consent, turned the
heads of their canoes to the shore and went straight away, disappearing
at last amongst the trees which overhung the river bank.

Shaddy made no reply to the speaker, but, the way being clear, bade his
men to row steadily on for another half-hour, when a halt was called,
and refreshments served round in the boat, but with orders for them to
be hastily eaten.

After this the rowing was resumed till the afternoon was far advanced,
and the end of the lake-like reach was still apparently far-away. The
broad expanse had for a long time past been entirely free from all signs
of the Indians, and Rob was congratulating himself upon their escape,
when Joe pointed straight back along the broad river-lake to where a
canoe suddenly shot round a corner; then another came into view, and
another, and another, till there were between thirty and forty visible,
each bearing four or five men, and a chill of horror shot through Rob as
he felt that this must mean war, and that they would be helpless in the
extreme if so large a body of men made a determined attack.

"I was afraid of that," said Shaddy quietly, "Strange as they can't
leave us alone."

"What do you propose doing, Naylor?" said Mr Brazier eagerly.

"There ain't no proposing, sir. It's all driving to do what is for the
best. We must face 'em."

"Why not land and try and find shelter in the woods?"

"Because, sir, they'd destroy our boat and follow us and shoot us down
like so many wild beasts. Our only hope is to keep on as long as we
can, and if the chance comes take to the rapid and get on it. They
mightn't care about venturing in their light boats. But we shall see."

There was a very stern look in Brazier's countenance, a look that seemed
to have been reflected from that of the old sailor, as weapons were once
more examined.

"I don't like fighting, boys," he said, "but if we are driven to it, we
must defend our lives."

Then turning to Shaddy, "Can't you depend upon your men to help us,
Naylor?" he said.

"I'm going to depend upon 'em to row, sir," said the old sailor sternly.
"We can kill quite enough people without their help. They're the
engines, sir, to take us out of danger, while we keep the enemy at a
distance."

Meanwhile the boat was being steadily propelled toward the end of the
lake-like enlargement of the river, where a few low hills rose, showing
where the rapids would be which they had to surmount; but it soon became