The sleepless cur who yelped ashore
speedily subsided, but it appeared to be an age before Suarez moved
again. He knew, better than his companions, how ready the Indians were
to note such sentinel challenges. Had the alarm continued, the whole
village would have been aroused, and, if the attack on the canoes were
suspected, the water would swarm with vengeful savages.
Elsie found the painter of the life-boat coiled in its proper place.
Soon she experienced a steady pull on the rope. Her little fleet was
in motion. Gray began to help in the paddling. Ere long they came
under the influence of the tide, and she heard the ripple of the water
against the planks of the boat. Then Suarez called a halt and a parley.
It would be far better, he advised, to use the oars in the heavy boat
than attempt to tow it across the strong current from a canoe. They
would gain time and be safer. So they climbed into the life-boat, but
continued to tow the canoes.
And now they saw the mast-head light of the _Kansas_. Boyle had also
caused the side lights to be slung to davits, and the white, red, and
green lamps made a triangle in the obscurity, though its base seemed to
be strangely near sea level.
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