raised his hands frantically； bounded backward； and fell
into the water； at a spot where the current swept the body
away； the struggling limbs still tossing and writhing in
the agony of death。 The Delaware made a vigorous but
unsuccessful attempt to seize an arm； with the hope of
securing the scalp； but the bloodstained waters whirled
down the current； carrying with them their quivering
burthen。
All this passed in less than a minute； and the events
were so sudden and unexpected； that men less accustomed
than the Pathfinder and his associates to forest warfare
would have been at a loss how to act。
〃There is not a moment to lose；〃 said Jasper； tearing
aside the bushes； as he spoke earnestly； but in a suppressed
voice。 〃Do as I do； Master Cap； if you would save your
niece； and you； Mabel； lie at your length in the canoe。〃
The words were scarcely uttered when； seizing the bow
of the light boat he dragged it along the shore； wading
himself； while Cap aided behind； keeping so near the bank
as to avoid being seen by the savages below； and striving
to gain the turn in the river above him which would ef…
fectually conceal the party from the enemy。 The Path…
finder's canoe lay nearest to the bank； and was necessarily
the last to quit the shore。 The Delaware leaped on the nar…
row strand and plunged into the forest； it being his assigned
duty to watch the foe in that quarter； while Arrowhead
motioned to his white companion to seize the bow of the
boat and to follow Jasper。 All this was the work of an
instant； but when the Pathfinder reached the current that
was sweeping round the turn； he felt a sudden change in
the weight he was dragging； and； looking back； he found
that both the Tuscarora and his wife had deserted him。
The thought of treachery flashed upon his mind； but there
was no time to pause； for the wailing shout that arose from
the party below proclaimed that the body of the young
Iroquois had floated as low as the spot reached by his
friends。 The report of a rifle followed； and then the
guide saw that Jasper； having doubled the bend in the
river； was crossing the stream； standing erect in the stern
of the canoe； while Cap was seated forward； both propel…
ling the light boat with vigorous strokes of the paddles。
A glance； a thought； and an expedient followed each other
quickly in one so trained in the vicissitudes of the frontier
warfare。 Springing into the stern of his own canoe； he
urged it by a vigorous shove into the current； and com…
menced crossing the stream himself； at a point so much
lower than that of his companions as to offer his own
person for a target to the enemy； well knowing that their
keen desire to secure a scalp would control all other feelings。
〃Keep well up the current； Jasper；〃 shouted the gallant
guide； as he swept the water with long； steady； vigorous
strokes of the paddle； 〃keep well up the current； and pull
for the alder bushes opposite。 Presarve the Sergeant's
daughter before all things； and leave these Mingo knaves
to the Sarpent and me。〃
Jasper flourished his paddle as a signal of understand…
ing； while shot succeeded shot in quick succession； all now
being aimed at the solitary man in the nearest canoe。
〃Ay； empty your rifles like simpletons as you are；〃 said
the Pathfinder； who had acquired a habit of speaking when
alone； from passing so much of his time in the solitude of
the forest； 〃empty your rifles with an unsteady aim； and
give me time to put yard upon yard of river between us。
I will not revile you like a Delaware or a Mohican； for my
gifts are a white man's gifts； and not an Indian's； and
boasting in battle is no part of a Christian warrior； but I
may say here； all alone by myself； that you are little better
than so many men from the town shooting at robins in
the orchards。 That was well meant；〃 throwing back his
head； as a rifle bullet cut a lock of hair from his temple；
〃but the lead that misses by an inch is as useless as the
lead that never quits the barrel。 Bravely done； Jasper！
the Sergeant's sweet child must be saved； even if we go in
without our own scalps。〃
By this time the Pathfinder was in the centre of the
river； and almost abreast of his enemies； while the other
canoe； impelled by the vigorous arms of Cap and Jasper；
had nearly gained the opposite shore at the precise spot
that had been pointed out to them。 The old mariner now
played his part manfully； for he was on his proper ele…
ment； loved his niece sincerely； had a proper regard for
his own person； and was not unused to fire； though his
experience certainly lay in a very different species of
warfare。 A few strokes of the paddles were given； and
the canoe shot into the bushes； Mabel was hurried to land
by Jasper； and for the present all three of the fugitives
were safe。
Not so with the Pathfinder： his hardy self…devotion
had brought him into a situation of unusual exposure； the
hazards of which were much increased by the fact that；
just as he drifted nearest to the enemy the party on the
shore rushed down the bank and joined their friends who
still stood in the water。 The Oswego was about a cable's
length in width at this point； and； the canoe being in the
centre； the object was only a hundred yards from the rifles
that were constantly discharged at it； or； at the usual
target distance for that weapon。
In this extremity the steadiness and skill of the Path…
finder did him good service。 He knew that his safety de…
pended altogether on keeping in motion； for a stationary
object at that distance； would have been hit nearly every
shot。 Nor was motion of itself sufficient； for； accustomed
to kill the bounding deer； his enemies probably knew how
to vary the line of aim so as to strike him； should he con…
tinue to move in any one direction。 He was consequently
compelled to change the course of the canoe； at one mo…
ment shooting down with the current； with the swiftness
of an arrow； and at the next checking its progress in that
direction； to glance athwart the stream。 Luckily the
Iroquois could not reload their pieces in the water； and the
bushes that everywhere fringed the shore rendered it diffi…
cult to keep the fugitive in view when on the land。 Aided
by these circumstances； and having received the fire of all
his foes； the Pathfinder was gaining fast in distance； both
downwards and across the current； when a new danger
suddenly； if not unexpectedly； presented itself； by the ap…
pearance of the party that had been left in ambush below
with a view to watch the river。
These were the savages alluded to in the short dialogue
already related。 They were no less than ten in number；
and； understanding all the advantages of their bloody oc…
cupation； they had posted themselves at a spot where the
water dashed among rocks and over shallows； in a way to
form a rapid which； in the language of the country； is
called a rift。 The Pathfinder saw that； if he entered this
rift； he should be compelled to approach a point where the
Iroquois had posted themselves； for the current was irre…
sistible； and the rocks allowed no other safe passage； while
death or captivity would be the probable result of the
attempt。 All his efforts； therefore； were turned toward
reaching the western shore； the foe being all on the eastern
side of the river； but the exploit surpassed human power；
and to attempt to stem the stream would at once have so
far diminished the motion of the canoe as to render aim
certain。 In this exigency the guide came to a decision
with his usual cool promptitude； making his preparations
accordingly。 Instead of endeavoring to gain the channel；
he steered towards the shallowest part of the stream； on
reaching which he seized his rifle and pack； leaped into
the water； and began to wade from rock to rock； taking
the direction of the western shore。 The canoe whirled
about in the furious current； now rolling over some slip…
pery stone； now filling； and then emptying itself； until it
lodged on the shore； within a few yards of the spot where
the Iroquois had posted themselves。
In the meanwhile the Pathfinder was far from being out
of danger； for the first minute； admiration of his prompti…
tude and daring； which are so high virtues in the mind of
an Indian； kept his enemies motionless； but the desire of
revenge； and the cravings for the much…prized trophy；
soon overcame this transient feeling； and aroused them
from their stupor。 Rifle flashed after rifle； and the bullets
whistled around the head of the fugitive； amid the roar
of the waters。 Still he proceeded like one who bore a
charmed life； for； while his rude frontier garments were
more than once cut； his skin was not razed。
As the Pathfinder； in several instances； was compelled
to wade in water which rose nearly to his arms； while he
kept his rifle and ammunition elevated above the raging
current； the toil soon fatigued him； and he was glad to
stop at a large stone； or a small rock； which rose so high
above the river that its upper surface was dry。 On this
stone he placed his powder…horn； getting behind it him…
self； so as to have the advantage of a partial cover for his
body。 The western sh