y off our game before our very
eyes!" exclaimed Tim. "You'll be afther shootin' them, captain, won't
you?"

"I should certainly be sorry to shed blood for a deer," answered my
father; "but we will show them that they do not escape from our want of
the means to punish them." And lifting the rifle he had just reloaded,
he sent a shot which struck a tree a considerable distance beyond the
Indians. Observing it, they redoubled their speed, and were soon beyond
our reach. We had, however, secured one deer, which would afford us
more venison than we could use.

On our return, Lejoillie shot a number of birds of various species,
being highly satisfied with his morning's sport. Disregarding the
neighbourhood of the Indians, he set up the birds on reaching the
schooner, and began drawing them as rapidly as he could.

The judge seemed greatly surprised at the appearance of the Indians, and
their behaviour. "I thought that they had all beat a retreat from this
part of the country," he observed. "It is fortunate that they did not
catch you, for they are treacherous fellows, and would probably have
taken your scalps, as well as your rifles and ammunition; and if they
could have got hold of the boat, they would have boarded the _Great
Alexander_, and to a certainty put us all to death."

Mrs. Shurtleff looked dreadfully frightened, and hugged her boy as the
judge spoke.

"I cannot believe that the noble Indians would have been guilty of so
barbarous an act," exclaimed Rochford. "They probably considered the
deer their own, and that they were justified in carrying it off."

"Wait, my dear sir, till you have seen more of these red-skinned
gentlemen before you pronounce an opinion," said the judge; and Rochford
was silent.

We lost no time in cutting up the deer, and had some of the venison
steaks for breakfast. Soon after, a light breeze enabled us to get
clear of the creek, and once more to continue our course up the main
stream.

The judge talked a good deal about the Indians. "The Redskins require
to be kept in order," he remarked. "They will not, however, dare to
face white men who show a bold front, as our settlers are sure to do if
attacked." I did not forget the judge's remarks. Before long we were
to have fearful proof of the mistaken character of his views.

It was some time past noon when we came in sight of several huts or
shanties scattered along the shore, with a store or two, a chapel of
unpretend