HOME AGAIN. 



187 



We all saw the relaxation of muscle that followed the last 

 hesitating word, and knew its meaning. Lou sunk back into her 

 boat vacantly — listlessly staring, without a word or a tear. The 

 negroes wailed a low cadence of sorrow gazing on their master 

 with streaming eyes. 



" Wall, he 's only got the start of us by a piece, it 's a few 

 days airlier or later ; but them dogs don't get his hair — that 's a 

 comfort ; and maybe it '11 do him good to hear my rifle crack, if 

 he hain't gone far yet — it used to make him smile." And saying 

 this, Mike levelled his piece at one of the savages on the shore, 

 who were watching in groups our movements. 



At the crack of the heavy piece, that carried a ball farther than 

 any gun on the coast, an Indian in one of the groups shivered, but 

 by holding on to a branch above him he saved himself from falling, 

 though we all saw he was wounded. Mike put his hands to his 

 mouth and gave the war-whoop, but neither the ring of the rifle 

 nor the wild cry of battle awoke the dead, and obeying the dictates 

 of prudence we resumed our oars and hurried out of the river for 

 the more open channels of the islands. 



