sage, and then, when confident that all
was safe, he returned to his camp. When it again became dark, the canoe
was carried down and replaced in the water, and they continued their
passage. James had, at Nat's request, laid by his paddle.

"You paddle wonderfully well, captain. I don't say you don't; but for a
delicate piece of work like this, one can't be too careful. It ain't
often I can hear your paddle dip in the water, not once in a hundred
times, but then, you see, that once might cost us our scalps. We have
got to go along as silent as a duck swimming. Speed ain't no object,
for we shall be miles down Lake Champlain before daylight; but, if the
French know their business, they will have half a dozen canoes in these
narrows, to prevent us scouting on Lake Champlain; and, you see, they
have got all the advantage of us, 'cause they've got just to lie quiet
and listen, and we have got to row on. As far as seeing goes, I can
make them out as soon as they can make us out; but they can hear us,
while they won't give our ears a chance.

"I tell you, captain, I don't expect to get through this narrows
without a chase for it. If it come to running, of course you will take
your paddle again, and we three can show our heels to any canoe on the
lakes, perviding of course as it's only a starn chase. If there are
three or four of them, then I don't say as it won't be a close thing."

James accordingly lay quietly back in the boat, while his companions
took the paddles. It was not necessary for him either to look out, or
to listen, for he knew that his companions' eyes and ears were quicker
than his own. It had been agreed, before starting, that they should go
along close to the trees, on the left-hand side of the passage, because
the keenest lookout would be kept on the right-hand side, as that would
naturally be chosen by any boat going up, as being farthest from the
French fort.

"There is no fear, whatever, of our being seen from the land," Nat had
said. "The redskins would know that so well that they wouldn't trouble
to look out. It's only canoes we have got to be afraid of, and, as to
them, it's just a chance. They might see us out in the light waters, in
the middle; but, under the trees, they can't make us out thirty yards
off. They will be lying there, quiet, if they are there at all, and we
shall either get past them safe, or we shall pretty nigh run into them.
It's just chance, and there's nothing to do for it but t