Page:Edward Ellis--Seth Jones.djvu/114

Rh feet deep, and the canoe, thus lightened of its load, instantly freed itself and floated off in the darkness.

"Don't move till I take a few soundings," said Seth.

He naturally supposed that to reach the shore, he must take a direction at right angles with the current. A few steps showed him that he was not in the river itself, but was walking in that portion which had overflowed its banks.

"Follow on boys; we're right!" he called out.

Bushes and grass entangled their feet, and the branches overhead brushed their faces as they toiled out of the water. A few moments and they were upon solid land again. The canoe had carried them across the river, so that this troublesome task was finished. "Now if we only had a fire," said Haverland.

"Yes; for Ina must be suffering."

"Oh! don't think of me!" replied the brave, little girl, cheerfully.

Seth discovered with his customary shrewdness that the storm had been very slight in this section, and the wood was comparatively dry. By removing the leaves upon the surface of the ground, there were others beneath which were perfectly free from dampness. A. quantity of these were thrown in a heap, a number of twigs found among them, placed upon the top, and some larger branches piled upon these in turn. After great difficulty, Seth managed to catch a spark from his steel and tinder, and in a few moments they had a rousing, roaring genial fire.

"That's fine," said Graham. "But won't it be dangerous, Seth?"

"Let it be then, I'm bound to dry my skin to night [sic] if there's any vartue in fire."

But the Indians didn't choose to disturb them, although it was rather a reckless proceeding upon their part. It was more than probable, as Seth Jones remarked, that their pursuers had lost their trail, and would experience some difficulty in regaining and following it.

Morning at last broke upon the hungry, miserable, hopeful fugitives. As the light increased they looked about them and discovered that they had encamped at the base of a large, heavily wooded bill. It was also noticed that Haldidge, the