Lying flat upon his face, this limb was about the thickness of the Huron's waist, and by skillfully balancing the boat, it was interposed directly between him and his foes.

The only parts of his person which possibly could be struck were his feet and the arm stretched over the side of the canoe.
The former necessarily being in the stern, it was hardly probable that they would be wounded.

There was such risk of the arm that Oonomoo drew it within the boat for a few moments.

He had scarcely done so, when the reports of two rifles, and the peculiar zip of the bullets as they cut through the side of the canoe and buried themselves in the rotten wood, proved how wise was the precaution he had taken.
Quick as thought, the hand of the Huron was in the water again, where, as he vigorously used it, it flashed like some fish at play.

The Shawnees, who plainly discerned the two holes their bullets had made, could scarcely believe their daring foe had escaped injury.