The others were awake in an instant and rose up, rifles in hand.

But they saw only a splash of blood on the stream that was gone in a moment, then the thick, whitish fog closed in again, and after that silence! But they knew Sol too well to doubt him, and the momentary red splash would have converted even the ignorant.
"Lie low!" exclaimed Henry.

"Everybody down behind the sides of the boat! They may fire at any time!" The boat was built of thick timber, through which no bullet of that time could go, and they crouched down, merely peeping over the edges and presenting scarcely any target.

They had their own rifles and the extra fowling pieces and pistols were made ready, also.
But nothing came from the great pall of whitish fog, and the silence was chilly and heavy.

It was the most uncanny thing in all Paul's experience.
Beyond a doubt they were surrounded by savage enemies, but from which side they would come, and when, nobody could tell until they were at the very side of the boat.
"How many did you see, Sol ?" whispered Henry.
"Only two, but one of 'em won't ever attack us again." "The others must be near by in their canoes, and the swimmers may have been scouts and skirmishers.