And--yes, there was a woman and a child, too; a little girl with long, yellow curls, who played on the rude deck.

Paul put his hand to his face, and it came back wet.
Then he remembered, and his heart leaped up.

The river was a mile wide, and the boat was keeping near the middle of the stream.

No bullet from the savages could reach it.

Then what was the use of this ambush?
It had merely been a chance hope of the savages that the boat would come near enough for them to fire into it, but instead it would go steadily on! Paul looked exultantly at the two warriors beside him, but they were intently watching the boat, which would soon be opposite them.
Then a ghastly and horrible thing occurred.