"There do be no danger at all av that, son," replied the trapper, readily. "Becase we did not turrn up be darrk, they are likely listenin' for signs. And, av yees notice, the night wind is crapin' up the river, comin' from the west; so that the sound av the guns was kerried straight away to the camp. Ready, Sandy? Thin let fly!" Once again was the programme carried out as before, the three shots punctuating the stillness of the night. "And now 'tis away we go, headin' for the idge av the river," said Pat, again shouldering that prized venison, which, if once taken safely on board the boat, would be well earned, indeed. They soon came to the bank of the river, and just as had been expected, found that the walking was better if they kept close to the water's edge. In places they might have to push through some dense copse that persisted in growing to the water's edge; but, on the whole, it proved to be a wise move. Of course they headed down-stream. This was done in order to put as great a distance as possible between the Indians and themselves; for later on they hoped to have an opportunity to get aboard the flatboat; and it meant a good deal to them all if the enemy at that time happened to be some distance away. All the while the boys were anxiously listening for sounds from the rear. Naturally they were picturing all sorts of terrible things as happening to the crew and passengers of the floating home on the water. And, when suddenly a series of fierce yells broke out, Sandy and Bob stopped in their tracks, shivering with fear. Pat, however, only chuckled. He could read between the lines, and hence knew the true meaning of those loud cries. "Sure they do be as mad as a wit hin," he remarked, as a number of gunshots came to their ears, still accompanied by those shouts. "Then you think our friends have escaped, do you, Pat?" inquired Sandy, eagerly. "I do be sure av the same," was the prompt answer. "But listen to the firing that is going on!" Sandy continued. "It is all on the wan side, I warrant ye, lad," the trapper declared, with firm conviction in his manner. "Yes, for I know the sound of those hateful French guns. They do not make the same kind of report as our own weapons," Bob ventured to say. "And that means the Indians are just firing away at the floating boat, to give vent to their fury because their prey has escaped." "What if they follow the boat down the river, and come on us when we are trying to get aboard?" his brother asked, still seeing trouble ahead. "To be sure, there might be a chanct av the same happenin'," Pat admitted; "but we'll have to risk it, I fear, lads. Av we can only get to that point av land ye say below there, it would be a great place to step aboord, becase the boat must pass close by it." "And for the same reason the Indians are likely to think of it, and hurry here, in hopes of getting the same chance," remarked Bob.