“Oh, where are the folks?” cried Aunt Clara aloud in her excitement. “What a shame they had to miss it!” She stood a long time looking intently at the spot where the moose had disappeared, but it did not show itself again. As she stood there watching she heard a rhythmic chant coming across the water:
“Strong, brother, strong,
We smoothly glide along,
Our paddles swing as we gaily sing
This merry boating song.”
No one was in sight, and yet the voices came clear and true through the still morning air. It was several minutes before the war canoe came in sight around a high cliff far up the shore. “How far the sound carries across the water!” exclaimed Aunt Clara to herself in amazement.
The Nyoda looked no bigger than a caterpillar, crawling over the water, but she could plainly hear Uncle Teddy’s voice giving commands: “One, two! 43 One, two! Dip! Dip! Longer stroke, Katherine! Left side, cross rest! Right side, paddle! Both sides, ready, dip!”
Now she could see the paddles flashing out on both sides, and the caterpillar became a creature with wings. In she came, straight for the landing, her crew sitting erect as pine saplings, dipping their paddles in unison.
“Oh, the gallant crew, in this canoe
They live on Ellen’s Isle;
They paddle all the livelong day
And sing a song the while.
So dip your paddles deep, my lads,
Into the flying spray,
And sing a cheer as you swiftly steer,
Nyoda! YEA! YEA! YEA!”
Up flashed the paddles on the cheer, giving the salute; then down again in time for the next stroke.
“Ready! Back paddle! One! Two!”
Down went the paddles, held stiffly against the sides of the canoe to stop her, while the water swished and foamed over the blades; then the strokes were reversed to back her up.
“Cross rest!”