Part 11 (2/2)
The attack was so sudden and unlooked for, and took us at such a disadvantage, that it was a mercy the half of us were not killed by the ene volley For on the instant that Gardapie fell dead into the river twoout, and then a third and a fourth A bullet whistled by my ear, and another flew so close to Baptiste that he dropped his paddle and threw hi a shrill ”_None cried out with a curse that he had a ball in his right arm
”Redskins!” I yelled ”Down--down for your lives!”
The canoe was luckily of a good depth, and we all crouched low and hugged the botto had ceased as abruptly as it opened Not a shot or a yell disturbed the quiet of the woods on either hand, and but for poor Gardapie's vacant place, and the splash of blood where he had been kneeling, Iwas a hideous dream We drifted on with the current for a moment, while the roar of the falls swelled louder Our loaded rasp, but we dared not expose our heads above the gunwales
I looked back toward the stern, and saw Moralle tying a bandage on Lavigne's wounded are was bareheaded, and he told me that a ball had carried his cap into the river
”We're not done with the red devils,” he added ”It's a bad scrape, Carew I've no doubt the Indians have been won over by the Northwest people, and hostilities have already begun”
On that point I did not agree with hi to speak as inWe were between two perils, and I called out to Moralle for his opinion
”If the redskins are in any force it will be ie,” I said ”We are within a quarter of atheh theain That is, provided I can paddle and look where I a
Shall I try it, sir?”
”No, not yet; wait a little,” I answered
”I don't like this silence,” exclai so suddenly? MarkI'esture, and spoke a few co words to Flora; her face was very white, but beyond that she showed no trace of fear
Then I crept a little past Baptiste, and with the point of unwales of the canoe, one on each side I peeped through both in turn, and the curve of the bow gave me as clear a view ahead as I could have wished
What I saw partly explained theof the brief silence--scarcely more than a minute had elapsed since the ht and left I caught a gli bodies We were close upon the falls, and but for the noise of the tu feet of our detere whispered
”The Indians are running ahead of us through the forest,” I replied
”They expect that ill try the portage, and then they will have us in a trap Our only chance is to dash down the rapids”
”It's a e; and as he spoke I heard an hysterical sob froht,” I called to Moralle ”If we keep on this course ill hit the rocks A few strokes to the left--”
”I'll lanced over in to paddle He was not fired on, as I had expected would be the case, so Baptiste and I ventured to lift our heads As atched, we held ourus on swiftly A short distance below, the river narrowed to a couple of hundred feet, and here stretched the line of half-sunken rocks thatof the falls In the very center was a break several yards wide, and straight for this the canoe was now driving There was no sign of the enemy, and it was difficult to realize that such a deadly peril awaited us
Bang went a musket, and a puff of bluish smoke curled from the forest on the left The ball passed over Moralle's head; he ceased paddling and dropped under cover Baptiste did the sa for a chance to return the shot My attention had just been attracted by a e cried, hoarsely:
”Keep down, Miss Hatherton! That was a e released his hold of Flora, who, I judged, had been exposing herself recklessly I was startled by her appearance She looked at htened eyes and parted lips, with a face the hue of ashes