“Why, sure they can swim across well enough.  The river is not so wide as to prevent them from doing it on a pinch,” remarked Philips.

“Of course they can,” answered Collins, “but not without having their rifles as well soaked as our muskets were a little while ago.  I say, corporal, I understand now the trick of that cunning chief.  He jumped upon the arms purposely to overturn them into the river, when he found he couldn’t get the boat, and all our firelocks over with him.”

“Yes, that was a trick,” remarked Jackson, “but, corporal, you havn’t told us how the dickens that fellow came there, instead of the bear you went to spear.”

“There is no time to talk about it, seriously rejoined the Virginian.  Some night when we are on guard, I will tell you what little I know.  At present let us see to getting back to our post.  Collins, you are the crack shot of the party, are you loaded?”

“I am, corporal,” returned the man somewhat self-sufficiently, “have you got another Injin for me to sink.  If so, just point him out, and if this good barrel of Uncle Sam’s don’t do his job in no time, I’ll give up all claim to having hit the first fellow.”

“Not just yet,” answered his superior, “but hear my orders.  You’ll follow the path along the bank, and move along carefully, until you reach Heywood’s stacks.  Conceal yourself behind one of them, until we come down with the boat, and keep a sharp lookout on all that you see passing in and round the farm.  Now remember, Collins, not a shot, unless it be to save your life, or else you will get us all into a scrape.”

“Never fear me, General Nixon, and he touched his cap with all the respect he would have accorded to an officer of that rank.  I brought one of the imps down, and that, I reckon, is nearly as good work for one day, as filling the old boat with fish, or having a slap at them ducks, as I wanted this morning.  But now I’m off, if I see anything shall I halloo out, and let you know there’s danger?”

“Not by a long chalk,” returned the corporal.  “All I want you to do is to keep your tongue in your head and your eyes open.  If you see anything to alarm you, come back quietly and let us know.  We shall be moving down close to the bank of the river; and now start.”

Collins threw his musket to the trail, and advanced cautiously, though fearlessly, along the scarcely perceptible pathway—­interrupted, at every third or fourth step by creeping vines that protruded from the earth, and rendered it necessary, in order to prevent his tripping, that he should raise his feet somewhat in the manner of a horse with the string-halt.