The Mohegan Maiden — page 26: what you’re looking at

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

98 THE MOMEGAN MAIDEN. was . there cohgregrated. Archibald regarded the signs for -gome time in silence, and fina'ly remarked, a “Tt ig too bad our folks know nothing about this. But, — I am determined upon one thing, to, cross over aS soon.as it is dark enough, and spy out their numbers. What say you, Christian ?” | | r te — oe | “Um, very good,” sententiously remarked that individual, “Good many Nar’gansetis; may get scalp 2’ li bog “You. must not attempt to get any scalps to-night,” return- — ed the white hunter. “We shall haye plenty of work to keep — our own safe. We can not, afford to risk any thing unncces- sary to-night—too much is depending on our success, and the Narragansetts must not be aroused.” o “ Me be very careful,” was the assurance the Mohegan gaye, and then the twain ‘slowly turned their footsteps down. the river. my . ae Some half a mile below the spot where the discovery was made, a canoe was kept secreted, and toward its hiding-place they took their way. They, found it reposing in. safety. Drawing it forth from its cover, they conveyed it quite near the edge of the river, and then seated themselves upon. it to await the coming of darkness sufficiently intense to ‘allow.of their floating it without too much danger. | . “ We shall have to paddle about half way ACrOss, nnd then drop silently down with the current till we reach the other side.” “Me bring um,” returned the Mohegan. “ Me paddle good many canoes.” | , ‘ Spee re long deep darkness had scttled over the forest; then,, raising their boat, they made their way down to the water, and placed it upon the tfanquil bosom of the” Connecticut. Carefully stepping in, each took a paddle, and the little craft silently moved out upon the level expanse of darkness _ The dip of their paddles was very Cautious, and the pull strong, so that they moved rapidly, notwithstanding the quiet with which it wab done. Indeed, so satisfactory was their success to the men themselves, that they did not pause or relax their efforts when the opposite shore was neared, but shot their boat into a dense mass of foliage, pulled it securely upon the land, and then turned their faces in the direction of the Narragansett encampment. : . comliclbooks.conn