“But we did not; which is generally the difference between us. They might have run into us before. I should have seen them.”
“Just let your ears drop under water, and tell me whether you can hear anything,” said the hunter.
Stoddard Smith did as was requested, and detected faintly but distinctly the dip of a paddle. He spoke in considerable excitement,
“They’re coming back again.”
“Not quite, I guess; it is the same ones going away.”
“God grant they may remain away,” exclaimed McGowan, in an under tone, “They have caused us enough agony already.”
At this juncture the hunter admonished silence, and for some time nothing more was said. Soon, however, young Smith observed Joe struggling as though he were endeavoring to change the position of the raft.
“Make for the Kentucky shore,” he whispered. “It is time we began to hunt the land.”
“Do you want to go in at any particular spot?”
“No; you need not work very hard. Shove the thing gently and we’ll land soon enough.”