The dugout was now going at a right angle with the course of the raft, and was about sixty yards from the shore.
"Pull as hard as you can, Phil, so as to keep the raft steady!" called Morgan, as he sighted along the gun.
I applied all my strength to the oars.
"Out from the shore a little more, Phil," added the gunner, as he depressed the muzzle of the piece. "Fire!" shouted he.
I stood up in the barge to note the effect of the shot. A yell of dismay rose from the Indians, and I saw that the dugout was splintered in pieces. One side of it was broken in, and the savages, leaping into the water, swam for the shore.
"I have made one good shot to-day, any how," said Morgan.
"Didn't I fire that gun?" cried Plunkett.
"Yes, sir! You are the organ-blower that played the tune," replied Morgan, taking no pains to conceal his disgust.
"Mind the raft," I interposed, finding that it was swinging off from the shore.
I used the oars vigorously to counteract this tendency; but the soldiers could not reach bottom with their poles, and were unable to help me much. The raft was heavy and the current very strong. We were within a few rods of the Fish River.