usual, the bullets buried themselves in the
wood with a sigh, doing no harm. Four pairs of powerful arms and four
powerful shoulders bent suddenly to their task with new strength and
vigor. Paul's words had been electric, thrilling, and every one felt their
impulse instantly. The prow of the heavy boat cut swiftly through the
water, and Paul bent still lower to escape the rifle-shots. No need for
him to choose his course now! The boat was already sent upon its errand.

A wild shout of alarm rose from the war canoe, and the next instant the
prow of "The Galleon" struck it squarely in the middle. There were more
shouts of alarm or pain, a crunching, ripping and breaking of wood, and
then "The Galleon," after its momentary check, went on. The war canoe had
been cut in two, and its late occupants were swimming for their lives.
Not in vain had Paul read in an old Roman history of the battles between
the fleets when galley cut down galley.

Henry, although he did not look up, knew at once what had happened, and he
could not restrain admiration and praise.

"Good for you, Paul!" he cried. "You took us right over the war canoe and
that's what's likely to save us!"

Henry was right. The other canoes, appalled by the disaster, and busy,
too, in picking up the derelicts, hung back. Henry and Shif'less Sol took
advantage of the opportunity, and sent bullet after bullet among them,
aiming more particularly at the light bark canoes. Three filled and began
to sink and their occupants had to be rescued. The utmost confusion and
consternation reigned in the savage fleet, and the distance between it and
"The Galleon" widened rapidly as the latter bore in a diagonal course
across the Mississippi.

"They've had all they want," said Henry, as he laid down his rifle and
took up the oars again, "but it's this big heavy boat that's saved us.
She's been a regular floating fort."

"We took our gall-yun just in time," said Shif'less Sol jubilantly, "an'
she is shore the greatest warship that ever floated on these waters. Oh,
she's a fine boat, a beautiful boat, the reg'lar King o' the seas!"

"Queen, you mean," said Paul, who felt the reaction.

"No, King it is," replied Sol stoutly. "A boat that carries travelers may
be a she, but shorely one that fights like this is a he."

The fog was gone, save for occasional wisps of white mist, but the day had
not yet come, and the night was by no means light. When they looked back
again they could