"We shall be carried down the river, if we don't look out!" I called, anxiously.
"What shall we do? We can't reach bottom with the poles," replied Morgan.
"Clear away a long rope," I added. "When the current of Fish River strikes us, we shall be carried down in spite of all we can do, if we don't get a check on her."
"Cast off the drag-line, and make fast to it."
Morgan did as I directed, and taking the line into the boat, I carried it to the point on the Fish opposite the landing. I succeeded in catching a turn around a tree. The rope strained, and I was obliged to ease it off to prevent it from snapping; but the raft was checked.
"Not quite," I replied. "If we let her go again, the current will carry it down the river."
I jumped into the barge, and pulled across the river, where I had plenty of rope in the shanty. I carried a line to the raft, and having made it fast, I conveyed the two soldiers to the shore. Crossing the river, I eased off the line which was secured to the tree, while the men on the other side pulled the raft up to the landing.
"That's very well done, Phil," said Morgan, after my return.
"Any fool could have done it," added Plunkett.
"Of course they could--you could have done it," retorted Morgan.
"It is just the plan I was going to propose----"
I backed the wagon into the two trenches I had dug to load the flour, and rolling the gun upon the platform, where we also placed the ammunition, we started for the line of defence.
IN WHICH PHIL WITNESSES THE OPENING OF THE BATTLE WITH THE INDIANS.
"Did you fire the gun, Phil?" asked Mr. Gracewood, as we halted for a moment at the Castle to inform him that his goods were at the landing.
"Yes, sir; Morgan fired one shot at the Indians in the dugout, who would not let us alone. He used a solid shot, and smashed the boat so that the redskins had to swim ashore. We left an Indian wounded in the hip on your island."
"I don't know how badly, but I don't think he will be able to get away from there very soon. He will not be likely to do any mischief at present. We brought over a boat-load of your things, but we hadn't time to bring them up here."
"I will go to the landing and attend to them."
"Glad of it; but we must hurry on to the camp."