Another deep and exulting "Ugh!" was now heaved from the
chest of the Indian, who stood calmly on the spot on
which he had first rested, while Fuller prepared a coil
of rope to throw to the active steersman.
"Avast there, Jack!" growled the boatswain, addressing
the sailor; "how can the stranger keep the bow of his
craft on, and grapple at the same time? Just pass one
end of the coil round your waist, and swing yourself
gently into her."
The head of the canoe was now near enough for the purpose.
The sailor did as he was desired, having previously
divested himself of his shoes, and leaping forward,
alighted on what appeared to be a bundle of blankets
stowed away in her bows. No sooner, however, had he
secured his footing, when with another desperate leap,
and greatly to the astonishment of all around, he bounded
once more to the deck of the schooner, his countenance
exhibiting every mark of superstitious alarm. In the act
of quitting the canoe he had spurned her violently several
feet from the vessel, which the silent steersman was
again making every effort to reach.
"Why what the devil's the matter with you now?" exclaimed
the rough boatswain, who, as well as Captain de Haldimar
and the rest of the crew, had quitted the gangway to
learn the cause of this extraordinary conduct.
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