ust in time. Another moment and the gushing water, which curled
over the bow, would have filled them to the gunwale. As it was, the
little vessel was so full of water that she lay like a log, while every
toss of the waves sent an additional torrent into her.

"Bail for your lives, lads!" cried Mr Park, as he sprang forward, and,
seizing a tin dish, began energetically to bail out the water.
Following his example, the whole crew seized whatever came first to hand
in the shape of dish or kettle, and began to bail. Charley and Harry
Somerville acted a vigorous part on this occasion--the one with a bark
dish (which had been originally made by the natives for the purpose of
holding maple-sugar), the other with his cap.

For a time it seemed doubtful whether the curling waves should send most
water _into_ the boat, or the crew should bail most out of it. But the
latter soon prevailed, and in a few minutes it was so far got under that
three of the men were enabled to leave off bailing and reset the sail,
while Louis Peltier returned to his post at the helm. At first the boat
moved but slowly, owing to the weight of water in her; but as this grew
gradually less, she increased her speed and neared the land.

"Well done, Redfeather," said Mr Park, addressing the Indian as he
resumed his seat; "your knife did us good service that time, my fine
fellow."

Redfeather, who was the only pure native in the brigade, acknowledged
the compliment with a smile.

"_Ah, oui_," said the guide, whose features had now lost their stern
expression. "Them Injins are always ready enough with their knives.
It's not the first time my life has been saved by the knife of a
redskin."

"Humph! bad luck to them," muttered Mike Brady; "it's not the first time
that my windpipe has been pretty near spiflicated by the knives o' the
redskins, the murtherin' varmints!"

As Mike gave vent to this malediction, the boat ran swiftly past a low,
rocky point, over which the surf was breaking wildly.

"Down with the sail, Mike," cried the guide, at the same time putting
the helm hard up. The beat flew round, obedient to the ruling power,
made one last plunge as it left the rolling surf behind, and slid gently
and smoothly into still water under the lee of the point.

Here, in the snug shelter of a little bay, two of the other boats were
found, with their prows already on the beach, and their crews actively
employed in landing their goods, opening bales