which prevented
his getting a shot at them, and placing it totally out of his power to
prevent himself from being "commanded by their fire."

As may well be imagined, Howard and Elwood were deeply interested
spectators of these events. Now that they had revealed their presence
upon the island, and there was no further use in attempting to conceal
the fact, they were eager to render their companion all the assistance
possible.

But the nature of the occurrences made them helpless. Tim had drifted
such a distance down stream, and had consequently drawn his enemies so
far after him, that they had not the slightest chance of reaching them
with their rifles, if they chose to expose themselves. They could only
watch, therefore, and pray for their safety.

Floating slowly onward, onward, they observed that Tim's canoe gradually
swerved to the left until it disappeared around a curve in the river. It
crossed the center and was nearer the western than the eastern shore.
This seemed to show that, despite his unfavorable situation, he was able
to impart a motion to the boat, which, slight as it was, would
eventually bring him to the opposite side of the stream.

Nothing more was seen of the Indians, although the report of several
guns, heard within a half-hour of the disappearance of the canoe,
prevented their feeling too sanguine over the position of Tim O'Rooney.

"We can now see the blunder he committed," said Howard. "He did wrong in
going to the eastern bank when he could have secured his game as well
upon the other side."

"I think he will be able to get away, unless they have a canoe with
which to follow him."

"Even then he can take to the woods and hide himself until dark, and
then make his way back to us."

"I hope so, but fear he will be prevented or overtaken before he can
reach shelter."

"But think, Howard, he has a gun and plenty of ammunition, and there are
but three of them. I should say they would hesitate some time before
advancing upon him."

"But he is a poor shot, like ourselves."

"He could not miss them if they came very close to him."

"Yes; there seems to be a good chance, if they don't find more Indians
to unite with them in the hunt."

This was a contingency that had not occurred to Elwood, and he was
almost overwhelmed at its import until he came to reason upon it, when
the likelihood of such being the case dwindled away until it almost
vanished.

"We have seen no large bodies of sav