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 shore was only fifty feet distant； but
the quiet； swift； dark current that glanced through the
interval sufficiently showed that here he would be com…
pelled to swim。
A short cessation in the firing now took place on the
part of the Indians； who gathered about the canoe； and；
having found the paddles； were preparing to cross the river。
〃Pathfinder；〃 called a voice from among the bushes； at
the point nearest to the person addressed； on the western
shore。
〃What would you have； Jasper？〃
〃Be of good heart friends are at hand； and not a single
Mingo shall cross without suffering for his boldness。 Had
you not better leave the rifle on the rock； and swim to us
before the rascals can get afloat？〃
〃A true woodsman never quits his piece while he has
any powder in his horn or a bullet in his pouch。 I have
not drawn a trigger this day； Eau…douce； and shouldn't
relish the idea of parting with those reptiles without caus…
ing them to remember my name。 A little water will not
harm my legs； and I see that blackguard； Arrowhead；
among the scamps； and wish to send him the wages he has
so faithfully earned。 You have not brought the Sergeant's
daughter down here in a range with their bullets； I hope；
Jasper？〃
〃She is safe for the present at least； though all depends
on our keeping tne river between us and the enemy。 They
must know our weakness now； and； should they cross； no
doubt some of their party will be left on the other side。〃
〃This canoeing touches your gifts rather than mine；
boy； though I will handle a paddle with the best Mingo
that ever struck a salmon。 If they cross below the rift；
why can't we cross in the still water above； and keep play…
ing at dodge and turn with the wolves？〃
〃Because； as I have said； they will leave a party on the
other shore； and then； Pathfinder； would you expose Mabel；
to the rifles of the Iroquois？〃
〃The Sergeant's daughter must be saved；〃 returned the
guide； with calm energy。 〃You are right； Jasper； she
has no gift to authorize her in offering her sweet face and
tender body to a Mingo rifle。 What can be done； then？
They must be kept from crossing for an hour or two； if
possible； when we must do our best in the darkness。〃
〃I agree with you； Pathfinder； if it can be effected； but
are we strong enough for such a purpose？〃
〃The Lord is with us； boy； the Lord is with us； and it
is unreasonable to suppose that one like the Sergeant's
daughter will be altogether abandoned by Providence in
such a strait。 There is not a boat between the falls and
the garrison； except these two canoes； to my sartain knowl…
edge； and I think it will go beyond red…skin gifts to cross
in the face of two rifles like these of yourn and mine。 I
will not vaunt； Jasper； but it is well known on all this
frontier that Killdeer seldom fails。〃
〃Your skill is admitted by all； far and near； Pathfinder；
but a rifle takes time to be loaded； nor are you on the
land； aided by a good cover； where you can work to the
advantage you are used to。 If you had our canoe； might
you not pass to the shore with a dry rifle？〃
〃Can an eagle fly； Jasper？〃 returned the other； laugh…
ing in his usual manner； and looking back as he spoke。
But it would be unwise to expose yourself on the water；
for them miscreants are beginning to bethink them again
of powder and bullets。〃
〃It can be done without any such chances。 Master Cap
has gone up to the canoe； and will cast the branch of a
tree into the river to try the current； which sets from the
point above in the direction of your rock。 See； there it
comes already； if it float fairly； you must raise your arm；
when the canoe will follow。 At all events； if the boat
should pass you； the eddy below will bring it up； and I can
recover it。〃
While Jasper was still speaking； the floating branch
came in sight； and； quickening its progress with the in…
creasing velocity of the current； it swept swiftly down
towards the Pathfinder； who seized it as it was passing；
and held it in the air as a sign of success。 Cap understood
the signal； and presently the canoe was launched into the
stream； with a caution and an intelligence that the habits
of the mariner had fitted him to observe。 It floated in
the same direction as the branch； and in a minute was ar…
rested by the Pathfinder。
〃This has been done with a frontier man's judgment
Jasper；〃 said the guide； laughing； 〃but you have your
gifts； which incline most to the water； as mine incline to
the woods。 Now let them Mingo knaves cock their rifles
and get rests； for this is the last chance they are likely to
have at a man without a cover。〃
〃Nay； shove the canoe towards the shore； quartering the
current； and throw yourself into it as it goes off；〃 said
Jasper eagerly。 〃There is little use in running any risk。〃
〃I love to stand up face to face with my enemies like a
man； while they set me the example；〃 returned the Path…
finder proudly。 〃I am not a red…skin born； and it is more
a white man's gifts to fight openly than to lie in ambush…
ment。〃
〃And Mabel？〃
〃True； boy； true； the Sergeant's daughter must be saved；
and； as you say； foolish risks only become boys。 Think you
that you can catch the canoe where you stand？〃
〃There can be no doubt； if you give a vigorous push。〃
Pathfinder made the necessary effort； the light bark
shot across the intervening space； and Jasper seized it as
it came to land。 To secure the canoe； and to take proper
positions in the cover； occupied the friends but a moment；
when they shook hands cordially； like those who had met
after a long separation。
〃Now； Jasper； we shall see if a Mingo of them all dares
cross the Oswego in the teeth of Kildeer！ You are handier
with the oar and the paddle and the sail than with the
rifle； perhaps； but you have a stout heart and a steady
hand； and them are things that count in a fight。〃
〃Mabel will find me between her and her enemies；〃 said
Jasper calmly。
〃Yes； yes； the Sergeant's daughter must be protected。
I like you； boy； on your own account； but I like you all
the better that you think of one so feeble at a moment
when there is need of all your manhood。 See； Jasper！ three
of the knaves are actually getting into the canoe！ They
must believe we have fled； or they would not surely ven…
ture so much； directly in the very face of Killdeer。〃
Sure enough the Iroquois did appear bent on venturing
across the stream； for； as the Pathfinder and his friends
now kept their persons strictly concealed； their enemies
began to think that the latter had taken to flight。 Such
a course was that which most white men would have fol…
lowed； but Mabel was under the care of those who were
much too well skilled in forest warfare to neglect to de…
fend the only pass that； in truth； now offered even a
probable chance for protection。
As the Pathfinder had said； three warriors were in the
canoe； two holding their rifles at a poise； as they knelt in
readiness to aim the deadly weapons； and the other stand…
ing erect in the stern to wield the paddle。 In this man…
ner they left the shore； having had the precaution to haul
the canoe； previously to entering it； so far up the stream as
to have got into the comparatively still water above the rift。
It was apparent at a glance that the savage who guided
the boat was skilled in the art； for the long steady sweep of
his paddle sent the light bark over the glassy surface of
the tranquil river as if it were a feather floating in air。
〃Shall I fire？〃 demanded Jasper in a whisper； trem…
bling with eagerness to engage。
〃Not yet； boy； not yet。 There are but three of them；
and if Master Cap yonder knows how to use the popguns
he carries in his belt； we may even let them land； and then
we shall recover the canoe。〃
〃But Mabel ？〃
〃No fear for the Sergeant's daughter。 She is safe in
the hollow stump； you say； with the opening judgmatically
hid by the brambles。 If what you tell me of the manner
in which you concealed the trail be true； the sweet one
might lie there a month and laugh at the Mingos。〃
〃We are never certain。 I wish we had brought her
nearer to our own cover！〃
〃What for； Eau…douce？ To place her pretty little head
and leaping heart among flying bullets？ No； no： she is
better where she is； because she is safer。〃
〃We are never certain。 We thought ourselves safe be…
hind the bushes； and yet you saw that we were discovered。〃
〃And the Mingo imp paid for his curiosity； as these
knaves are about to do。〃
The； Pathfinder ceased speaking； for at that instant the
sharp report of a rifle was heard； when the Indian in the
stern of the canoe leaped high into the air； and fell into
the water； holding the paddle in his hand。 A small
wreath of smoke floated out from among the bushes of the
eastern shore； and was soon absorbed by the atmosphere。
〃That is the Sarpent hissing！〃 exclaimed the Path…
finder exultingly。 〃A bolder or a truer heart never beat in
the breast of a Delaware。 I am sorry that he interfered；
but he could not have known our cond