to you, though I'm no
doctor."

I then left him, and lighted a fire in the caboose. While it was
kindling, I went to the steward's pantry and procured the materials for
a good breakfast, with which, in little more than half-an-hour, I
returned to my companion. He seemed much better, and smiled kindly on
me as I set before him a cup of coffee and a tray with several eggs and
some bread on it.

"Now, then, Bill," said I cheerfully, sitting down beside him on the
deck, "let's fall to. I'm very hungry myself, I can tell you. But--I
forgot--your wound," I added, rising; "let me look at it."

I found that the wound was caused by a pistol-shot in the chest. It did
not bleed much, and as it was on the right side, I was in hopes that it
might not be very serious. But Bill shook his head. "However," said
he, "sit down, Ralph, and I'll tell you all about it.

"You see, after we left the boat an' began to push through the bushes,
we went straight for the line of my musket, as I had expected. But by
some unlucky chance it didn't explode, for I saw the line torn away by
the men's legs, and heard the click o' the lock; so I fancy the priming
had got damp and didn't catch. I was in a great quandary now what to
do, for I couldn't concoct in my mind, in the hurry, any good reason for
firin' off my piece. But they say necessity's the mother of invention;
so just as I was giving it up and clinchin' my teeth to bide the worst
o't and take what should come, a sudden thought came into my head. I
stepped out before the rest, seemin' to be awful anxious to be at the
savages, tripped my foot on a fallen tree, plunged head foremost into a
bush, an' ov coorse my carbine exploded! Then came such a screechin'
from the camp as I never heard in all my life. I rose at once, and was
rushin' on with the rest when the captain called a halt.

"`You did that a purpose, you villain!' he said with a tremendous oath,
and drawin' a pistol from his belt, let fly right into my breast. I
fell at once, and remembered no more till I was startled and brought
round by the most awful yell I ever heard in my life--except, maybe, the
shrieks o' them poor critters that were crushed to death under yon big
canoe. Jumpin' up, I looked round, and through the trees saw a fire
gleamin' not far off; the light of which showed me the captain and men
tied hand and foot, each to a post, and the savages dancin' round them
like demons. I had scarce looked for a se