Still the moments pressed, and he soon stood at the side of the
canoe. The first glance told him that the paddles had been removed!
This was a sore disappointment, after all his efforts, and, for
a single moment, he thought of turning, and of facing his foes
by walking with dignity into the centre of the camp again. But
an infernal yell, such as the American savage alone can raise,
proclaimed the quick approach of the nearest of his pursuers, and
the instinct of life triumphed. Preparing himself duly, and giving
a right direction to its bows, he ran off into the water bearing
the canoe before him, threw all his strength and skill into a last
effort, and cast himself forward so as to fall into the bottom
of the light craft without materially impeding its way. Here he
remained on his back, both to regain his breath and to cover his
person from the deadly rifle. The lightness, which was such an
advantage in paddling the canoe, now operated unfavorably. The
material was so like a feather, that the boat had no momentum, else
would the impulse in that smooth and placid sheet have impelled
it to a distance from the shore that would have rendered paddling
with the hands safe.
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