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Page 21
"Don't fire, then, don't fire," hastily enjoined the
corporal. "If they will go quietly, let them. We must
not lose our time dallying here, but make our way back
to the Fort. That gun was meant to recall us, as well as
to warn us, and luckily it has frightened the Indians,
so they won't care to attack us again."
Meanwhile the band of Winnebagoes, obeying, as it seemed,
the command of their leader, whom Collins swore he could
identify from his figure, even at that distance, to be
the man who had attempted to carry off the boat, quitted
the river for the cover of the woods, and, after an
earnest consultation, retreated slowly in the direction
of the prairie, without clamor of any description.
"Well rid of them, if they are gone," exclaimed the
corporal, not a little relieved by their departure. "We
must keep a sharp look out though, and see if they return."
"How many of them are there?" asked Jackson; "can you
give a guess, Collins?"
"About a dozen I should say--indeed I counted as many as
they passed through the small patch of clearing made by
Eph. Giles's axe."
"Can they have started for the farm?" observed the corporal
musingly; "if so, my lads, we had better get away as soon
as possible, for there they will find canoes to cross."
"Why, sure they can swim across well enough. The river
is not so wide as to prevent them from doing it on a
pinch," remarked Philips.
"Of course they can," answered Collins, "but not without
having their rifles as well soaked as our muskets were
a little while ago. I say, corporal, I understand now
the trick of that cunning chief. He jumped upon the arms
purposely to overturn them into the river, when he found
he couldn't get the boat, and all our firelocks over with
him."
"Yes, that WAS a trick," remarked Jackson, "but, corporal,
you havn't told us how the dickens that fellow came there,
instead of the bear you went to spear."
"There is no time to talk about it, seriously rejoined
the Virginian. Some night when we are on guard, I will
tell you what little I know. At present let us see to
getting back to our post. Collins, you are the crack shot
of the party, are you loaded?"
"I am, corporal," returned the man somewhat self-
sufficiently, "have you got another Injin for me to sink.
If so, just point him out, and if this good barrel of
Uncle Sam's don't do his job in no time, I'll give up
all claim to having hit the first fellow."
"Not just yet," answered his superior, "but hear my
orders. You'll follow the path along the bank, and move
along carefully, until you reach Heywood's stacks. Conceal
yourself behind one of them, until we come down with the
boat, and keep a sharp lookout on all that you see passing
in and round the farm. Now remember, Collins, not a shot,
unless it be to save your life, or else you will get us
all into a scrape."
"Never fear me, General Nixon, and he touched his cap
with all the respect he would have accorded to an officer
of that rank. I brought one of the imps down, and that,
I reckon, is nearly as good work for one day, as filling
the old boat with fish, or having a slap at them ducks,
as I wanted this morning. But now I'm off, if I see
anything shall I halloo out, and let you know there's
danger?"
"Not by a long chalk," returned the corporal. "All I want
you to do is to keep your tongue in your head and your
eyes open. If you see anything to alarm you, come back
quietly and let us know. We shall be moving down close
to the bank of the river; and now start."
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