“I am certain we ought to be able to steer clear of that.”
“If we can only see it—there’s the trouble.”
“Joe,” said McGowan, after a few minutes silence, “Why not run into the shore and tie up for the night?”
The hunter shook his head.
“’Twouldn’t do; I seen that tried once, on jest such a night as this. Them reds, it seems to me, can smell a flat-boat a mile off. They’d swarm down on us like a lot of flies.”
For some time Teddy had stood silent and thoughtful. His arms were folded, and he was looking out upon the still surface of the river.
“What is it you’re thinking about?” inquired Napyank.
“I feels sorryful, by the same token,” he replied in a sad tone, heaving a tremendous sigh.
“What is the cause?”
“I was jest thinkin of a wee bit of a girril that I had left at me home in ould Ireland—God bless her.”