The rowboat was without oars, so he had to let the craft take its own course to a large degree. He did find a small board in the bottom of the boat, and with this as a paddle succeeded in heading more toward the shore than before.
The craft had passed a point where there were a number of small lights as if belonging to some village or camp, and was now drifting along a portion of the stream where all was dark.
“I’ve got to make a landing sooner or later,” he reasoned; “and I might as well turn in here as anywhere. If I see anything to alarm me, I can slip overboard and swim for it.”
In utter silence he turned the boat toward the shore, and presently the current brought it close alongside a number of bushes which overhung the river bank. Dave caught hold of these bushes, and then by peering around in the semi-darkness at last made out a little opening in the bank. Into this, by means of the heavy brushwood growing on all sides, he pulled the boat until it was almost entirely hidden from view.
By this time the sky had cleared more than ever, and all the stars were shining brightly. Growing accustomed to the semi-darkness beneath the bushes, Dave, after resting for a minute, arose cautiously and, standing on the middle seat of the rowboat, peered around him.
All that he could see was the river with the bank fringed with brushwood backed up by a small forest. In the distance he thought he could discern the outlines of a number of stone buildings, but of this he was not certain. Looking out on the stream, he could see nothing in the shape of a boat.
“It doesn’t look to me as if there were any guards around here,” he told himself. “But those soldiers must have been bound for some camp, so I’ll have to be very careful about showing myself or making any noise.”
Having completed the survey, Dave sat down on the seat of the boat and gave himself up to his meditations. He also wrung some of the water from his clothing and took off his shoes to empty them.
In the bottom of the boat still lay the two rifles, and both were loaded, as he noted with satisfaction. He resolved, if it became necessary to do so, to use the rifles and sell his life as dearly as possible.
A long-drawn hour went by, and during that time Dave made himself as comfortable as possible in the rowboat. This, of course, was not saying much, for the boat was bare of anything in the way of blankets or cushions. He tried to sleep, but succeeded only in getting a few fitful naps, awakening from each with a violent start.