"Keep still," whispered Frank. "Let"s hear what is said."
The man with the girl laughed defiantly, retorting:
"You talk big, Gage, but it won"t work with me. I hold the best hand just at present, and you"ll have to come to terms. Keep back!"
"You don"t dare shoot," returned the young desperado, as he took still another step toward the sailor.
In a moment the man placed the muzzle of the revolver against the temple of the helpless girl, fiercely declaring:
"If you come another inch, I"ll blow her brains out!"
"The dastard!" grated Frank. "Oh, the wretch! Wait. I will fix him, or my name is not Merriwell!"
He drew an arrow from the quiver, and fitted the notch to the bow-string. His nerves were steady, and he was determined. He waited till the man had removed the muzzle of the weapon from the girl"s temple, and then he lifted the bow.
Barney and the professor caught their breath. They longed to check Frank, but dared not speak for fear of causing him to waver and send the arrow at the girl.
The bow was bent, the line was taut, the arrow was drawn to the head, and then----
Tw.a.n.g! The arrow sped through the air, but it was too dark for them to follow its flight with their eyes. With their hearts in their mouths, they awaited the result.
Of a sudden, the ruffian uttered a cry of pain, released his hold on the girl, and fell heavily to the ground.
The firelight showed the arrow sticking in his shoulder.
"Ugh!" grunted a voice close beside the canoe. "Very good shot for a white boy. Not many could do that."
The trio turned in amazement and alarm, and, within three feet of them, they saw a shadowy canoe that contained a shadowy figure. There was but one person in the strange canoe, and he immediately added:
"There is no need to fear Socato, the Seminole, for he will not harm you. He is the friend of all good white men."
It was an Indian, a Seminole, belonging to the remnant of the once great nation that peopled the Florida peninsula. Frank realized this in a moment, and, knowing the Seminoles were harmless when well treated, felt no further alarm.
The Indian had paddled with the utmost silence to their side, while they were watching what was taking place on sh.o.r.e.
The arrow had produced consternation in the camp. The fellow who was wounded tried to draw it from his shoulder, groaning:
"This is not a fair deal! Give me a fair show, and I"ll fight you all!"
"Where did it come from?" asked Gage, in dismay.
The two canoes were beyond the circle of firelight, so they could not be seen from the sh.o.r.e.
Gage"s two companions were overcome with terror.
"This swamp is full of Indians!" one of them cried. "We"ve been attacked by a band of savages!"
Gage spoke a few words in a low tone, and then sprang over the prostrate form of the man who had been stricken down by the arrow, grasped the girl, and retreated into the darkness. His companions also scudded swiftly beyond the firelight, leaving Captain Bellwood still bound to the tree, while one man lay dead on the ground, and another had an arrow in his shoulder.
Close to Frank"s ear the voice of Socato the Seminole sounded:
"Light bother them. They git in the dark and see us from the sh.o.r.e. Then they shoot this way some."
"Jupiter and Mars!" gasped Professor Scotch, "I don"t care to stay here, and have them shoot at me!"
"White boys want to save girl?" asked Socato, swiftly. "They pay to get her free? What say?"
"Of course we will pay," hastily answered Frank. "Can you aid us in saving her? If you can, you shall be----"
"Socato save her. White man and two boys go back to cabin of Great White Phantom. Stay there, and Socato come with the girl."
"Begorra! Oi don"t loike thot," declared Barney. "Oi"d loike to take a hand in th" rescue mesilf."
"Socato can do better alone," a.s.serted the Seminole. "Trust me."
But Frank was not inclined to desert Elsie Bellwood in her hour of trouble, and he said:
"Socato, you must take me with you. Professor, you and Barney go back to the hut, and stay there till we come."
The Indian hesitated, and then said:
"If white boy can shoot so well with the bow and arrow, he may not be in the way. I will take him, if he can step from one canoe to the other without upsetting either."
"That"s easy," said Frank, as he deliberately and safely accomplished the feat.
CHAPTER x.x.xI.
YOUNG IN YEARS ONLY.
"Well done, white boy," complimented the strange Indian.
"Pa.s.s me one of those rifles," requested Frank.
"White boy better leave rifle; take bow and arrows," advised Socato.
"Rifle make noise; bow and arrow make no noise."
"All right; what you say goes. Return to the hut, Barney, and stay there till we show up."
"But th" spook----"
"Hang the spook! We"ll know where to find you, if you go there."
"The Great White Phantom will not harm those who offer him no harm,"
declared the Indian.