water_
weak to hold the gun steady.
It didn't matter. By now, the nearest Chickasaw canoe was within fifty yards. That was the one Sequoyah had targeted, not the one she'd shot at.
At that range, Tiana could hit practically anything, even with a smoothbore.
Two of the Chickasaws, she saw, had already fired their guns. One, a musket; the other—stupid fool!—a pistol. Vaguely, she could remember hearing the sounds of the gunshots.
That left one Chickasaw with a loaded gun, the man farthest to the rear. He was starting to bring his musket up.
Tiana blew him right out of the canoe. Ross's rifle was a heavy caliber, with a bore well over half an inch. The bullet must have struck the man in the middle of the chest. He almost did a full back somersault before his body hit the water.
Then Sequoyah's gun fired again. The Chickasaw with the pistol seemed to fold up and collapse into the canoe.
"Three down!" barked James. "Forget that one. We'll go around them, Ross. Start paddling."
A moment later, both canoes were driving through the water again. Not a moment too soon, either. Out of the corner of her eye, Tiana saw something flashing toward them.
Turning her head, she saw an arrow plunge into the river, not more than five yards away. A second later, another one did the same, even closer.
Looking up, she could see several Chickasaw warriors on the north bank of the river. They were armed with bows. The traditional weapons were too awkward to use well in a canoe, so they must have given their few guns to the men who'd be carrying the attack onto
It didn't matter. By now, the nearest Chickasaw canoe was within fifty yards. That was the one Sequoyah had targeted, not the one she'd shot at.
At that range, Tiana could hit practically anything, even with a smoothbore.
Two of the Chickasaws, she saw, had already fired their guns. One, a musket; the other—stupid fool!—a pistol. Vaguely, she could remember hearing the sounds of the gunshots.
That left one Chickasaw with a loaded gun, the man farthest to the rear. He was starting to bring his musket up.
Tiana blew him right out of the canoe. Ross's rifle was a heavy caliber, with a bore well over half an inch. The bullet must have struck the man in the middle of the chest. He almost did a full back somersault before his body hit the water.
Then Sequoyah's gun fired again. The Chickasaw with the pistol seemed to fold up and collapse into the canoe.
"Three down!" barked James. "Forget that one. We'll go around them, Ross. Start paddling."
A moment later, both canoes were driving through the water again. Not a moment too soon, either. Out of the corner of her eye, Tiana saw something flashing toward them.
Turning her head, she saw an arrow plunge into the river, not more than five yards away. A second later, another one did the same, even closer.
Looking up, she could see several Chickasaw warriors on the north bank of the river. They were armed with bows. The traditional weapons were too awkward to use well in a canoe, so they must have given their few guns to the men who'd be carrying the attack onto