"You no give 'em boat--Injin swim," he at
length observed.
"Just as you please," answered corporal Nixon. "By and
bye, sogers go to the Fort--take Injin with 'em."
"Wah! Injin cross here," and as he spoke, he sprang again
to the bow of the boat, and at a single bound cleared
the intervening space to the very stern.
Several heavy splashes in the water.--a muttered curse
from the corporal--some confusion among his men, and the
savage was seen nearly half-way across the river, swimming
like an eel to the opposite shore.
"Damn the awkward brute!" exclaimed the former, angrily.
"How many muskets are there overboard, Jackson?"
"Only three--and two cartouch boxes."
"ONLY three indeed! I wish the fellow had been at old
Nick, instead of coming here to create all this confusion.
Is the water deep at the stern?"
"Nearly a fathom I reckon," was the reply.
"Then, my lads, you must look out for other fish to-day.
Jackson, can you see the muskets at the bottom?"
"Not a sign of them, corporal," answered the man, as
lying flat on the boat, he peered intently into the water.
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