Be quick about it, for those canoes from the shore are coming up fast." The work was concluded just as the canoes with the Owl and his warriors came up with the others, which, having now got rid of their fish, again set out, and, in a close body, the ten canoes started in pursuit.
"Paddle steady," Nat said; "and whatever you do, be keerful of your blades.

If one was to break now it would mean the loss of our scalps.
Don't gain on 'em; as long as the redskins on shore think as their friends are going to catch us, they won't care to put out and join in the chase; but if they thought we was getting away, they might launch canoes ahead of us and cut us off.

The nearer we are to them the better, as long as we are keeping ahead." For an hour the chase continued.

The Indians, although straining every nerve, did not gain a foot upon the fugitives, who, although paddling hard, had still some reserve of strength.

The sun, by this time, was touching the tops of the hills.
"Now, cap," Nat said, "it's time to teach 'em as we can bite a bit.
They won't be quite so hot over it, if we give them a lesson now.