would accompany the expedition.

While the feasting had been going on, the lads had wandered away
with two of the Indian bows and arrows. The bows were much shorter
than those to which they were accustomed, and required far less
strength to pull. The wood of which the bows were formed was tough
and good, and as the boys had both the handiness of sailors and,
like all lads of that period, had some knowledge of bow making,
they returned to the camp, and obtained two more of the strongest
bows in the possession of the natives. They then set to work with
their knives and, each taking two bows, cut them up, fitted, and
spliced them together.

The originals were but four feet long, the new ones six. The halves
of one bow formed the two ends, the middle being made of the other
bow, doubled. The pieces were spliced together with deer sinews;
and when, after some hours' work, they were completed, the boys
found that they were as strong and tough as the best of their
home-made bows, and required all their strength to draw them to the
ear.

The arrows were now too short, but upon making signs to the natives
that they wanted wood for arrows, a stock of dried wood, carefully
prepared, was at once given them, and of these they made some
arrows of the regulation cloth-yard length. The feathers, fastened
on with the sinews of some small animals, were stripped from the
Indian arrows and fastened on, as were the sharp-pointed stones
which formed their heads; and on making a trial, the lads found
that they could shoot as far and as straight as with their own
familiar weapons.

"We can reckon on killing a stag, if he will stand still, at a
hundred and fifty yards," Ned said, "or running, at a hundred.
Don't you think so?"

"Well, six times out of seven we ought to, at any rate," Tom
replied; "or our Devonshire archership has deserted us."

When they heard, therefore, that there was to be a hunt upon the
following day, they felt that they had another surprise for the
natives, whose short bows and arrows were of little use at a
greater distance than fifty yards, although up to that distance
deadly weapons in their hands.

Chapter 12: Across a Continent.

The work upon which the boys were engaged passed unnoticed by the
Indians, who were too much absorbed by the enjoyment of the new
discovery to pay any attention to other matters. The bows and
arrows had been given to them, as anything else in camp for which
they had a