between the falls and the garrison, except these two canoes, to
my sartain knowledge; and I think it will go beyond red-skin gifts
to cross in the face of two rifles like these of yourn and mine. I
will not vaunt, Jasper; but it is well known on all this frontier
that Killdeer seldom fails."

"Your skill is admitted by all, far and near, Pathfinder; but a
rifle takes time to be loaded; nor are you on the land, aided by
a good cover, where you can work to the advantage you are used to.
If you had our canoe, might you not pass to the shore with a dry
rifle?"

"Can an eagle fly, Jasper?" returned the other, laughing in his
usual manner, and looking back as he spoke. But it would be unwise
to expose yourself on the water; for them miscreants are beginning
to bethink them again of powder and bullets."

"It can be done without any such chances. Master Cap has gone up
to the canoe, and will cast the branch of a tree into the river to
try the current, which sets from the point above in the direction
of your rock. See, there it comes already; if it float fairly, you
must raise your arm, when the canoe will follow. At all events,
if the boat should pass you, the eddy below will bring it up, and
I can recover it."

While Jasper was still speaking, the floating branch came in sight;
and, quickening its progress with the increasing velocity of the
current, it swept swiftly down towards the Pathfinder, who seized
it as it was passing, and held it in the air as a sign of success.
Cap understood the signal, and presently the canoe was launched into