Here he prepared to swim to the western shore.

He took off his buckskin garments, spread them out on the ground, placed his knapsack in the middle, and rolling all into a small bundle tied it round his rifle.

Grasping the rifle just above the hammer he waded into the water up to his waist and then, turning easily on his back he held the rifle straight up, allowing the butt to rest on his breast.

This left his right arm unhampered.

With a powerful back-arm stroke he rapidly swam the river, which was deep and narrow at this point.