"My brother uses no comb at all," suggested Deerfoot, in a solemn
voice, from the rear of the boat, which was speeding like an arrow
over the water.

"Now you have struck the truth," laughed Jack.

Otto rose to a stooping position, steadying himself as best he
could, and extended his hand to shake that of the Shawanoe, as proof
that he indorsed his remark. He placed a hand on the shoulder of
the Kentuckian to steady himself, for he knew that it is a difficult
matter for one to keep his balance in such a delicate structure as
an Indian canoe.

"Deerfoot ish not such a pig fool as he don't look to be, somedimes
I dinks he knows more nodins dan nopody; den van he h'ists sail in
his canoe and sails off mitout saying nodings to nopody, den I don't
dinks."

Otto Relstaub had reached that point in his remark, when the bow of
the canoe arrived in Louisiana. It struck the shore with a violence
that started the seams through the entire structure. The author of
all this of course kept his seat, for he had braced himself for the
shook. At the same time he caught the shoulder of Jack Carleton, as
if to hold him quiet, but it was all pretense on his part. There
was no "grip" to his fingers, and Jack immediately plunged forward,
his head bumping the bottom of the boat with a crash.

As for Otto Relstaub, the consequences took away his breath. As he
was trying to stand on his feet, he had a great deal more of falling
to do it than his friend. He did it most thoroughly, sitting down