The Mohegan Maiden — page 22: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

94 THE MOBREGAN MAIDEN. Turner and his companion would have striven with them for the point, but, as the latter dipped his oar, and gave a strong pull, the faithless blade snapped like a thing ef glass. “ Quick, take this,” exclaimed Archibald, comprehending the state of affairs\at once. “ Pull for the shore, while I load the pieces. We'll take cover on the bank, and shoot them if they dare attempt to land !” | | Christian was prompt to do as requested, an@ when the poat touched bottom, the guns were recharged and primed. Both grasped the weapons, ‘and sprang ashore, drawing the boat after them, Just as the arrows from their pursuers began to fall around. a | Scarcely a rod from the river a large tree had fallen. It. was well decayed, and along its sides grew a curtain of vines” and bushes. Behind this the trio at once took shelter. “Let them come now, if they dare,” whispered Archibald, somewhat excitedly, as he beheld thesboat rapidly nearing the shore. “We can scarcely fail of two out of the first fire, and it may well go hard with us if we are not a match for three more of the villains.” | “Um think we go far in the woods,” remarked Christian. “ We show um whorun!” — | The Narragansett boat was now within five rods of the shore, and the warriors were peering through the trees in every direction for traces of the supposed fugitives, They, did not for a moment suspect that the men, encumbered by the presence of a squaw, would make face against such odds. “They are hear enough now,” Whispered Archibald. “We had better shoot. I will take that big fellow in the stern. Pick your man and let him have it!” There was little need of a close aim at such a distance, and under such advantages as the concealed party possessed. Bach held his gun ups? the living marks, and at the word, both fired. , | ’ | hen came a sudden splash in the water, and but three up- right figures remained. They seemed startled beyond measure at the reception they had received, and made no further efforts to gain the vicinity of such a deadly foe. Or the contrary they changed the stroke of their paddles, and without any of the noise which connicloooks.com