e same
instant, his keen eye detected its changed position, imperceptible
almost as it was. With a guttural exclamation he arose and moved
toward it, followed by his two companions. They had taken scarcely a
step, when they saw the boat slide swiftly forward several feet, and
then suddenly rising to the perpendicular position, whisk off through
the bush at a still more rapid rate. Two twinkling moccasins, that
looked as if they were its support, as they doubled over each other,
fully explained to the Shawnees the cause of this singular scene.

With a loud yell, the three dashed forward, while the Huron ran at the
top of his speed over the slight distance that lay between him and the
river. Reaching the shore, he changed the canoe from his rear to his
front, and holding it like a shield above and before him. With one
foot in the edge of the water, he concentrated all his strength for the
effort and leaped far out in the stream--the canoe falling with a loud
splash perfectly flat upon the surface. The impetus thus given caused
it to shoot like an arrow for a long distance, when the Huron,
inclining his body to the left, careened it so much, that his own
person was concealed from any who might be upon the shore, while, by
reaching his hand over into the current, he was enabled to use it as a
paddle, and continue his onward motion.

Oonomoo was fully aware that the delicate structure of the canoe was no
obstruction at all against a rifle-shot. Accordingly, while descending
the river, he had taken precaution to insure his safety, in case of
such an occurrence as had now transpired. A large, rotten limb, hardly
the length of his own body, was carried with him. At the moment of
lifting the canoe from the ground, the limb was placed within it, and
thus was carried back to the edge of the river. Lying flat upon his
face, this limb was about the thickness of the Huron's waist, and by
skillfully balancing the boat, it was interposed directly between him
and his foes. The only parts of his person which possibly could be
struck were his feet and the arm stretched over the side of the canoe.
The former necessarily being in the stern, it was hardly probable that
they would be wounded. There was such risk of the arm that Oonomoo
drew it within the boat for a few moments. He had scarcely done so,
when the reports of two rifles, and the peculiar zip of the bullets as
they cut through the side of the canoe and buried themsel