HOME AGAIN. 273 



winding channel ahead, he was paddling rapidly past, 

 when Mike, with a muscular push against the overhang- 

 ing tree, shot out into the lagoon so far that the two 

 canoes floated almost side by side. In spite of his train- 

 ing and his stoic blood, the Indian was startled, evincing 

 his surprise by a quick motion and an aspirated ejacula- 

 tion, as his hand involuntarily laid hold of his gun. 

 Scipio was paddling the canoe, and Mike's rifle was 

 lying across his knee, while with an appearance of most 

 simple assurance, the hunter said : 



" Good morning, brother, were you looking for 

 me?" 



" No — yes " — replied the Indian, too much taken by 

 surprise to collect his thoughts immediately; "I saw 

 canoes ahead, and I like company." 



" My brother been to the Keys hunting ?" continued 

 Mike. 



The Indian answered by a nod of assent, a gesture that 

 he hoped, the hunter would believe. 



" And is now going up the river again ?" 



" Yes," replied the Indian, willing to favor the fii'st 

 supposition. 



"Then we go together," said Mike, propelling his 

 canoe a little forward in the direction the Indian was 

 going. 



" Yes, but I am tired with much rowing, I will not 

 keep you back," answered the savage, evasively. 



The boats now lay side by side, and Mike, with his 

 rifle in his hand, deliberately stepped from his own canoe 

 12* 



