ointing to the clump of trees.

The first shot was now followed by a second, which fortunately hit none
of the party. By this time Fanny was awake; but Ethan peremptorily bade
her lie still, so that the hostile Indians could not see her. Near the
point where the boat had grounded there was a group of trees, which
promised to afford the voyagers a partial shelter from the bullets of
the enemy, and Rattleshag thought they had better take a position
there.

"Now run for it," said Ethan to Fanny, as he gave her the revolver.

"I am not afraid," she replied, as she took the pistol and ran to the
covert of the trees.

Ethan and the trapper followed her; but the moment they showed
themselves, the report of several rifles was heard, followed by the
whistling of the bullets through the air, though the distance was so
great that the shots were harmless.

"Now, we'll give 'em some," said Ethan.

"'Tain't no use," answered Rattleshag, seating himself on the ground
behind one of the trees. "Don't waste your lead for nothin'. You can't
hit 'em."

"But they have hit you. Are you hurt much?"

"No; 'tain't wuth mindin'."

"Let me do up your wound, Rattleshag," interposed Fanny, tearing off a
piece of her calico dress for the purpose.

"The blood kinder bothers me, and you may," said the trapper, as he
bared his muscular arm.

The ball had ploughed through the fleshy part of the arm, inflicting a
severe, though not dangerous, wound. Fanny bound it up as well as she
could, with lint made from her linen collar, and Rattleshag declared
that it felt "fust rate."

Wahena was still in the boat, where Ethan had taken the precaution to
tie him to the mast, after first binding his arms behind him. He still
lay in the bottom of the boat, the consciousness of his own danger
preventing him from showing himself.

"We mought hev to stop here all day," said the trapper, after they had
waited some time for a further demonstration on the part of the
Indians.

"As long as we are safe, we need not mind that," replied Fanny.

"I reckon we ain't safe much," added Ethan.

He had scarcely uttered the words before a savage yell was heard from
the enemy on the other side of the river.

"They're jumpin' inter the water to kim over here," said Rattleshag. "I
don't like to shoot 'em, but I s'pose I must."

"I like it," replied Ethan, who had not yet conquered his hatred of the
redskins.

"Don't be 'n a hurry, boy. Don't waste your lead," i