But even as they sang, fierce eyes were jealously watching them from the western bank.
Presently first one arrow, and anon a whole shower of these deadly missiles, whizzed over them.
One struck the cabin roof right above Dick's head, and another tore through the hat of the captain himself.
But rifles were carried loaded, and Roland was ready.
"Lay in your oars, men! Up, guns! Let them have a volley! Straight at yonder bush! Fire low, lads! See, yonder is a savage!"
Dick took aim at a dark-skinned native who stood well out from the wood, and fired. He was close to the stream and had been about to shoot, but Dick's rifle took away his breath, and with an agonized scream he threw up his arms and fell headlong into the water.
Volley after volley rang out now on the still air, and soon it was evident that the woods were cleared.
"Those are the Paynee Indians without a doubt," said Dick; "the same sable devils that the skipper of that steamer warned us about."
They saw no more of the enemy then, however, and the afternoon passed in peace.
An hour and a half before sunset they landed at the mouth of a small but clear river, about ten miles to the north of the Falls of Woe.