Now the lightning flared again and again, so fierce and bright that Robert, despite his control of himself, instinctively recoiled from it as from the stroke of a saber.
"Do you recall any shelter farther on, Tayoga ?" asked the hunter.
"The overhanging bank and the big hollow in the stone," replied the Onondaga.

"On the left! Don't you remember ?" "Now I do, Tayoga, but I didn't know it was near.

Do you think we can make it before that sky over our heads splits wide open ?" "It will be a race," replied the young Iroquois, "but we three are strong, and we are skilled in the use of the paddle." "Then we'll bend to it," said Willet.

And they did.

The canoe shot forward at amazing speed over the surface of the river, inky save when the lightning flashed upon it.