“The Sergeant’s daughter must be saved,” returned the guide, with calm energy.  “You are right, Jasper; she has no gift to authorize her in offering her sweet face and tender body to a Mingo rifle.  What can be done, then?  They must be kept from crossing for an hour or two, if possible, when we must do our best in the darkness.”

“I agree with you, Pathfinder, if it can be effected; but are we strong enough for such a purpose?”

“The Lord is with us, boy, the Lord is with us; and it is unreasonable to suppose that one like the Sergeant’s daughter will be altogether abandoned by Providence in such a strait.  There is not a boat between the falls and the garrison, except these two canoes, to my sartain knowledge; and I think it will go beyond red-skin gifts to cross in the face of two rifles like these of yourn and mine.  I will not vaunt, Jasper; but it is well known on all this frontier that Killdeer seldom fails.”

“Your skill is admitted by all, far and near, Pathfinder; but a rifle takes time to be loaded; nor are you on the land, aided by a good cover, where you can work to the advantage you are used to.  If you had our canoe, might you not pass to the shore with a dry rifle?”

“Can an eagle fly, Jasper?” returned the other, laughing in his usual manner, and looking back as he spoke.  But it would be unwise to expose yourself on the water; for them miscreants are beginning to bethink them again of powder and bullets.”

“It can be done without any such chances.  Master Cap has gone up to the canoe, and will cast the branch of a tree into the river to try the current, which sets from the point above in the direction of your rock.  See, there it comes already; if it float fairly, you must raise your arm, when the canoe will follow.  At all events, if the boat should pass you, the eddy below will bring it up, and I can recover it.”

While Jasper was still speaking, the floating branch came in sight; and, quickening its progress with the increasing velocity of the current, it swept swiftly down towards the Pathfinder, who seized it as it was passing, and held it in the air as a sign of success.  Cap understood the signal, and presently the canoe was launched into the stream, with a caution and an intelligence that the habits of the mariner had fitted him to observe.  It floated in the same direction as the branch, and in a minute was arrested by the Pathfinder.

“This has been done with a frontier man’s judgment Jasper,” said the guide, laughing; “but you have your gifts, which incline most to the water, as mine incline to the woods.  Now let them Mingo knaves cock their rifles and get rests, for this is the last chance they are likely to have at a man without a cover.”

“Nay, shove the canoe towards the shore, quartering the current, and throw yourself into it as it goes off,” said Jasper eagerly.  “There is little use in running any risk.”