while the wide branches formed a thick canopy overhead. Still,
sometimes pulling, at others wading, and at others landing and towing on
the boat, they hoped by perseverance to succeed. While thus engaged
they knew that, should any hostile natives attack them, they must be
taken at a woeful disadvantage. The arms therefore were placed in the
boat, so that each one might seize his weapon in an instant, while two
men proceeded as scouts through the forest on the right to give warning
should a foe approach. Thus, after an hour's toil they emerged into the
broad stream, some way above the rapids, when they were able once more
to take to their oars.

Oliver judged that Virginia had avoided this passage when they
descended, as the darkness in which it must have been plunged at that
time would have prevented her from seeing the way, while the danger to
her slight canoe from the roots projecting into the water and the sunken
logs would have been far greater than that from the rocks of the rapids.

CHAPTER TWELVE.

We must now go back to the moment when Gilbert and Fenton, anxious to
obtain some venison for themselves and their hungry companions, were
creeping along in the hopes of getting a shot at the deer they had seen
from the fort. Having at length, as they supposed, got close enough to
the deer to make sure of it, Gilbert was on the point of firing when,
hearing Fenton cry out, he looked round and saw his friend, to his
dismay, in the hands of several Indians; while others, springing
forward, seized his arms before he could even point his gun towards
them.

It was useless, they knew, to plead for mercy; the Indians, indeed,
threatened them by signs with instant death should they cry out.

They were hurried on at a rapid rate till they reached a ford across the
stream, which ran as they supposed by their camp. On and on they went,
six only of their captors remaining with them, while the main body
returned into the forest.

"They cannot go on for ever," observed Gilbert, "and as they must camp
at some time or other, we must then look out for an opportunity to
escape. It would be a shame to our manhood were we to allow ourselves
to be held captive by six Indians."

"I am ready for any plan you may propose," answered Fenton, "but it will
be no easy matter to get free without weapons and with our arms secured
behind our backs."

"If they leave us together to-night, I will try what my teeth can do,"
answered