They understood his words, and they understood, also, the significant gesture when he patted the barrel of the rifles.The hearts of both Butler and Wyatt were for the moment afraid, and their boat dropped back to third place.Henry laughed aloud when he saw.The Viking rage was still upon him.This was the primeval wilderness, and these were no common foes.
"I see that you don't want to receive our little messengers," he cried."Why have you dropped back to third place in the line, Braxton Wyatt and Walter Butler, when you were first only a moment ago? Are you cowards as well as murderers of women and children?""That's pow'ful good talk," said Shif'less Sol admiringly.
"Henry, you're a real orator.Give it to 'em, an' mebbe I'll get a chance at one o' them renegades."It seemed that Henry's words had an effect, because the boat of the renegades pulled up somewhat, although it did not regain first place.Thus the chase proceeded down the Susquehanna.
The Indian fleet was gaining a little, and Shif'less Sol called Henry's attention to it.
"Don't you think I'd better take a shot at one o' them rowers in the first boat?" he said to Henry."Wyatt an' Butler are a leetle too fur away.""I think it would give them a good hint, Sol!" said Henry."Take that fellow on the right who is pulling so hard."The shiftless one raised his rifle, lingered but a little over his aim, and pulled the trigger.The rower whom Henry had pointed out fell back in the boat, his hands slipping from the handles of his oars.The boat was thrown into confusion, and dropped back in the race.Scattering shots were fired in return, but all fell short, the water spurting up in little jets where they struck.
Henry, who had caught something of the Indian nature in his long stay among them in the northwest, laughed in loud irony.
"That was one of our little messengers, and it found a listener!"he shouted."And I see that you are afraid, Braxton Wyatt and Walter Butler, murderers of women and children! Why don't you keep your proper places in the front?""That's the way to talk to 'em," whispered Shif'less Sol, as he reloaded."Keep it up, an' mebbe we kin git a chance at Braxton Wyatt hisself.Since Wyoming I'd never think o' missin' sech a chance.""Nor I, either," said Henry, and he resumed in his powerful tones: "The place of a leader is in front, isn't it? Then why don't you come up?"Braxton Wyatt and Walter Butler did not come up.They were not lacking in courage, but Wyatt knew what deadly marksmen the fugitive boat contained, and he had also told Butler.So they still hung back, although they raged at Henry Ware's taunts, and permitted the Mohawks and Senecas to take the lead in the chase.
"They're not going to give us a chance," said Henry."I'm satisfied of that.They'll let redskins receive our bullets, though just now I'd rather it were the two white ones.What do you think, Sol, of that leading boat? Shouldn't we give another hint?""I agree with you, Henry," said the shiftless one.They're comin' much too close fur people that ain't properly interduced to us.This promiskus way o' meetin' up with strangers an'
lettin' 'em talk to you jest ez ef they'd knowed you all their lives hez got to be stopped.It's your time, Henry, to give 'em a polite hint, an' I jest suggest that you take the big fellow in the front o' the boat who looks like a Mohawk."Henry raised his rifle, fired, and the Mohawk would row no more.
