“Y-e-s,” drawled the hunter sarcastically, “maybe so; I s’pose a log would be very apt to float up stream, wouldn’t it?”
“Why, is it approaching?” asked Graham.
“Not very fast,” answered Seth, “for I guess it’s hard work for them fellers to swim up stream. Ah! by gracious! I understand the game. Look; don’t you see it’s farther out than it was? They’re going to get as near the middle as they can, and so close to us that when we undertake to cross, the current will carry us right down plump against ’em, when they’ll rise up in their wrath and devour us. Fact, as sure as you live.”
“We might as well understand matters at once,” added Haldidge. “The plan of the Indians is undoubtedly the same as Seth suggests. In crossing, we cannot help drifting downward, and they are trying to locate themselves so as to make a collision between us. But they will make no attack until we are in the water. So you may keep at work upon the raft, Alf, without any fear, while Seth and I reconnoiter. Come, Graham, you may as well go along with us. Let us enter the wood separately at first, and we’ll come together as soon as we can get out of sight. Act as though we didn’t suspicion any thing, and I’ll wager my rifle here against your hat that we’ll outwit the cowards after all.”
The three entered the wood as proposed. After going a few yards they came together again.
“Now,” whispered Seth, “by gracious! you will see fun. Follow close, boys, and keep shady.”
Being now fairly within the wood, they proceeded in a direction parallel with the course of the river, using extreme caution, for it was more than probable some of the Indian scouts were secreted in the wood. Keeping entirely away from the river until Seth judged they were below the suspicious log, they approached it. A reckless move, at this point, would have been fatal. Fortunately, there was a species of grass growing from the wood out to a considerable distance in the water. Through this, they made their way much after the fashion of snakes. Seth, as usual, was in front, and it struck Graham that he absolutely slid over the ground without any exertion on his part.
In a moment, they were down to the river’s brink. They now slowly raised their heads and peered over and through the grass out into the river. The log was a short distance above, and they had a perfect view of the side which was opposite to Haverland. Not a sign of an Indian was visible. The tree seemed as if anchored in the middle of the stream.
“There is something there!” whispered Graham.
“—sh! keep quiet and watch and you’ll see!” admonished Seth.