Scattering shots were fired in return, but all fell short, the water spurting up in little jets where they struck.
Henry, who had caught something of the Indian nature in his long stay among them in the northwest, laughed in loud irony.
"That was one of our little messengers, and it found a listener!" he shouted.

"And I see that you are afraid, Braxton Wyatt and Walter Butler, murderers of women and children! Why don't you keep your proper places in the front ?" "That's the way to talk to 'em," whispered Shif'less Sol, as he reloaded.

"Keep it up, an' mebbe we kin git a chance at Braxton Wyatt hisself.

Since Wyoming I'd never think o' missin' sech a chance." "Nor I, either," said Henry, and he resumed in his powerful tones: "The place of a leader is in front, isn't it?
Then why don't you come up ?" Braxton Wyatt and Walter Butler did not come up.

They were not lacking in courage, but Wyatt knew what deadly marksmen the fugitive boat contained, and he had also told Butler.