"Phil, didn't I see some round shot among the ammunition you brought down?" called Morgan to me.
"Yes; I brought down a few cannon balls. I didn't know there were any there before," I replied.
"Do you happen to know where they are now?"
He and Plunkett overhauled the boxes, and found the shot. Morgan intended to use the gun, which would make short work of the enemy. The dugout had followed us at a safe distance till we were half way to the landing. The Indians had evidently come to the conclusion that they were wasting their powder, and were now paddling down nearer to the raft. It was a long time before the soldiers had the gun in condition for use, for they were obliged to alter the lashings, so that they could elevate or depress it, and we were within a quarter of a mile of our destination before it was ready. Although the Indians quickened their speed, they did not fire again, and I soon discovered that they were headed to the north shore.
"Hurry up, Morgan!" I shouted. "I see what they are going to do."
"I see they are," replied he, as he rammed home the shot.
"They are going into the woods to fire at us from behind the trees when we land," I answered.
"I'll soon block that game. Stand by the lock-string, Plunkett."
The dugout was now going at a right angle with the course of the raft, and was about sixty yards from the shore.
"Pull as hard as you can, Phil, so as to keep the raft steady!" called Morgan, as he sighted along the gun.
"Out from the shore a little more, Phil," added the gunner, as he depressed the muzzle of the piece. "Fire!" shouted he.
I stood up in the barge to note the effect of the shot. A yell of dismay rose from the Indians, and I saw that the dugout was splintered in pieces. One side of it was broken in, and the savages, leaping into the water, swam for the shore.
"I have made one good shot to-day, any how," said Morgan.
"Didn't I fire that gun?" cried Plunkett.
"Yes, sir! You are the organ-blower that played the tune," replied Morgan, taking no pains to conceal his disgust.
"Mind the raft," I interposed, finding that it was swinging off from the shore.
I used the oars vigorously to counteract this tendency; but the soldiers could not reach bottom with their poles, and were unable to help me much. The raft was heavy and the current very strong. We were within a few rods of the Fish River.