"Well rid of them, if they are gone," exclaimed the
corporal, not a little relieved by their departure. "We
must keep a sharp look out though, and see if they return."
"How many of them are there?" asked Jackson; "can you
give a guess, Collins?"
"About a dozen I should say--indeed I counted as many as
they passed through the small patch of clearing made by
Eph. Giles's axe."
"Can they have started for the farm?" observed the corporal
musingly; "if so, my lads, we had better get away as soon
as possible, for there they will find canoes to cross."
"Why, sure they can swim across well enough. The river
is not so wide as to prevent them from doing it on a
pinch," remarked Philips.
"Of course they can," answered Collins, "but not without
having their rifles as well soaked as our muskets were
a little while ago. I say, corporal, I understand now
the trick of that cunning chief. He jumped upon the arms
purposely to overturn them into the river, when he found
he couldn't get the boat, and all our firelocks over with
him."
"Yes, that WAS a trick," remarked Jackson, "but, corporal,
you havn't told us how the dickens that fellow came there,
instead of the bear you went to spear.
Pages:
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81