hought. Although the weapon used was the old
flint-lock rifle, the dexterity exhibited by each could scarcely be
excelled by that of the most famous sharp-shooters of the present day,
with their improved guns. The exercise was continued for over two
hours, when, as O'Hara was reloading his piece, the report of a rifle
was heard upon the opposite side of the Miami, and the bullet whizzed
within an inch of O'Hara's face. As all three looked across the river,
they saw a faint, bluish wreath rising from the shrubbery, but no signs
of the one who had fired the shot.

"I guess his gun has had a spell put on it," said O'Hara, sneeringly.

"And I guess you'll get a spell put on you, if he tries that again,"
remarked Dick, carefully scrutinizing the opposite bank.

"Why doesn't he show himself, the coward? Like enough there is a whole
party of Shawnees----"

"Sh! Something moved over there."

"He's going to cross, I'll be shot if he isn't."

A splash was now heard, as though something had been cast upon the
surface of the water, and a moment later, a small Indian canoe, in
which was seated a single person, shot from beneath the shrubbery,
skimming over the river like a swallow, and headed directly toward the
spot where the Riflemen were standing. Dick raised his rifle, but
instantly lowered it with a laugh.

"It's nobody but Lew himself. He just fired to scare us."

Propelled by a single paddle, the frail boat sped onward with great
celerity, and its prow, in a few moments, grated lightly against the
shingle at the feet of the hunters, and their leader stepped forth.

"Been practicing, I see," he remarked.

"A little; _you_ tried your hand, also."

Lewis smiled, as he replied:

"A little fun, of course; but we've got better business on hand."

"Let's hear it, for we are ready for any thing."

"A lot of settlers are going through the woods, down below, and they
need company, for the Shawnees have scented them as sure as the world.
I've promised them that we will see them through--where's Sego?"
suddenly asked the leader, looking around, as if searching for the one
mentioned.

"He went off yesterday."

"That's unlucky, for we shall need him, too. Will he be back to-day?"

"He said he expected to return this afternoon."

"We will wait for him, then, though they need us, most certainly."

"It's the first time Sego has been off in a good while," said Dick,
"and I don't know what started him this time."

Lewis