Part 52 (1/2)
”Hoo--ray!” whispered Je sensation
”Open your knife, Jeht, my lad; I'ht Je the deck, each feeling so firm planks for the treacherous sea, infested as they kneas by horrible creatures which could tear them limb from limb
Jem had heard a sound at the sa that he should listen
For fro the shore there was a faint splash, and, as they strained their eyes in the direction froht, which they kneere caused by paddles
”It's them, Jem,” whispered Don, excitedly ”We must not start yet till the canoe is close up I wish I had told hiht, my lad,” said Jem huskily ”Give 'em time Think the watch 'll see 'em?”
”I hope not,” panted Don, as he strained his eyes in the direction of the faintly flashi+ng paddles, which seemed to be moved very cautiously
”Think it is theht it be a war canoe co to try and capture the shi+p?”
”Not it,” said Je to help us away My, Mas' Don, how I should like to chop him under the chin next time he does that pretty trick of his”
”Silence, et close to the rope first”
They crept softly toward the rope hanging down from the main chains, ready to their hand, and, as they crept, the dark figure that had see over their movements crept too, but on toward the quarter-deck, where the captain and the first lieutenant were lolling over the rail, and talking gently as they smoked--rather a rare custom in those days
”It's the canoe, Je closer”
They strained their eyes to try and , low vessel, but it was too dark They could not even hear the plash of a paddle, but they knew that so toward the shi+p, for the flashi+ng of the paddles in the phosphorescent water grew more plain
”Ready, Jem?”
”Yes, I'm ready, lad Rope's just where you stand”
”What!” cried the captain's voice loudly, and then there was a quick
”What's that mean, Mas' Don?”
”Don't know Some order”
”Boat ahoy!” cried one of the watch forward, and there was a buzz of excite of the canoe had been seen
”Watch there forward!” roared the captain
”Ay, ay, sir,” came back
”Follow me, Jem; we must swim to her now”
”I'm after you, my lad”