When Mary Brown went out on the river-beach, she saw only Adam and Phil, for Phœnix had gone up the shore to look for dry sticks for the fire. She walked up to our two friends, who were quite surprised to see her, not knowing that there was any habitation in the neighborhood, and after wishing them “good-evening,” she related to them the purpose of her mission. While she was speaking, Phœnix came up, and his appearance made her quite uneasy. She had supposed there were only two persons in the boat, but if there were three, it would make the fight a great deal worse, if there should be one, and she therefore urged, with increased earnestness, that they should give up the boat peaceably, before they were set upon by the determined men in the woods. “Give us a moment to think this over,” said Adam, when she had finished. And the girl retired to a short distance, while our friends drew close together in anxious consultation. “Those two rascals,” said Adam, “must have waded ashore somewhere, and come across these Indians. And now they’re a-goin’ to try to take the boat from us. They’ve had time enough to get around here, for we came up very slow.” “Perhaps it’s all a made-up story,” said Phœnix. “That couldn’t be,” said Phil, “for how would that girl know that we had taken the boat from anybody?” “Whether her story is true or not,” said Adam, “we’re not goin’ to give up the boat, are we?” “No, indeed!” answered both of the boys. “I’m glad we took the guns from them fellers,” said Adam, “for now we’ve each got one. Let’s jump aboard and get the shootin’-irons. That’s the first thing to do.” The three now moved toward the boat, which had been drawn up in shallow water. “Don’t go aboard yit!” exclaimed Mary, quickly stepping toward them; but, as no attention was paid to her words, she gave a loud scream, and ran into the woods. [Illustration] CHAPTER XV. THE FORCES MEET. It so happened that the three guns on The Rolling Stone were all loaded, and as they sprang on board, Adam, Phil, and Phœnix each snatched up one of them. “Cover yourselves and be ready!” cried Adam. And, at these words, Phil bounced into the little cabin and put his gun out the landward window; Phœnix stepped on the little strip of deck on the other side of the cabin, and crouching behind it, rested his gun upon the roof, while Adam threw himself flat down on the bottom of the boat and pointed his gun over the side. “Cock your guns,” cried Adam, “but don’t fire till I give the word. I hear ’em comin’.” The moment that Mary Brown’s scream was heard, Chap sprang toward the river, followed by the four Indians. “Hold back!” cried The Talker. “You take care! You be shot!” But Chap paid no attention to this warning. His only idea was to rush upon the two marauders and whang them over the head with his club. It was now almost dark in the woods, but on the water and the river-beach objects could be easily seen.