"I made up my mind to resist the flood till my strength was gone," continued Ulna.
"One ain't got much strent, onless he's got plenty to eat an' lots ob time to sleep," said Ike, who, though much interested in Ulna, felt that he must give expression to his own feelings or choke.
The young Indian explained that he was so weighted down by his rifle and cartridges that, after the first rapids had been passed, he had only strength left to keep afloat without being able to make the shore.
"When I was swept into the second rapids," he said, "all hope vanished. I must have been rendered unconscious by some blow, but be that as it may, I have no memory of reaching the bank. When I came to last night I was half lying in the water. I drew myself out and walked about, trying to find something to eat. I could not sleep for thinking of you, for I did not see, after what I had suffered, how you were to get through the rapids on the raft."
"I cannot describe to you how my heart beat with joy a few hours ago, when I saw the raft shooting out of the foam with all its passengers except the dog on board. I saw you making for the shore, and I shouted to attract your attention to the opposite side."
"If we'd a heerd yeh, yeh wouldn't ha' had to hollered twice," said Ike.
"I did not feel very strong till I saw you, and then, as there was nothing else left me, I made up my mind to try swimming across."
"An' you made it; you made it like a—like a mice, an' yeh fotched yeh rifle widge yeh," said Ike, in tones of great approval.
"Ike he heap talkee," said Wah Shin, as he sat another half of a broiled rabbit before Ulna. "Me cookee light slate along."
"And now," said Ulna, who had the rare faculty of eating while he spoke, "tell me how you made out after we parted in that strange way."