"When I heard you shoot I
didn't know but what you had murdered him."
"Wish I had," growled Cabot, savagely. "Look at him now, and consider
the cheek of the plain, every-day North American savage."
It was aggravating to see the young thief gain the beach and lift from
the boat the provisions he had so deftly acquired. It was even more
annoying to see the embryo warrior's grateful family pounce upon the
prizes of his bow and spear, and to be forced to listen to the joyous
cries with which they greeted their returned hero. Filled now with a
bustling activity, the Indians quickly divided the spoil according to
their strength; and then, without one backward glance, or a single look
towards the schooner, they started up the narrow trail by the
waterfall, with the triumphant Arsenic heading the procession, and in
another minute had disappeared.
As the last fluttering rag vanished from sight, our lads, who had
watched the latter part of this performance in silent wrath, turned to
each other and burst out laughing.
"It was a dirty, mean, low-down trick!" cried Cabot. "At the same time
he played it with a dexterity that compels my admiration. Now, what
shall we do?"
"I suppose one of us will have to swim ashore and get that boat."
"What, through ice water? You are right, though, and as I am the
biggest chump, I'll go."
Cabot was as good as his word, and did swim to the beach, though, as he
afterwards said, he did not know whether his first plunge was made into
ice water or molten lead.
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