pulling against the stream had ended, and the travelers proposed
to enjoy the needed repose. The boat was large enough to contain couches
for Mrs. Merriweather and the children, while the men would sleep and
watch at intervals on the ground.

No fire was kindled on the bank, but a cold supper was eaten in silence,
and not long thereafter the settler's household lay almost hidden in the
boat. Star after star came out in the firmament above, and the gentle
winds of night sighed among the leaves; now and then the plash of some
amphibious animal disturbed the stillness, but excited no comment,
though the noise caused an occasional lift of the head and a brief
moment of silent inspection.

The camp was just over a little rise in the river bank, and the starlit
water was hidden from the eyes of the watch, who, for the first part of
the night, was the settler himself.

He stood against a tree, wakeful, but full of thought, keeping guard
over the precious lives committed to his charge. The boat containing his
family was quite near, and the forms of his three male companions looked
like logs on the darkened ground.

He did not watch the latter, for suspicion never entered his head, and
he did not see that one was rolling over and over, gradually leaving the
bivouac, and disappearing. Immersed in thought, but quick to note a
movement on the part of his sleeping family, Abel Merriweather let the
hours pass over his head.

At last the plash of the muskrat no longer alarmed him; the singular cry
of the night hawk that came from the woods across the stream did not
cause him to cock his rifle. A bat might have flapped her wings in his
face without disturbing him. Despite the peril of the moment and the
great responsibility resting upon him, Abel Merriweather was asleep!

The fatigue of the past two days' voyage, and the almost sleepless
nights had told upon his constitution. He had struggled against the
somnolent god, but in vain; and at last passed into slumberland
unconsciously and overcome.

And while he slept there was a noise in the water which was not made by
a night rat. Something dark, like a great ball, was approaching the camp
from the northern bank of the river, and the strong arms that propelled
it gave the waves thousands of additional gleams.

It came towards the camp with the rapidity of a good swimmer, and at
length a huge figure emerged like a Newfoundland dog from the water.

It was an Indian!

For a mom