After supper, and as the evening passed, Marion Royce, according to his custom when repairs were needed, set to work to replace the broken stanchion posts, and called Moses Ayer to hold the lantern for him. Lewis Hoyt was on the roof out forward, doing lookout duty and watching the fires on Flour Island; but the rest of the crew had turned in.
Presently Lewis came back aft. “I think there’s a buffalo up the bluff,” he said.
Moses laughed. Captain Royce, busy with his adz, paid little attention; buffalo were still to be found on the prairies along the river.
Lewis stood near them for a few moments, then went forward again. The ark chafed against the tree branches with harsh, creaking sounds; frogs were croaking, and from the island, at intervals, came a singular noise, as of some large horn blown with great effort. This was followed by the reports of guns and loud yells; but whether the savages over there were celebrating some festival, or fighting, was not clear.
Captain Royce went on with his work. Before long, however, Lewis joined them again. “There’s something up the bluff,” he insisted.
“How d’ye know?” said Moses. “You can’t see it, can you?”
“But I can hear it,” replied Lewis, nervously. “A stone or something rolled down just now.”
“Stones and earth often roll down when the water is high,” remarked Captain Royce.
“But I tell you there’s something up there!” repeated Lewis.
“Oh, Lew’s scared,” said Moses.