As the snow with its frozen surface lay on the ground for weeks,
Henry took many long journeys on the snowshoes. Sometimes be
hunted, but oftener his role was that of scout. He cautioned his
friends that he might be out-three or four days at a time, and
that they need take no alarm about him unless his absence became
extremely long. The winter deepened, the snow melted, and
another and greater storm came, freezing the surface, again
making the snowshoes necessary. Henry decided now to take a
scout alone to the northward, and, as the others bad long since
grown into the habit of accepting his decisions almost without
question, be started at once. He was well equipped with his
rifle, double barreled pistol, hatchet, and knife, and he carried
in addition a heavy blanket and some jerked venison. He put on
his snowshoes at the foot of the cliff, waved a farewell to the
four heads thrust from "The Alcove" above, and struck out on the
smooth, icy surface of the creek. From this he presently passed
into the woods, and for a long time pursued a course almost due
north.
It was no vague theory that had drawn Henry forth. In one of his
journeyings be had met a hunter who told him of a band of Tories
and Indians encamped toward the north, and he had an idea that it
was the party led by Braxton Wyatt.
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