I did one more voyage with him, and was not so
lucky. It was worth while just to see the looks on those Indians faces. I might say
the Chiefs difficulties were by no means imaginary.
Then a bit lower down on the opposite side, another
convenient eddy mustbe found. I certainly didnot make a fortune; in fact, not only
made nothing but lost all I had. All right, said he, with biting contempt, takethe
gig and lets see what YOU can do.
These Housa boys also soon got wound up to the
dancingstage of excitement. For day and days we would be plodding on through
forests, hardly everseeing the sun.
Nevertheless, I, for one, hadhad enough of Bully
Waters.
We put the cause of all our anxious hoursinto the
pot, and cooked him for the next meal. No one ever had a closer call, though Bill
didnt seem to worry. We stuck to the trail for a couple of hoursuntil it completely
disappeared. However, nothing was ever broken, all credit to the old boy. Lawrence,
and in those days ten knots wasconsidered quite a good speed. On this point at
least, Bill was luridly emphatic, so thatended all talk of keeping watch. The
waterfairly curls up at the bow, and you simply tear across the river at therate of
knots.
Bill would goanywhere where anyone else would
lead.
That was the Quartermaster, and he was drowning.
Many and evening wepassed away singing old popular songs.
Having landed in thebottom of the canoe you seize
your paddle, and dig like fury. I had not noticed that I had been sitting with my
feet in the middle ofthe coil. One speaks, rather loosely, of perfect
silence.
I doubt if the bullet took any effect, but beforehe
could reload, Tiger Jim had disappeared.
Welived in a state of moisture and the only wonder
is that we didnt growwebs to our toes.