Page:Edward Ellis--Seth Jones.djvu/106

Rh of astonishment, he saw the identical tree which he and Graham disputed over, afloat in the river. This awoke his apprehensions and he signaled at once for Haldidge.

"What's the row?" asked the hunter as he came up.

Seth gave his head a toss down stream, by way of reply, and added, "Don't let 'em see you're watching it, for it might scare 'em."

Nevertheless Haldidge turned square around and took a long, searching look at the suspicious object.

"What do you make of it?"

"Them Mohawks are the biggest fools I ever heard of, to think that such an old trick as that can amount to any thing."

"What trick do you mean?" asked Haverland.

"Why, you see that log yonder, half sunk in the water, that we are all looking at? Well, there are four or five Mohawks behind that, waiting for us to launch our raft."

"Maybe it's nothing more than a floating tree or log," said the woodman.

"Y-e-s," drawled the hunter sarcastically, "maybe so; "I s'pose a log would be very apt to float up stream, wouldn't it?"

"Why, is it approaching?" asked Graham.

"Not very fast," answered Seth, "for I guess it's hard work for them fellers to swim up stream. Ah! by gracious! I understand the game. Look; don't you see it's farther out than it was? They're going to get as near the middle as they can, and so close to us that when we undertake to cross, the current will carry us right down plump against 'em, when they'll rise up in their wrath and devour us. Fact, as sure as you live." "We might as well understand matters at once," added Haldidge. "The plan of the Indians is undoubtedly the same as Seth suggests. In crossing, we cannot help drifting downward, and they are trying to locate themselves so as to make a collision between us. But they will make no attack until we are in the water. So you may keep at work upon the raft, Alf, without any fear, while Seth and I reconnoiter. Come, Graham, you may as well go along with us. Let us enter the wood separately at first, and we'll come together as soon as we can get out of sight. Act as though we didn't suspicion any