CHAPTER XIII. 
nat's shaggy pup. 
ATHER, father, where is the raft ? " 
Mr. Button sprang to his feet, and rubbed his 
eyes. There was the river, running quietly 
between its wooded banks, as he had seen it the evening 
before. But the raft ! Nowhere to be seen ! 
Mr. Button's first move was to secure his rifle, and 
glance at the lock. 
The Indians must be near ! They must have surprised 
us during the night, and, having taken away our means 
of escape, the cowards mean to attack us only when we 
are too weak and bewildered to resist ! " 
By this time the boys were all awake, and filled with 
consternation at their loss. 
" How much farther is it to the fort ? " asked Hugh. 
Not far from two hundred miles. And to-day is the 
first of July ! We cannot reach it by the tenth." 
" But why not build a new raft, father ? " 
Mr. Button pointed sadly to the little heap of baggage 
they had brought to land the night before. Hugh's eye 
followed the gesture, and wandered quickly over the bags 
148 
