'Like 'noughtin',' was the indifferent reply of the hunter, as he laid his head back again, as if tired of listening to the tumult.
'Can't we do anything to get you out of danger!'
'Can't see that you kin; you two fellers have done me a good turn in gittin' me ashore, so jist leave me yere, and it don't make no difference about me one way or t'other, Ef I hear 'em comin' I'll jist roll into the water and go under in that style.'
'May the Howly Vargin niver smile upon us if we dissart you in this extremity,' was the reply of the fervent-hearted Irishman.
'And by the jumpin' jingo! if we was consarnedly mean enough to do it, there ain't no need of it.'
As the Yankee spoke, he ran down to the river, and walking out a short distance, caught a log drifting by and drew it in.
'Naow, Mr. Baldy, or Mr. Bicknell, as you call yourself, we'll all three git hold of that and float down the river till we git beyond fear of the savages.'
The plan was a good one, and the hunter so expressed himself. With some help he managed to crawl to the river bank, where one arm was placed over the log, in such a manner that he could easily float, without any danger of sinking.
'Keep as close to shore as you kin,' he said, as they were about shoving off.
'We can go faster in the middle,' said Hopkins.