In reaching the creek,
he had bent down the bushes, and broken the branches on the way so that
his trail could be followed without difficulty.
He now sped back to his canoe, which, when reached, he shoved into deep
water, and ran a considerable distance before he deemed it best to
enter. Lifting Fluellina in his arms, he deposited her carefully in
it. Niniotan leaped after her, and the next moment they were going
down the stream at a speed that seemed would tear the boat asunder
every moment. Debouching into the creek, the canoe rounded gracefully
and went upward with undiminished velocity, until, in almost an
incredible space, the point of embarkation was reached, when Oonomoo
ran in and sprung ashore, followed instantly by his wife and son.
The Huron had scarcely landed, when his quick ear detected a suspicious
sound. He glanced furtively around. Nothing, however, was seen,
although his apprehensions of the proximity of his foes had assumed a
certainty. Without pausing in the least, he instantly took the back
trail, Fluellina being close behind him, and Niniotan bringing up the
rear. They had gone scarce a dozen steps when the Shawnee war-whoop
was heard, and full a score of the red demons sprung up seemingly from
the very ground, and plunged toward the fugitives. Simultaneously
several rifles were discharged, and Oonomoo, who had thrown himself in
the rear of Fluellina upon the appearance of danger, knew by the sharp,
needle-like twinges in different parts of his body, that he was
severely wounded.
Pages:
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152