Part 71 (1/2)
”No: I was trying to ht, and we're going east”
”Of course it would zigzag and turn about,” said Mike wearily; ”but we're in deeper water here, for we don't see by plenty of big ones on the left The current runs close to theh it's ever so much wider now I believe I could alo; now I can only touch one side”
”It's more ripply, too, now, isn't it?”
”Ever so much: seeht specks sailing about so fast The top of the water was as ser”
”That's a sign we are near the sea, then,” said Mike, with more confidence in his tones
”Yes, and I don't like it,” said Vince thoughtfully
”Why?”
”Because I've been thinking that thereall about it, as they do, they'll be waiting at theall this time, and catch us after all”
”Oh, Cinder!” cried Mike passionately, ”don't say that: it would be too hard It may be too dark for them to see us if we lie close and don't make a sound And look,” he said joyfully: ”we really are close to the sea now, for we're going due south”
”Due south it is,” assented Vince, as if he were standing at a wheel steering ”Yes, I suppose you're right, for I can hear the sound of surf Listen”
”Yes, I can hear,” replied Mike; ”but it sounds smothered-like”
”Rocks between us, perhaps Now then: only whispers, etting away by telling them where we are I say!”
”Yes”
”If there was a boat anywhere near us, could you see it?”
Mike turned his eyes to right and left before answering:
”Sure I couldn't on that side, and I don't think I could on this”
”That's what I felt, and if we're lucky we'll escape theet the oars across and each take his place on the thwarts, ready to row hard if we are seen”
Each fro practice felt for the thole-pins and placed the up their oars, they laid the out on one side, blade on the other, and waited in silence, with the boat gliding on
At the end of about a quarter of an hour, during which minute by minute they had expected to be swept out into open water where the great Atlantic tide was rolling along by the solitary island, Mike whispered,--
”I say, the boat has turned quite rounddifferent?”
”No, because we can tell we are so forward and so north now”
”Yes, I knoe are,” said Vince; ”and I' to kno it is”
”Well, tell me It's so horrible to be puzzled like this”