“Teddy, don’t you dare to—­”

His remaining words were drowned in the sharp crack of the piece.

“It’s only to frighten him jist, Master Harvey.  It’ll sarve the good purpose of giving him the idee we ain’t afeard, and if he continues his thaiving tricks, he is to be shot at sight, as a shaap-stalin’ dog, that he is, to be sure.”

“You’ve hit him!” said his master, as he observed the hunter leap into the woods.

“Thank the Lord for that, for it was an accident, and he’ll l’arn we’ve rifles as well as himself.  It’s mighty little harm, howiver, is done him, if he can travel in that gay style.”

“I am displeased, for your shot might have taken his life, and—­but, see yonder, Teddy, what does that mean?”

Close under the opposite bank, and several hundred yards above them was discernible a long canoe, in which was seated at least a dozen Indians.  They were coming slowly down-stream, and gradually working their way into the center of the river.  Teddy surveyed them a moment and said: 

“That means they’re after us.  Is it run or fight?”

“Neither; they are undoubtedly from the village, and we may as well meet them here as there.  What think you, dear wife?”

“Let us join them, by all means, at once.”

All doubts were soon removed, when the canoe was headed directly toward them, and under the propulsion of the many skillful arms, it came like a bird over the surface of the waters.  A few rods away its speed was slackened, and, before approaching closer, it made a circuit around the voyageurs’ canoe, as if the warriors were anxious to assure themselves there was no decoy or design in this unresisting surrender.

Evidently satisfied that it was a bona fide affair, the Indians swept up beside our friends, and one of the warriors, stretching out his hands, said: 

“Gib guns me—­gib guns.”

“Begorrah, but it would be mighty plaisant to us, if it would be all the same to yees, if ye’d be clever enough to let us retain possission of ’em,” said Teddy, hesitating about complying with the demand.  “They might do ye some injury, ye know, and besides, I didn’t propose to—­”

“Let them have them,” said Richter.  The Irishman reluctantly obeyed, and while he passed his rifle over with his left hand, he doubled up his right, shaking it under the savage’s nose.

“Ye’ve got me gun, ye old log of walnut, but ye hain’t got me fists, begorrah, but, by the powers, ye shall have them some of these fine mornings whin yer eyes want opening.”

“Teddy, be silent!” sharply commanded the missionary.

But the Indians, understanding the significance of the Irishman’s gestures, only smiled at them, and the chief who had taken his gun, nodded his head, as much as to say he, too, would enjoy a fisticuff.

When the whites were defenseless, one of the savages vaulted lightly into their canoe, and took possession of the paddle.