CHAPTER XVIII.
THE STRANGE SIGHT.
From somewhere in the gloomy solitude came a low quavering monotone thathad a most uncanny sound in the weird midnight. The youths never beforehad heard anything of the kind, and the bravest men would have beenimpressed by it.
Larry, in his fright, sprang to his feet, and would have fled deeperinto the woods, but his companion caught his arm and whispered:
"Wait; let's find out what it is."
"Havn't I told ye!" demanded the other with husky impatience; "it's aghost--it's a hobgoblin."
"But hold on, I say; keep still."
They made sure that they were well protected by shadow, while theywaited for a solution of the extraordinary occurrence.
The monotone chant resembled the lower notes of an organ played softly,and with a rise and fall of no more than two or three notes. It was awild song, which came from some point not far away, though neither couldsay precisely where. At times it seemed to be overhead, and Whartoncaught himself looking into the sky and among the tree-tops for asolution of the mystery. It had a way of ceasing at the end of a minuteor two for several seconds, and then was resumed with the same unvaryingmonotone.
"It's coming this way!" whispered Larry, gripping the shoulder of hiscompanion and attempting to rise again; but Wharton forced him back,though he felt very much like plunging in among the trees himself.
"If it's a ghost he can't hurt us."
"How do you know he can't? I tell ye he's coming this way!"
"What makes you say that?"
"Because I see him; look beyant, right across the lake--don't ye obsarvehim?"
Until that moment Wharton had no thought that his friend sawanything--but he did. Directly across from where they were seated, andunder the shadow of the opposite bank, where the waters narrowedpreparatory to entering the gorge, so that the distance was barely ahundred yards, appeared a point of light. It looked like a star glidingalong the shore and keeping in the shadow, so that the fiery glow wasall that was visible to the eye.
This of itself was not the form which ghosts are supposed to take, butit was in keeping with the dismal monotone, which sent a cold shiverdown their backs. Wharton was more than ever inclined to run, but with acourage that was rather unusual he resolutely held his ground, andforced his companion to do the same.
"I'm going to find out what it is," he said in a guarded undertone,"before I leave this spot."
"All right; when the spook jumps on us and we are dead ye'll learn howmuch more I know than yersilf."
"Sh!"
Something was seen to be issuing from the wall of shadow. The point oflight was a part of the object which was moving slowly, while thestrange sound continued. The boys were straining their eyes to learnwhat it was, when, at the same moment, they recognized it as the prow ofa canoe, which was leaving the bank of shade and coming out upon themoonlit surface of the lake.
Neither spoke, and the next moment the whole boat became visible. In thebow burned a torch, and well back toward the stern sat an Indian. Hefaced the boys, and as he swung his paddle, first on one side and thenon the other, he emitted the strange chanting sounds that had sostartled the lads when first heard by them.
The proceeding was so unusual that Wharton knew that it was produced bysome extraordinary cause. It suggested that the red man was mourning forsome of his friends who had perished and been buried in the lake. Theyouths had never heard an Indian "death song," and they knew, when awarrior chanted it, it was generally when his own death was at hand; butit would have been nothing remarkable had this Shawanoe sung it foranother.
But amid their affright one startling truth impressed itself upon theawed spectators: the strange Indian, in heading across the narrow spaceof water, was placing himself in the control of the torrent which rushedbetween the rocks with prodigious impetuosity. In fact, it looked as ifit was his intention to shoot the rapids despite the peril involved.
"That ghost is going straight for the falls," said Larry, "and whin hereaches them he'll glide over the same without wetting a hair of hishead."
But now took place a thing worth travelling many a mile to see. Neverdid the youths witness such marvellous skill in managing a canoe as thisstrange Indian displayed. Combined with that was a strength andquickness no less wonderful.
The frail boat was already moving with the sweep of waters which only afew rods away shot between the rocks, when the slowly swaying paddle wasdipped deep into the water, and changed from side to side in bewilderingrapidity. The sensitive craft responded so promptly that the prow turnedoutward again, and headed toward a point considerably above thespectators.
It was amazing work, but neither of the spectators believed he couldsucceed until he did so. It was like a man paddling from the centre of avast whirlpool. That which seemed impossible was accomplished before thestruggle seemed fairly begun.
From the mouth of the canyon itself the warrior forced his canoe, untilthe youths saw that the danger was passed and he was gaining on thetremendous torrent. Having crossed the middle portion, he now headedtoward the other extremity of the lake, and thus fought his way directlyagainst the swift current.
Had this task been given to either Wharton or Larry, they could not havesucceeded, even with the most desperate exertion; but to the warrior itseemed only a pastime. With hardly half the exertion he had put forth afew minutes before, he moved against the rush with an even certaintythat ended all thought of danger.
"It beats all!" whispered Larry, amazed and delighted by theexhibition. "I never observed the like. Do you think he would take itkindly if I threw my cap in the air and gave him a hurrah?"
"I don't think he would be offended, but it is better to go down andshake him by the hand."
No earthly inducement could have led Larry to do this, and Wharton knewthat if he indulged in a hurrah he would instantly take to the woods. Hehadn't the remotest idea of doing either.
"Whist! do ye note what the spook is at?"
The other did observe that the prow of the canoe was turned sharply tothe left, and the question was hardly uttered when it touched the shorealmost at their feet.