按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
and was more skillfully taken advantage of by Jeff； the larger raft gained
considerable headway； gradually widening the gap between the two。
All day they drifted。 From time to time Joe and Jim waved their hands to the
girls； but the greater portion of their attention was given to quieting the
horses。 Mose； Joe's big white dog； retired in disgust to the hut； where he
watched and dozed by turns。 He did not fancy this kind of voyaging。 Bill
strained his sturdy arms all day on the steering…oar。
About the middle of the afternoon Joe observed that the hills grew more rugged
and precipitous； and the river ran faster。 He kept a constant lookout for the
wall of rock which marked the point of danger。 When the sun had disappeared
behind the hills； he saw ahead a gray rock protruding from the green foliage。
It was ponderous； overhanging； and seemed to frown down on the river。 This was
Shawnee Rock。 Joe looked long at the cliff； and wondered if there was now an
Indian scout hidden behind the pines that skirted the edge。 Prominent on the
top of the bluff a large； dead tree projected its hoary； twisted branches。
Bill evidently saw the landmark； for he stopped in his monotonous walk to and
fro across the raft； and pushing his oar amidships he looked ahead for the
other raft。 The figure of the tall frontiersman could be plainly seen as he
labored at the helm。
The raft disappeared round a bend； and as it did so Joe saw a white scarf
waved by Nell。
Bill worked the clumsy craft over toward the right shore where the current was
more rapid。 He pushed with all his strength； and when the oar had reached its
widest sweep； he lifted it and ran back across the raft for another push。 Joe
scanned the river ahead。 He saw no rapids； only rougher water whirling over
some rocks。 They were where the channel narrowed and ran close to the
right…hand bank。 Under a willow…flanked ledge was a sand…bar。 To Joe there
seemed nothing hazardous in drifting through this pass。
〃Bad place ahead；〃 said Bill； observing Joe's survey of the river。
〃It doesn't look so；〃 replied Joe。
〃A raft ain't a boat。 We could pole a boat。 You has to hev water to float
logs； an' the river's run out considerable。 I'm only afeerd fer the horses。 If
we hit or drag； they might plunge around a bit。〃
When the raft passed into the head of the bend it struck the rocks several
times； but finally gained the channel safely； and everything seemed propitious
for an easy passage。
But； greatly to Bill's surprise； the wide craft was caught directly in the
channel； and swung round so that the steering…oar pointed toward the opposite
shore。 The water roared a foot deep over the logs。
〃Hold hard on the horses！〃 yelled Bill。 〃Somethin's wrong。 I never seen a snag
here。〃
The straining mass of logs； insecurely fastened together； rolled and then
pitched loose again； but the short delay had been fatal to the steering
apparatus。
Joe would have found keen enjoyment in the situation； had it not been for his
horse； Lance。 The thoroughbred was difficult to hold。 As Bill was making
strenuous efforts to get in a lucky stroke of the oar； he failed to see a long
length of grapevine floating like a brown snake of the water below。 In the
excitement they heeded not the barking of Mose。 Nor did they see the grapevine
straighten and become taut just as they drifted upon it； but the felt the raft
strike and hold on some submerged object。 It creaked and groaned and the foamy
water surged； gurgling； between the logs。
Jim's mare snorted with terror； and rearing high； pulled her halter loose and
plunged into the river。 But Jim still held her； at risk of being drawn
overboard。
〃Let go！ She'll drag you in！〃 yelled Joe； grasping him with his free hand。
Lance trembled violently and strained at the rope； which his master held with
a strong grip。
CRACK！
The stinging report of a rifle rang out above the splashing of the water。
Without a cry； Bill's grasp on the oar loosened； he fell over it limply； his
head striking the almost submerged log。 A dark…red fluid colored the water；
then his body slipped over the oar and into the river； where it sank。
〃My God！ Shot！〃 cried Jim； in horrified tones。
He saw a puff of white smoke rising above the willows。 Then the branches
parted； revealing the dark forms of several Indian warriors。 From the rifle in
the foremost savage's had a slight veil of smoke rose。 With the leap of a
panther the redskin sprang from the strip of sand to the raft。
〃Hold； Jim！ Drop that ax！ We're caught！〃 cried Joe。
〃It's that Indian from the fort！〃 gasped Jim。
The stalwart warrior was indeed Silvertip。 But how changed！ Stripped of the
blanket he had worn at the settlement； now standing naked but for his buckskin
breech…cloth； with his perfectly proportioned form disclosed in all its sinewy
beauty； and on his swarthy； evil face an expression of savage scorn； he surely
looked a warrior and a chief。
He drew his tomahawk and flashed a dark glance at Joe。 For a moment he
steadily regarded the young man； but if he expected to see fear in the
latter's face he was mistaken； for the look was returned coolly。
〃Paleface steal shirt；〃 he said in his deep voice。 〃Fool paleface
playSilvertip no forget。〃
Chapter V。
Silvertip turned to his braves； and giving a brief command； sprang from the
raft。 The warriors closed in around the brothers； two grasping each by the
arms； and the remaining Indian taking care of the horse。 The captives were
then led ashore； where Silvertip awaited them。
When the horse was clear of the raft； which task necessitated considerable
labor on the part of the Indians； the chief seized the grapevine； that was now
plainly in sight； and severed it with one blow of his tomahawk。 The raft
dashed forward with a lurch and drifted downstream。
In the clear water Joe could see the cunning trap which had caused the death
of Bill； and insured the captivity of himself and his brother。 The crafty
savages had trimmed a six…inch sapling and anchored it under the water。 They
weighted the heavy end； leaving the other pointing upstream。 To this last had
been tied the grapevine。 When the drifting raft reached the sapling； the
Indians concealed in the willows pulled hard on the improvised rope； the end
of the sapling stuck up like a hook； and the aft was caught and held。 The
killing of the helmsman showed the Indians' foresight； even had the raft
drifted on downstream the brothers would have been helpless on a craft they
could not manage。 After all； Joe thought； he had not been so far wrong when he
half fancied that an Indian lay behind Shawnee Rock； and he marveled at this
clever trick which had so easily effected their capture。
But he had little time to look around at the scene of action。 There was a
moment only in which to study the river to learn if the unfortunate raftsman's
body had appeared。 It was not to be seen。 The river ran swiftly and hid all
evidence of the tragedy under its smooth surface。 When the brave who had gone
back to the raft for the goods joined his companion the two hurried Joe up the
bank after the others。
Once upon level ground Joe saw before him an open forest。 On the border of
this the Indians stopped long enough to bind the prisoners' wrists with thongs
of deerhide。 While two of the braves performed this office； Silvertip leaned
against a tree and took no notice of the brothers。 When they were thus
securely tied one of their captors addressed the chief； who at once led the
way westward through the forest。 The savages followed in single file； with Joe
and Jim in the middle of the line。 The last Indian tried to mount Lance； but
the thoroughbred would have none of him； and after several efforts the savage
was compelled to desist。 Mose trotted reluctantly along behind the horse。
Although the chief preserved a dignified mien； his braves were disposed to be
gay。 They were in high glee over their feat of capturing the palefaces； and
kept up an incessant jabbering。 One Indian； who walked directly behind Joe；
continually prodded him with the stock of a rifle； and whenever Joe turned；
the brawny redskin grinned as he grunted； 〃Ugh！〃 Joe observed that this huge
savage had a broad face of rather a lighter shade of red than his companions。
Perhaps he intended those rifle…prods in friendliness； for although they
certainly amused him； he would allow no one else to touch Joe； but it would
have been more pleasing had he shown his friendship in a gentle manner。 This
Indian carried Joe's pack； much to his own delight； especially as his
companions evinced an envious curiosity。 The big fellow would not； however；
allow them to touch it。
〃He's a cheerful brute；〃 remarked Joe to Jim。
〃Ugh！〃 grunted the big Indian； jamming Joe with his rifle…stock。
Joe took heed to the warning and spoke no more。 He gave all his atten