Gravity Gimp bore as lightly as he could on the stern of the boat, which was already so heavily that a little more weight would have sunk it below the surface.  
But steady progress was made, and everything was going along "swimmingly," as may be said, when the craft and its occupants began to receive alarming attention from the shore.
 
The reports of guns, and the shouting and were so continuous that the had become used to them. The whistling of the bullets about their ears, and the call of Gimp, notified the ladies of their danger, and caused an outcry from Aunt Peggy.
 
"They're shooting at us, as sure as you live; stoop down, Maggie!"
 
The elderly lady and little Eva got down so low that they were quite safe. Maggie, however, kept her feet a few moments. Looking back toward the shore, she saw six or eight Indians close to the water and firing at them.
 
"Stoop down," said Gravity, in a low voice. "I'll take care ob de boat and you see what you can do wid de gun."
 
The girl acted upon the suggestion. Picking up the weapon of the African (with which she had shot more than one deer), she sank upon her knee, and took careful aim at the group on the shore.
 
Gravity stopped threshing the water, and twisted around so as to watch the result, while Aunt Peggy and Eva their eyes on the group with painful interest.
 
When the whip-like crack of the gun broke upon their ears, the spectators saw one of the Iroquois leap in the air and stagger backward, though he did not fall.
 
"You hit him!" exclaimed the delighted Gravity; "dey'll larn dat some oder folks can fire off a gun as well as dey."
 
The shot of the girl caused for a minute or two among the group. They had evidently no thought of any one "striking back," now that the panic was everywhere. They could be seen around the , who was helped a few steps and allowed to sit on the ground.
 
Dropping the rifle, Maggie Brainerd caught up the pole once more and it with all the strength at her command, while Gravity threshed the water with renewed .
 
Hope was now re-awakened that the river might be crossed in safety.
 
In the nature of things, the dismay among the Iroquois could not last long. They were joined by several new arrivals, among whom was at least one white man.
 
They saw that the boat was getting farther away, and the fugitives were likely to escape.
 
Gravity, who continually glanced over his shoulder, warned Maggie and the rest (who, however, were equally alert), so that when the bo............