eep under the snow, you may take your
oath. It's Injuns, by the way they hid themselves. Now, then, can you
keep watch--sentry go?" he said, addressing Abel.

"Yes, it was only a graze from the bullet; I am better now."

"Then you take a loaded rifle and keep watch while we go on knocking the
raft together."

"Yes," cried Dallas, "the sooner we get away from here the better."

All set to work with feverish energy at the raft-making. Enough wood
was cut, and by clever notching together, the use of spikes, and a
further strengthening with rope, the framework rapidly progressed, their
intention being to launch, load up, and set off that evening, so as to
get to a safer spot.

Abel carefully kept his watch, scanning the dark edge of the forest; but
there was no further interruption, and the men worked away, with only a
brief pause for refreshment.

Then the sun dipped below the pines, and as darkness approached Dallas
let his axe rest on the young pine he had been trimming, and turned to
his companions, with a look of despair in his eyes.

"Yes," said the Cornishman good-humouredly, "we cut out more stuff than
we can finish to-night, my son. It's a bigger job than I thought. We
shall have to knock off now. What's to be done about the fire?"

It was risky work, but the watch was well kept while water was boiled
and bacon fried. Then a hasty meal was made, and as the darkness fell
the fire was quenched by throwing over it a bucket or two of water.

It was hard enough to do this, for though the ground was clear about
them, snow lay on every rocky hill, and the night promised to be
bitterly cold. But the exposure to an enemy would have been too great;
so after selecting one of the huge spruces whose boughs hung down to the
ground for a shelter, and dragging the sledges close in, the question
arose of continuing the watch.

"Tchah! It's as dark as pitch," said the Cornishman. "Nobody could
see. Let the enemy think we're watching. They won't come. We must
chance it. Wrap up well, and have a good night's rest."

This advice was taken, and soon after all were sleeping the sleep of
exhaustion, and awoke at daylight without a fresh alarm.

The previous day's tactics were resumed, and the toil over the raft went
on, but there was still so much to do in the way of bracing and
strengthening the rough craft so that it might withstand the fierce
currents and concussions they were to expect at the lower part of t