The course Nat was taking was not parallel to that of the boats outside him.

He was sheering gradually out into the lake, and, although the boat was travelling somewhat faster than its pursuers, James saw that its course would carry it across their bows at a dangerously close distance.

The Indians were not long in seeing that the canoe was outstripping them, and in each of the boats one of the redskins laid aside his paddle, and began to fire.

The balls struck the water near the canoe, but no one was hit.
"Let them fire," Jonathan said.

"It ain't every man as can shoot straight from a canoe going at racing pace.