Inwood right speedily appreciated the delicately dangerous position in which he was placed. One of the raftmen, as he drove his pole down into the water, just missed driving it into his crown, but he was an excellent swimmer, and he relied upon his skill in the perilous feature which this adventure was putting on.
“The old thing moves rather heavy!” finally remarked one of the men, in a gruff voice.
“Yes,” was the response, “it acts as if the logs were becoming water-soaked. I’ve noticed for the last day or two that it seems to have sunk a few inches.”
“I s’pose maybe it’s carrying a pretty good load.”
This remark seemed to contain some hidden meaning which pleased the fancy of the others, for they all indulged in a quiet laugh.
These words, as a matter of course, were overheard by Inwood, who was puzzled more and more to understand their meaning; but the men did not seem to take up a train of remarks calculated to enlighten him. They plied the unwieldy craft for a few minutes longer in silence, and then, as one paused to rest a moment, he spoke in this manner to him who was standing nearest:
“Too bad that a parcel should come down on us at this time.”
“Yes; and I’m afraid they’re going to stay.”
“We gave the darkey a good enough fright to keep him away, but that man doesn’t look as if he could be frightened by any such thing.”