stone　he　placed　his　powder…horn；　getting　behind　it　him…
  self；　so　as　to　have　the　advantage　of　a　partial　cover　for　his
  body。　　The　western　shore　was　only　fifty　feet　distant；　but
  the　quiet；　swift；　dark　current　that　glanced　through　the
  interval　sufficiently　showed　that　here　he　would　be　com…
  pelled　to　swim。
  A　short　cessation　in　the　firing　now　took　place　on　the
  part　of　the　Indians；　who　gathered　about　the　canoe；　and；
  having　found　the　paddles；　were　preparing　to　cross　the　river。
  〃Pathfinder；〃　called　a　voice　from　among　the　bushes；　at
  the　point　nearest　to　the　person　addressed；　on　the　western
  shore。
  〃What　would　you　have；　Jasper？〃
  〃Be　of　good　heart　　friends　are　at　hand；　and　not　a　single
  Mingo　shall　cross　without　suffering　for　his　boldness。　　Had
  you　not　better　leave　the　rifle　on　the　rock；　and　swim　to　us
  before　the　rascals　can　get　afloat？〃
  〃A　true　woodsman　never　quits　his　piece　while　he　has
  any　powder　in　his　horn　or　a　bullet　in　his　pouch。　　I　have
  not　drawn　a　trigger　this　day；　Eau…douce；　and　shouldn't
  relish　the　idea　of　parting　with　those　reptiles　without　caus…
  ing　them　to　remember　my　name。　　A　little　water　will　not
  harm　my　legs；　and　I　see　that　blackguard；　Arrowhead；
  among　the　scamps；　and　wish　to　send　him　the　wages　he　has
  so　faithfully　earned。　　You　have　not　brought　the　Sergeant's
  daughter　down　here　in　a　range　with　their　bullets；　I　hope；
  Jasper？〃
  〃She　is　safe　for　the　present　at　least；　though　all　depends
  on　our　keeping　tne　river　between　us　and　the　enemy。　　They
  must　know　our　weakness　now；　and；　should　they　cross；　no
  doubt　some　of　their　party　will　be　left　on　the　other　side。〃
  〃This　canoeing　touches　your　gifts　rather　than　mine；
  boy；　though　I　will　handle　a　paddle　with　the　best　Mingo
  that　ever　struck　a　salmon。　　If　they　cross　below　the　rift；
  why　can't　we　cross　in　the　still　water　above；　and　keep　play…
  ing　at　dodge　and　turn　with　the　wolves？〃
  〃Because；　as　I　have　said；　they　will　leave　a　party　on　the
  other　shore；　and　then；　Pathfinder；　would　you　expose　Mabel；
  to　the　rifles　of　the　Iroquois？〃
  〃The　Sergeant's　daughter　must　be　saved；〃　returned　the
  guide；　with　calm　energy。　　〃You　are　right；　Jasper；　she
  has　no　gift　to　authorize　her　in　offering　her　sweet　face　and
  tender　body　to　a　Mingo　rifle。　　What　can　be　done；　then？
  They　must　be　kept　from　crossing　for　an　hour　or　two；　if
  possible；　when　we　must　do　our　best　in　the　darkness。〃
  〃I　agree　with　you；　Pathfinder；　if　it　can　be　effected；　but
  are　we　strong　enough　for　such　a　purpose？〃
  〃The　Lord　is　with　us；　boy；　the　Lord　is　with　us；　and　it
  is　unreasonable　to　suppose　that　one　like　the　Sergeant's
  daughter　will　be　altogether　abandoned　by　Providence　in
  such　a　strait。　　There　is　not　a　boat　between　the　falls　and
  the　garrison；　except　these　two　canoes；　to　my　sartain　knowl…
  edge；　and　I　think　it　will　go　beyond　red…skin　gifts　to　cross
  in　the　face　of　two　rifles　like　these　of　yourn　and　mine。　　I
  will　not　vaunt；　Jasper；　but　it　is　well　known　on　all　this
  frontier　that　Killdeer　seldom　fails。〃
  〃Your　skill　is　admitted　by　all；　far　and　near；　Pathfinder；
  but　a　rifle　takes　time　to　be　loaded；　nor　are　you　on　the
  land；　aided　by　a　good　cover；　where　you　can　work　to　the
  advantage　you　are　used　to。　　If　you　had　our　canoe；　might
  you　not　pass　to　the　shore　with　a　dry　rifle？〃
  〃Can　an　eagle　fly；　Jasper？〃　returned　the　other；　laugh…
  ing　in　his　usual　manner；　and　looking　back　as　he　spoke。
  But　it　would　be　unwise　to　expose　yourself　on　the　water；
  for　them　miscreants　are　beginning　to　bethink　them　again
  of　powder　and　bullets。〃
  〃It　can　be　done　without　any　such　chances。　　Master　Cap
  has　gone　up　to　the　canoe；　and　will　cast　the　branch　of　a
  tree　into　the　river　to　try　the　current；　which　sets　from　the
  point　above　in　the　direction　of　your　rock。　　See；　there　it
  comes　already；　if　it　float　fairly；　you　must　raise　your　arm；
  when　the　canoe　will　follow。　　At　all　events；　if　the　boat
  should　pass　you；　the　eddy　below　will　bring　it　up；　and　I　can
  recover　it。〃
  While　Jasper　was　still　speaking；　the　floating　branch
  came　in　sight；　and；　quickening　its　progress　with　the　in…
  creasing　velocity　of　the　current；　it　swept　swiftly　down
  towards　the　Pathfinder；　who　seized　it　as　it　was　passing；
  and　held　it　in　the　air　as　a　sign　of　success。　　Cap　understood
  the　signal；　and　presently　the　canoe　was　launched　into　the
  stream；　with　a　caution　and　an　intelligence　that　the　habits
  of　the　mariner　had　fitted　him　to　observe。　　It　floated　in
  the　same　direction　as　the　branch；　and　in　a　minute　was　ar…
  rested　by　the　Pathfinder。
  〃This　has　been　done　with　a　frontier　man's　judgment
  Jasper；〃　said　the　guide；　laughing；　〃but　you　have　your
  gifts；　which　incline　most　to　the　water；　as　mine　incline　to
  the　woods。　　Now　let　them　Mingo　knaves　cock　their　rifles
  and　get　rests；　for　this　is　the　last　chance　they　are　likely　to
  have　at　a　man　without　a　cover。〃
  〃Nay；　shove　the　canoe　towards　the　shore；　quartering　the
  current；　and　throw　yourself　into　it　as　it　goes　off；〃　said
  Jasper　eagerly。　　〃There　is　little　use　in　running　any　risk。〃
  〃I　love　to　stand　up　face　to　face　with　my　enemies　like　a
  man；　while　they　set　me　the　example；〃　returned　the　Path…
  finder　proudly。　　〃I　am　not　a　red…skin　born；　and　it　is　more
  a　white　man's　gifts　to　fight　openly　than　to　lie　in　ambush…
  ment。〃
  〃And　Mabel？〃
  〃True；　boy；　true；　the　Sergeant's　daughter　must　be　saved；
  and；　as　you　say；　foolish　risks　only　become　boys。　　Think　you
  that　you　can　catch　the　canoe　where　you　stand？〃
  〃There　can　be　no　doubt；　if　you　give　a　vigorous　push。〃
  Pathfinder　made　the　necessary　effort；　the　light　bark
  shot　across　the　intervening　space；　and　Jasper　seized　it　as
  it　came　to　land。　　To　secure　the　canoe；　and　to　take　proper
  positions　in　the　cover；　occupied　the　friends　but　a　moment；
  when　they　shook　hands　cordially；　like　those　who　had　met
  after　a　long　separation。
  〃Now；　Jasper；　we　shall　see　if　a　Mingo　of　them　all　dares
  cross　the　Oswego　in　the　teeth　of　Kildeer！　　You　are　handier
  with　the　oar　and　the　paddle　and　the　sail　than　with　the
  rifle；　perhaps；　but　you　have　a　stout　heart　and　a　steady
  hand；　and　them　are　things　that　count　in　a　fight。〃
  〃Mabel　will　find　me　between　her　and　her　enemies；〃　said
  Jasper　calmly。
  〃Yes；　yes；　the　Sergeant's　daughter　must　be　protected。
  I　like　you；　boy；　on　your　own　account；　but　I　like　you　all
  the　better　that　you　think　of　one　so　feeble　at　a　moment
  when　there　is　need　of　all　your　manhood。　　See；　Jasper！　three
  of　the　knaves　are　actually　getting　into　the　canoe！　　They
  must　believe　we　have　fled；　or　they　would　not　surely　ven…
  ture　so　much；　directly　in　the　very　face　of　Killdeer。〃
  Sure　enough　the　Iroquois　did　appear　bent　on　venturing
  across　the　stream；　for；　as　the　Pathfinder　and　his　friends
  now　kept　their　persons　strictly　concealed；　their　enemies
  began　to　think　that　the　latter　had　taken　to　flight。　　Such
  a　course　was　that　which　most　white　men　would　have　fol…
  lowed；　but　Mabel　was　under　the　care　of　those　who　were
  much　too　well　skilled　in　forest　warfare　to　neglect　to　de…
  fend　the　only　pass　that；　in　truth；　now　offered　even　a
  probable　chance　for　protection。
  As　the　Pathfinder　had　said；　three　warriors　were　in　the
  canoe；　two　holding　their　rifles　at　a　poise；　as　they　knelt　in
  readiness　to　aim　the　deadly　weapons；　and　the　other　stand…
  ing　erect　in　the　stern　to　wield　the　paddle。　　In　this　man…
  ner　they　left　the　shore；　having　had　the　precaution　to　haul
  the　canoe；　previously　to　entering　it；　so　far　up　the　stream　as
  to　have　got　into　the　comparatively　still　water　above　the　rift。
  It　was　apparent　at　a　glance　that　the　savage　who　guided
  the　boat　was　skilled　in　the　art；　for　the　long　steady　sweep　of
  his　paddle　sent　the　light　bark　over　the　glassy　surface　of
  the　tranquil　river　as　if　it　were　a　feather　floating　in　air。
  〃Shall　I　fire？〃　demanded　Jasper　in　a　whisper；　trem…
  bling　with　eagerness　to　engage。
  〃Not　yet；　boy；　not　yet。　　There　are　but　three　of　them；
  and　if　Master　Cap　yonder　knows　how　to　use　the　popguns
  he　carries　in　his　belt；　we　may　even　let　them　land；　and　then
  we　shall　recover　the　canoe。〃
  〃But　Mabel　　？〃
  〃No　fear　for　the　Sergeant's　daughter。　　She　is　safe　in
  the　hollow　stump；　you　say；　with　the　opening　judgmatically
  hid　by　the　brambles。　　If　what　you　tell　me　of　the　manner
  in　which　you　concealed　the　trail　be　true；　the　sweet　one
  might　lie　there　a　month　and　laugh　at　the　Mingos。〃
  〃We　are　never　certain。　　I　wish　we　had　brought　her
  nearer　to　our　own　cover！〃
  〃What　for；　Eau…douce？　　To　place　her　pretty　little　head
  and　leaping　heart　among　flying　bullets？　　No；　no：　she　is
  better　where　she　is；　because　she　is　safer。〃
  〃We　are　never　certain。　　We　thought　ourselves　safe　be…
  hind　the　bushes；　and　yet　you　saw　that　we　were　discovered。〃
  〃And　the　Mingo　imp　paid　for　his　curiosity；　as　these
  knaves　are　about　to　do。〃
  The；　Pathfinder　ceased　speaking；　for　at　that　instant　the
  sharp　report　of　a　rifle　was　heard；　when　the　Indian　in　the
  stern　of　the　canoe　leaped　high　into　the　air；　and　fell　into
  the　water；　holding　the　paddle　in　his　hand。　　A　small
  wreath　of　smoke　floated　out　from　among　the　bushes　of　the
  eastern　shore；　and　was　soon　absorbed　by　the　atmosphere。
  〃That　is　the　Sarpent　hissing！〃　exclaimed　the　Path…
  finder　exultingly。　　〃A　bolder　or　a　truer　heart　never　beat　in
  the　breast　of　a　Delaware。　　I　am　sorry　that　he　interfered；
  but　he　could　not　have　known　our　cond