nterposed the
trapper, as Ethan was taking aim. "There ain't no more 'n six on 'em in
the water, and we kin afford to wait till they git a little nearer. We
kin fire shots enough to kill the whole on 'em without loadin' up."

"Who be they?" asked Ethan, trying to be as cool as the hardy trapper.

"I dunno."

"Be they Lean B'ar's men?"

"I reckon they ain't."

"I was afeerd the redskins that kim down to keep us safe had turned
agin us."

"I reckon they hain't. They'd be afeerd we'd shoot the boy."

The half dozen savages in the water were wading across the river
towards the bateau, evidently in the belief that the party had deserted
her. They continued to hoot and yell, while they advanced, as though
they intended to storm a garrisoned fortress, instead of capturing a
deserted bateau.

"I reckon thet'll do now," said Rattleshag, as he raised his long rifle
to his shoulder, and aimed at one of the savages. "Don't you fire,
Ethan, till I've done."

He discharged his piece, and fully sustained his reputation as a dead
shot, for the foremost of the Indians dropped, and was carried down the
stream by the current.

CHAPTER XX.

CONCLUSION.

"Don't you fire, Ethan," repeated the trapper, as the enthusiastic boy
raised his gun. "No need o' killin' no more on 'em."

The remaining Indians in the water had discovered their mistake, and
were making towards the opposite shore with all possible haste. They
had not expected such a reception, and appeared to be glad to escape
with no greater loss.

"Ho, ho, ho!" shouted other Indians on the shore.

"We are gittin' into a bad scrape," said Ethan, dissatisfied because
Rattleshag had prevented him from firing at the savages. "There's more
'n a million on 'em over thar."

"Them's Lean B'ar's Injins that's yellin'. Don't you see 'em? They was
nigh enough to hear the shootin' and the yellin', and they've kim back
to keep them redskins from hurtin' on us--don't you see?" added
Rattleshag, pointing over at the three mounted savages who had just
dashed up to the bank on the other side of the stream.

"So they be; and hyer kims the rest on 'em."

At this instant the other three of the escort galloped wildly over the
prairie, and before the voyagers could reach the boat the Indians
intercepted them. Like those on the other side, they uttered wild
yells, and seemed to be as much excited as though they had been
actually engaged in battle.

The exiles had not intend