Chapter I: Front Matter

_The_ FOREST RUNNERS

]

_The_ FOREST RUNNERS

A STORY OF THE GREAT WAR TRAIL IN EARLY KENTUCKY

BY JOSEPH A. ALTSHELER AUTHOR OF "THE YOUNG TRAILERS"

D. APPLETON-CENTURY COMPANY INCORPORATED

NEW YORK LONDON 1936

1908, BY D. APPLETON AND COMPANY

1935, BY EQUITABLE TRUST CO Printed in the United States of America

BOOKS BY JOSEPH A. ALTSHELER

THE FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR SERIES

The Hunters of the Hills
The Rulers of the Lakes
The Lords of the Wild
The Shadow of the North
The Masters of the Peaks
The Sun of Quebec

THE YOUNG TRAILERS SERIES

The Young Trailers
The Forest Runners
The Keepers of the Trail
The Eyes of the Woods
The Free Rangers
The Riflemen of the Ohio
The Scouts of the Valley
The Border Watch

THE TEXAN SERIES

The Texan Star
The Texan Scouts
The Texan Triumph

THE CIVIL WAR SERIES

The Guns of Bull Run
The Guns of Shiloh
The Scouts of Stonewall
The Sword of Antietam
The Star of Gettysburg
The Rock of Chickamauga
The Shades of the Wilderness
The Tree of Appomattox

THE GREAT WEST SERIES

The Lost Hunters
The Great Sioux Trail

THE WORLD WAR SERIES

The Guns of Europe
The Forest of Swords
The Hosts of the Air

BOOKS NOT IN SERIES

Apache Gold
The Quest of the Four
The Last of the Chiefs
In Circling Camps
The Last Rebel
A Soldier of Manhattan
The Sun of Saratoga
A Herald of the West
The Wilderness Road
My Captive
The Candidate

D. APPLETON AND COMPANY New York London

This story, while independent in itself, continues the
fortunes of the two boys who were the central characters
of "The Young Trailers."

CONTENTS

I. PAUL 1

II. IN THE RIVER 17

III. THE LONE CABIN 36

IV. THE SIEGE 59

V. THE FLIGHT 72

VI. THE BATTLE ON THE HILL 91

VII. WHAT HAPPENED IN THE DARK 108

VIII. AT THE RIVER BANK 125

IX. A CHANGE OF PLACES 142

X. THE ISLAND IN THE LAKE 157

XI. A SUDDEN MEETING 176

XII. THE BELT BEARERS 192

XIII. BRAXTON WYATT'S ORDEAL 217

XIV. IN WINTER QUARTERS 239

XV. WORK AND PLAY 254

XVI. NOEL 273

XVII. FOOTPRINTS IN THE SNOW 283

XVIII. WHAT THE WARRIOR SAW 295

XIX. THE WARNING 310

XX. THE TERRIBLE FORD 328

XXI. THE FLIGHT OF LONG JIM 340

XXII. THE LAST STAND 355

THE FOREST RUNNERS