with such emphasis that the side of the canoe gave way, and he
continued the act on dry land, being stopped by a small sapling in
his path.

Otto whirled over on his face, and scrambling to his feet, stared
around to learn the extent of the calamity. He gathered up his gun
and hat, and then, stooping, passed his hands over the bark and
attentively examined it.

"I dinks it ish split a good deal mit my head," he remarked, with a
grave countenance.

Meanwhile, Jack Carleton had regained his upright position and
shaken himself together. When he saw Otto in an inverted position,
he broke into hearty laughter, hastened, no doubt, by the fact that
Deerfoot was shaking from head to foot with mirth. His black eyes
glistened with tears, caused by his amusement over the performance
of the German. He was laughing all over, though he gave out not the
slightest sound.

As for Jack Carleton, he chuckled and gurgled with a noise like that
of water running out of a bottle, while the main victim of all this
merriment was as solemn as an owl. After rubbing and adjusting
himself, as may be said, he turned slowly about and gazed inquiringly
at his friends in the boat, as if puzzled to understand the cause of
their emotions.

"Vot ish dot you seem to laugh mit?" he demanded, in an injured
voice; "I see nodings."