ls, and cries of
pain could be heard, while upon rowing beyond the smoke and into full
view of the fleet of canoes the fugitives could see that the paddling
had again ceased, and men were standing up gesticulating, while others
were evidently in great pain from the stinging shots.

"Now you know that we can bite as well as bark," growled Shaddy, "and if
you'll all take my advice you'll go back home and leave us alone,
because if you don't I shall use buckshot, and some of you mayn't be
able to handle a paddle again."

The babble of voices sounded strange as the oars dipped fast, and for a
time they were allowed to pursue their way in peace, but at last it was
seen that the wounded had all been transferred to certain of the canoes,
and with a fierce yell the Indians came on again, with paddles beating,
and the water splashing; while another flight of arrows whistled about
the travellers, fortunately without hurting a soul.

"I shall have to give them a stronger dose this time," said Shaddy.
"I'll try swan shot first," and inserting a couple of cartridges loaded
with heavy pellets, he took careful aim, and fired twice.

This time there were loud shrieks mingled with the fierce, defiant
cries, and as the smoke was left behind it was plain to see that there
was consternation in the little fleet, and for some time they did not
pursue.

"What are you two about?" said Shaddy suddenly as he caught sight of Rob
and Joe making some preparation.

"Wait a minute, and you'll see," said Rob, and he went on with his task,
which was the preparation of something in the fashion of a torpedo, for
about a pound of powder had been transferred from their keg to a small
tin canister, in whose lid they drove a hole, and passed through it a
slow match, made by rubbing a strip of rag with moistened gunpowder,
which dried up at once in the hot evening sunshine. At the bottom of
the canister a charge of shot had been placed, and upon trying it in a
bucket the tin floated with about an inch of its top out of water.

"Now," said Rob when he had finished, Brazier nodding his head in
approval--"it's quite calm, and when the enemy comes on again I'm going
to stick a wax match in the hole with the end touching the slow match,
set light to it, and let it float down towards the Indians. The wax
match will burn nearly a minute, and I want them to paddle up round it
to see what the floating light means, and then if we're in luck it will
go off ban