, and the fashioning of our flatboat, with its strong cabin on deck. A busy time, everybody says." "But our boat is done at last!" Sandy declared, joyfully; "and most of our things are packed aboard, for to-day we make a start, headed for the Mississippi!" Bob looked at his brother a little uneasily. He himself was feeling more or less sad, because there were friendships that must be severed; and the chances seemed to be that they would never again shake the hands of some of those who had come out from Virginia with them.