“It is the safest place.”
“I should like to inquire how it is.”
“In the first place, there is no one upon it, and in the second place, as its sides are bullet-proof, we can use it as a fort, and keep off any number of foe until dark, when we can get off ourselves.”
The hunter smiled grimly as if the conceit of the young man pleased him. Adding that it was time they paid their friends a visit, he consented to young Smith’s proposition.
It was with some misgiving, slight enough, but still sufficient to occasion uneasiness, that the young man once more approached the flat-boat. When he reached the deck, he experienced an irresistible desire to explore every portion of it; not that he suspected the presence of any Indian, but that he could not feel positively assured, until he had done so. The result was, that it was found to be entirely destitute of any persons except themselves. The cabin was half full of water, and it was here that the Indians had concealed themselves while their victim was approaching.
This proceeding of the two men, in taking possession of the old craft, was the most prudent thing he could have done. Had the two remained upon the island, they both would have been captured or shot, and the destruction of the entire party completed; but, as one had remarked, they had gained a fort where they could keep ten times their number at bay.
To the infinite joy of both, Joe stumbled upon a loaf of bread, which had escaped the eyes of the Indians. He pounced upon it greedily, and to the two famished adventurers, it was a perfect godsend. This devoured, and their hunger appeased—for it was an old fashioned loaf—both felt hopeful again.
“If there were anything in the hulk,” said Smith, “we might stand a regular siege, and bid defiance to the whole redskin nation.”
“There ain’t a single bit more,” replied Joe, “except a few crumbs upon that shelf there.”
“Gather them up, gather them up; they may do us good.”