in blind fury I fired both barrels of my gun in the direction
of the Indians, almost at the same moment as my uncle and the carpenter
discharged theirs.

The reports were followed by another yell, the crashing of bushes and
ferns, and the sound as of men tearing away.

"Take care, Cross," cried my uncle. "Load again, and keep under cover.
Hah! there goes one of the treacherous hounds. Gone, and I'm not
loaded. Now I am. Not hurt, are you, Nat?"

"I'm afraid I am," I said, drawing in my breath with pain.

"Here, let's look," cried my uncle. "Keep under cover, Pete. I don't
want anyone else to be hurt. You, Cross, look out, and fire at the
first sign. Now, Nat, what is it? Tut, tut, tut! There, keep a good
heart, my lad. It has gone clean through your shoulder."

"Poisoned, uncle?" I cried anxiously.

"Pooh! Nonsense, boy! Hold still. It will not be a long operation."

I saw him take out his keen knife.

"Are you going to cut out the arrow head?" I said huskily.

"There is no need; the Indian did that for you. Look here."

I could not help shuddering, but I was firm, and watched him take hold
of the slender arrow close to my shoulder, and with one stroke cut
cleanly through it close to the wing-feathers. Then, going behind me,
he seized the other part and made me wince once more with pain, as with
one quick, steady movement, he drew the missile right through.

"Hurt?" he said cheerfully.

"Horribly, uncle."

"Never mind that. It's only through flesh. No bone-touch, and there
are only a couple of little holes to heal up. Pan of water here, Pete."

"Aren't none, sir. I was going to fetch a bucket when I see what I
thought was birds."

"Tut, tut, tut!" ejaculated my uncle. "I must have some water to bathe
the wounds."

"All right, sir; I'll run down for some. Bucket's down there."

"No, no! The Indians--they may attack you."

"What!" cried Pete in a whimpering voice; "touch me when I'm going for
some water for Master Nat? They'd better! I'd smash 'em."

Before he could be stopped he was bounding down the precipitous place,
and my uncle turned anxiously to Cross.

"See any sign of them?" he said.

"Yes, sir, twice over; but they were too quick for me to get a shot.
They've waded the river down yonder, and I got a glimpse of two of 'em
climbing up."

"Hah! Then he may escape them. Cross, one of us ought to follow and
cover him."

"Right, sir. I'm off," cried the carpen