Part 26 (1/2)
”Hadn't we better run?” asked f.a.n.n.y, in trembling tones.
”'Tain't no use to run; them redskins kin beat you all to pieces runnin',” replied Ethan, as he retreated behind the wheelbarrow, and resting the rifle upon it, took careful aim at the savage who was in advance of the others.
He fired; the Indian fell, and lay still on the ground.
”That's sunthin' towards it, anyhow,” continued Ethan, encouraged by the success of his first shot. ”Ef I kin fetch down one more on 'em, it will make the rest a leetle grain skeery.”
”The other Indians are coming too, Ethan,” said f.a.n.n.y.
”Let 'em kim; if they do we are safe.”
The immediate followers of Lean Bear were rus.h.i.+ng towards the spot with all their might. The swiftest runner of the party had far outstripped his companions, but it was evident to Ethan and f.a.n.n.y that he was moving towards the other band of savages, rather than towards them. He was shouting in his own tongue words which were unintelligible to the white boy and girl. But if the words were not understood, their effect was, for the hostile band presently halted, and awaited the arrival of the messenger.
In the mean time Ethan placed Wahena in a position where he could be seen by all the savages, and with the revolver in his hand, stood in readiness to make another demonstration at the life of the boy if it should be necessary. It was not needed, for all these Indians belonged to the tribe of Lean Bear, whose command was law to them.
”We are safe, Ethan,” said f.a.n.n.y.
”So we are; but I've killed one Injin, and I reckon I could kill some more.”
”Don't you feel sorry you killed him?” asked f.a.n.n.y.
”Not ef I knows myself, I don't. I'd like to kill the whole boodle on 'em, after what they've did, consarn thar picters! I reckon we'd better be go'n along.”
”I think we had. It is really terrible to think of killing a man.”
”'Tain't no more terrible 'n killin' all them women 'n childern up to the settlement,” replied Ethan, as he raised the handles of the barrow and moved on. ”I hope they'll send the sogers up here, and kill off all the Injins this side o' sundown.”
”I hope it won't be necessary to do that,” added f.a.n.n.y.
”It ought to be did. What's them Injins good for but to be shot? I kinder wish they'd kim, so I could have fetched down some more on 'em, consarn 'em!”
”It is lucky the party of Lean Bear was near enough to turn them back.
We might have been killed before this time.”
”I dunno,” replied Ethan, shaking his head.
”You have done n.o.bly, Ethan; but Wahena has saved us so far.”
”I know that; I ketched him for jest what he has did for us.”
The rest of the way to the lake was down a gentle declivity, and the wheelbarrow moved more easily than before. In a short time they reached their destination, on the sh.o.r.e of the beautiful sheet of water at which was moored a boat. It was not such a craft as the Greyhound, in which f.a.n.n.y had been accustomed to sail; it was a bateau, or flat-bottomed boat, with very sharp slopes under the bow and stern. It had a keel and rudder, and was provided with a sail.
The stores and utensils from the wheelbarrow were quickly transferred to the boat, and then the barrow itself was placed on board. The wind now blew tolerably fresh, and was fair for reaching the island; but Ethan, with all his other accomplishments, knew no more about the management of a boat than of a s.h.i.+p, which he had never even seen. This boat had been built by Mr. Grant and a carpenter of the settlement during the preceding winter, and Ethan had never sailed in it but once.
”I don't know nothin' about this hyer thing,” said Ethan. ”I kin paddle, but I reckon the sail would tip us over.”
”I can manage it,” replied f.a.n.n.y, confidently.
”Kin ye? Did ye ever manage a boat with a sail?”
”Yes, once,” answered f.a.n.n.y, and she thought with shame of the cruise she had made in the Greyhound. ”Let us hoist the sail, and we can run over to the island in a few moments.”