“Very true, and a good suggestion,” remarked Haldidge; and as he did so, he reached up and caught an overhanging limb, and held the canoe still.
“Now, boys, if you’ve got ears——”
“Sh—! Look there!” interrupted Haverland in an excited whisper.
Each turned his head, and saw what appeared to be a common lighted candle floating upon the surface of the stream. It was a small point of light, which at intervals glowed with a fuller redness, and which for the time completely confounded our friends. On it came as noiselessly as death, gliding forward with such a smooth, regular motion as to show that it was certainly borne by the current.
“What in the name of——”
“Stop!” cried Haldidge; “that’s the canoe we’re after! It’s the light of one of their pipes we see. Are your guns ready?”
“Yes,” replied the two, just loud enough for him to hear.
“Make right toward it, then, and fire the instant you see your mark. Now!”
At the same instant he released his hold upon the limb, and the two threw all their force on their oars. The canoe bounded like a ball directly ahead, and seemed about to cut the other in twain. A minute after, the shadowy outlines of three forms could be dimly seen, and the avenging rifles were already raised, when the beacon-light was suddenly extinguished, and the Indian canoe vanished as if by magic.
“It’s one of their tricks!” excitedly exclaimed Haldidge. “Dash ahead! Curse them; they can’t be far off.”