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Henry reckoned that it was about three miles away, but it would have to be approached with great care. As they advanced they kept a watch on the farther shore also, and rounding a curve in the river they caught their first sight of its reflection. "It's fur up the stream," said Shif'less Sol, "an' I cal'late it's 'bout opposite the big camp.
Evidently they were intended as threats, but, besides Henry's comment, the pursued took no notice of them. Then the savages, for the first time, uttered their war cry, but the fugitives did not answer. "Ef they mean by that yell that they've got us," said Shif'less Sol, "then they might ez well yell ag'in."
"An' naterally," said Shif'less Sol, "he'd go whar the walkin' wuz easiest, but whar thar wuz kiver so he couldn't be seen by warriors. So he'd choose the easy slope under them big trees thar, an' go south toward that valley." "Reckon you're right," said Long Jim in a convinced tone. "That's just about what Paul would do."
"Yes, I see that it is you, murderer of women and children, champion of the fire and stake, as savage as any of the savages. And it is you, too, Walter Butler, wickeder son of a wicked father. Come a little closer, won't you? We've messengers here for both of you!" He tapped lightly the barrel of his own rifle and that of Shif'less Sol, and repeated his request that they come a little closer.
Then they descended the stream and approached the point with some anxiety. "Suppose the boat isn't there," said Paul; "suppose the Indians have found it." "We ain't supposing'," said Shif'less Sol. "We're shore it's thar." They waded among the bushes growing at the water's edge and the shiftless one, who was in advance, uttered a suppressed cry of pleasure.
"The biggest flock o' wild turkeys that ever wuz must hev roosted right 'roun' us," said Shif'less Sol, "'cause I seem to see 'em by the dozens." "More likely fifteen or twenty flocks were scattered about through the woods, and now they have all joined in a common flight." "Mebbe so, but whether one flock or twenty j'ined, this is suttinly Turkeyland. An' did you ever see sech fine turkeys.
"Henry Ware alive!" exclaimed Adam Colfax, springing forward and seizing the hand which dripped water from the tip of every finger. "An' don't furgit me," said Shif'less Sol, as he leaped aboard and stood beside Henry, a tiny cataract pouring from every seam of his clothing. "Nor me," said Tom Ross briefly, taking his place with his comrades.
Both Shif'less Sol and Silent Tom grinned, but the discussion was not pursued, as Henry announced that he was about to leave them in order to enter the Indian ring, and make Wyatt and the warriors think the rocky hollow was defended. "The rest of you would better stay in the canebrakes or the thickets," he said.
"The Spaniards are too strong to be defeated, but they won't venture the unknown terrors of the river at night. The Indians, who are in their canoes, will draw off when they find they are not doing much harm." "Wish we could put up that sail," said Shif'less Sol, who was still at the oars. "I'm shore gittin' a callous lump in the pa'm o' my hand." "It wouldn't do, Sol," said Henry.
The five, barring slight scratches suffered by Ross and Shif'less Sol, had escaped unhurt, and now they labored with the others to throw up the wall of earth about the wagons. A spring took its rise in the center of the plain, and flowed down to the river. This spring was within the circle of the wagons, and they were assured of plenty of water.
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