Red Belt, the Tuscarora — page 37: what you’re looking at

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

ARROW AND BULLET. 89 boat. At the same time, old Sampson sunk forward on his face, in a swoon. : ~ A moment more and Red Belt—his rifle smoking in his hands —sprung through the bushes. One glance, and, stooping, ho gave the canoe a vigorous shove from the shore, and leaped in. The impetus imparted to the boat, shot it far out into the stream, and well béyond the shadow of the trees. The young Indian was not too soon in this movement, for the savages had heard the report, first, of the pistol—then of the rifle, and with wild halloos sprung to their feet, and started in the direction whence the sound of the fire-arms proceeded ; and, in a moment after the canoe had darted out from the a bank, a half-score of the red-skins stood on the muddy shore. The moon suddenly glinted down its silver sheen, and spread Its splendor full upon the waters: But the boat had now rounded a heavy clump of trees fringing the margin of the river, and for the time, was lost to view. The Indians, how- ever, saw and marked the trembling wake left by the light craft, and with a loud whoop they sprung onward, following Y the ripple as it curved around the shore. In the mean time, Red Belt had hastily stepped aft over the ‘form of the motionless hunter, whose bleeding wounds, Eagle —who had fought the jaguar bravely—was licking. Seating himself he took the paddle, and with rapid strokes drove the canoe through the water. On he darted, and then like a night- hawk, the canoe sprung through the broad flash of light flung from the catnp-fire on the shore. -“ Instantly a dozen rifles cracked, and a half-dozen bow-strings twanged sharp in the still night, and in a moment the air was vocal with whizzing bullets and feathered shafts. But the missiles of death fled harmlessly over the head of the daring brave, who was struggling so manfully to save his friend ; and then in a moment more the canoe was out of the reflection from the fire, and jn comparative security again. Red Belt bent to his work. There befure him, now lay the broad bosom of the Ohio, and then the light boat was tossing upon the troubled waters. The wind was blowing cheerily down the wide river, and flinging the rolling waves wildly | about. But the canoc, protected as it was by the rude leeboards- ~ a a « y- ConmiclbOolkxs.conn