This last word seemed to instinctively affect one of the men, who, turning his eyes riverward, saw, or thought he saw, something dark moving along in the deep water beyond. Seized by a new fear, he raised himself and made a step toward shore.
Without a second’s hesitation Chap pointed his gun a few feet above the fellow’s head and fired; and at the instant of the report both heads disappeared beneath the surface of the water.
The sound of Chap’s voice, when he was haranguing the two men in the water, aroused the occupants of the other boat, and Phil, Phœnix, and Adam were soon popping up their heads to see what Chap was about.
“Hello!” cried Phœnix, “he is on a boat over there talking like wildfire.”
“I believe he is preaching to a pair of turtles!” cried Phil.
“Look here,” said Adam, with alarm in his countenance, “there’s something up. Slip on some clothes, and let’s get over there. That’s the Maggie, and he’s got them two fellers in the water.”
“What on earth does it mean?” asked Phil.
“Haven’t the least idea,” said Adam, “but we must——”
At this moment the report of Chap’s gun rung through the air, and Adam and the two boys, barefooted and partially dressed, did not wait for another instant, but sprang from the boat and ran for the scene of commotion.
The wind had gradually blown the Maggie landward, and she was now grounded in very shallow water.