But the Holston recruits, who had not come under the spell of his personal influence, murmured against him.

They had not reckoned on an expedition so long and so dangerous, and in the night most of them left the camp and fled into the woods.

The Kentuckians, who had horses, pursued the deserters, with orders to kill any who resisted; but all save six or eight escaped.

Yet they suffered greatly for their crime, and endured every degree of hardship and fatigue, for the Kentuckians spurned them from the gates of the wooden forts, and would not for a long time suffer them to enter, hounding them back to the homes they had dishonored.

They came from among a bold and adventurous people, and their action was due rather to wayward and sullen disregard of authority than to cowardice.
When the pursuing horsemen came back a day of mirth and rejoicing was spent between the troops who were to stay behind to guard Kentucky and those who were to go onward to conquer Illinois.