Part 11 (1/2)
She often told o back and stay with Lily
Native of the wilds as she was, she had gained a taste for civilised life, she told Reuben and hted to see her, and that, if her father would allow her to accolad to take her at once This, however, Kepenau refused He did not tell us why; only saying that he could not let her go unless he ith her, and for the present he must not leave his people, who had to hunt and fish, so as to lay in a store of provisions for the winter
I should have said that at the back of the lodges were several pieces of cleared ground, on which Indian corn was growing and potatoes had been planted This showed that Kepenau and his people were in advance of the hunting Indians, who trust only to the chase for subsistence, and are thereby frequently reduced to a state of starvation
All the inhabitants of the camp turned out to wish us farewell, and offered up prayers for our safety as we stepped into our canoes Kakaik and Reuben led the way in one canoe, and Mike and I followed in the other, flourishi+ng our paddles over our heads as a farewell salute We plied the rapidly down the strea the current with us, we expected to reach hohtfall, should no accident happen
”I' that none of those Indiansthe other day are lurking about, or maybe they will take a fancy to our packs of dried venison and skins, and stop us,” observed Mike
”What put that idea into your head?” I asked
”Sure, because they are cunning spalpeens; and as they know the e h to be on the watch for us,” he replied
”We”If any of them appear, and look as if they intended to interfere with us, we shall have to show theh, as I never have shot a ed to do so”
We paddled on for soht up Reuben's canoe and had a talk with him I told him what Mike had said
”Oh! I don't think there is htly
”A few rifle-bullets will soon drive the fellows into the woods, if they show their noses”
We were now entering a part of the stream which ran between broken cliffs; on one side rocks rose almost perpendicularly from the water, their summits shaped like the parapets of ruined castles, while on the other the trees came down to the river's brink Kakaik re a series of rapids; and he explained by signs that he would lead the way, and advised Mike and me to keep exactly in his course He and Reuben paddled on, therefore, while we followed at a little distance We saw them descend one of the first rapids
Immediately below this, in a turn of the river, was another, the fall in which being probably about four or five feet, was not sufficient to endanger the safety of the canoes if carefully handled
We were approaching the highest of the rapids, which, as I have said, the other canoe had just descended,an Indian dart out fro close to the water, and point his arrow at the first canoe, ai at Reuben The arro from the bow, but whether my friend was hit or not I could not say, as the canoe, darting down the rapid, was lost to sight
We were too near the rapid to paddle back, for in turning round we should have run the risk of upsetting the canoe, when it would have been carried down sideways, and probably dashed to pieces Our only safe course, therefore, was to dash forward; and we hoped to pass the Indian before he could perceive us, or have time to fix another arrow in his bow Had we been in still water I ht have lifted my rifle and shot the Indian, but I dared not leave my paddle for a ht and main to turn the canoe so as to be ready for the next descent The Indian had disappeared, but we heard his voice, calling, as we supposed, to his coht of hi the trees; but he could not have seen us
A short way below this was another and still nified that he had often shot it, but he at the sae To do this was noever, out of the question, as we should be seized by the Indians on shore did we land on the side on which they were; the only practicable one along which we could make our way
”Paddle, Mike! paddle!” I said in a low voice, fearing that I ht be heard should I shout ”Our only chance is to dash down the rapid We cannot stop to look out for rocks ahead, and must run all risks”
Mike saw this as well as I did ”Sure, it's the only thing to be done, any way May all the saints in the calendar help us!” he exclaimed
I don't think, however, that Mike had h he uttered the expression
We dashed on, the water hissing and bubbling and foa round us, and had almost reached the botto The next instant I foundwaters, and instinctively striking out for dear life Looking down the strea rapidly hurried doards, with Mike clinging to it The next moment, he and the canoe had disappeared
I had been carried down so my senses, I discovered that I was happily near the side opposite to that on which I had seen the Indians I scra to find some place of concealone far, however, before I recollected that my footprints would certainly betray me I therefore retraced my steps and threw myself backwards into the water; and as I looked up towards the bank, I clearly perceived the marks I had left
The river in this place was narrow, but though the current ran strong it was smooth, and I felt sure that I could swi so over the water It wasmyself, and I determined to run the risk; but no tiht look up the stream and discover me I struck out boldly, and found that I could steth I possessed I looked down the stream every now and then, to ascertain whether the Indians were returning, which I thought theyto the canoe; otherwise I kept my eye as steadily as I could on the bushes for which I was ht have crossed the strea myself to be carried doith the current, but then I should have landed much below the place where I hoped to find concealuish for some time, even amid the roar of the waters, the voices of the Indians as they shouted to each other; but they gradually becae further off
Even then I thought of poor Mike What ht be his fate, should he be captured by the Indians? His fiddle, and probably everything else in the canoe, would be lost, and he would have no e hearts With his fiddle in his hand, I felt that he e that such thoughts entered my mind at that time; but the truth is, I was less anxious about ot th failing me It seemed that I should never reach the shore; still, I struck out, straining every nerve I was afraid at length that I should be obliged to allowto the first rock or bough I could reach My eyes were growing dim, and I could scarcely see the bushes on which they had so long been fixed Still I struggled on, deterht by an eddy, and the next instant I was carried close under the bank I was about to grasp one of the branches, when I recollected that the sharp eyes of the Indians would discover where my hand had crushed the leaves, so I resisted the te myself on my back for a ain in the very middle of the bush