"
Clark's boat rounded the shoal: next our turn came, and then the whole
line was gliding down the river, the rising roar of the angry waters with
which we were soon to grapple coming to us with an added grimness. And
now but a faint rim of light saved us from utter darkness. Big Bill
Cowan, undaunted in war, stared at me with fright written on his face.
"And what 'll ye think of it, Davy?" he said.
I glanced at the figure of our commander in the boat ahead, and took
courage.
"It's Hamilton's scalp hanging by a lock," I answered, pointing to what
was left of the sun. "Soon it will be off, and then we'll have light
again."
To my surprise he snatched me from the thwart and held me up with a
shout, and I saw Colonel Clark turn and look back.
"Davy says the Ha'r Buyer's sculp hangs by the lock, boys," he shouted,
pointing at the sun.
The word was cried from boat to boat, and we could see the men pointing
upwards and laughing. And then, as the light began to grow, we were in
the midst of the tumbling waters, the steersmen straining now right, now
left, to keep the prows in the smooth reaches between rock and bar. We
gained the still pools below, the sun came out once more and smiled on
the landscape, and the spirits of the men, reviving, burst all bounds.
Thus I earned my reputation as a prophet.
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