Of the twenty odd who were upon the steamer at the time of the
explosion, nearly one-half were killed; they sinking to the bottom
almost as suddenly as the wrecked steamer, of which not a single trace
now remained.

The survivors made their way to land, reaching it a short distance
below their starting-point, and here they assembled, to commiserate
with each other upon their hapless lot and determine how they were to
reach home.

Our three friends had remained upon shore about half an hour, the two
waiting for the third to recover, when the latter raised himself apon
his elbow in the attitude of listening. At the same time he waved his
hand for the others to hold their peace.

A moment later he said:

'I
hear Injins.''

'Begorrah! where bees the same?' demanded Mickey, starting to his
feet, while Ethan gazed alarmedly about.

'Jist take a squint up the river, and tell me ef they ain't pitchin'
into the poor critters thar.'

Through the sheltering trees and undergrowth, which partly protected
them, the two men gazed up-stream. To their horror, they saw fully
fifty Indians massacring the survivors of the wreckwhooping,
screeching and yelling like demons, while their poor victims were