But the thing did not by any means end here.  Tarwicadia pulled up the instant he had passed.  Not so our Canadian.  Such a clumsy and colossal frame was not to be checked in a moment.  The crowd of Indians opened up to let him pass, but unfortunately a small tent that stood in the way was not so obliging.  Into it he went, head foremost, like a shell, carried away the corner post with his shoulder, and brought the whole affair down about his own ears and those of its inmates, among whom were several children and two or three dogs.  It required some time to extricate them all from the ruins, but when this was effected it was found that no serious damage had been done to life or limb.

CHAPTER IX.

Crusoe acts a conspicuous and humane part—­A friend gained—­A great feast.

When the foot-race was concluded the three hunters hung about looking on at the various games for some time, and then strolled towards the lake.

“Ye may be thankful yer neck’s whole,” said Joe, grinning, as Henri rubbed his shoulder with a rueful look.  “An’ we’ll have to send that Injun and his family a knife and some beads to make up for the fright they got.”

“Ha! an’ fat is to be give to me for my broke shoulder?”

“Credit, man, credit,” said Dick Varley, laughing.

“Credit! fat is dat?”

“Honour and glory, lad, and the praises of them savages.”

“Ha! de praise? more probeebale de ill-vill of de rascale.  I seed dem scowl at me not ver’ pritty.”

“That’s true, Henri; but sich as it is it’s all ye’ll git.”

“I vish,” remarked Henri after a pause—­“I vish I could git de vampum belt de leetle chief had on.  It vas superb.  Fat place do vampums come from?”

“They’re shells—­”

“Oui,” interrupted Henri; “I know fat dey is.  Dey is shells, and de Injuns tink dem goot monish, mais I ask you fat place de come from.”

“They are thought to be gathered on the shores o’ the Pacific,” said Joe.  “The Injuns on the west o’ the Rocky Mountains picks them up and exchanges them wi’ the fellows hereaway for horses and skins—­so I’m told.”

At this moment there was a wild cry of terror heard a short distance ahead of them.  Rushing forward they observed an Indian woman flying frantically down the river’s bank towards the waterfall, a hundred yards above which an object was seen struggling in the water.

“’Tis her child,” cried Joe, as the mother’s frantic cry reached his ear.  “It’ll be over the fall in a minute!  Run, Dick, you’re quickest.”

They had all started forward at speed, but Dick and Crusoe were far ahead, and abreast of the spot in a few seconds.

“Save it, pup,” cried Dick, pointing to the child, which had been caught in an eddy, and was for a few moments hovering on the edge of the stream that rushed impetuously towards the fall.