“Yes, sir; bound to take us if they can,” assented the sailor.
“How long do you think it will be before it is dark?” asked Murray.
“Not half-an-hour, sir,” was the reply.
“And how far are we above the landing-place?” said the middy, speaking in a low tone now and turning to the first boat-keeper.
“Can’t say, sir, for sartain,” replied the man. “What do you say, Harry Lang?”
The man shook his head.
“You see, sir, we put our backs into it when we started to row, and pulled and pulled, thinking of nothing else but getting as far up’ards as we could. Hour’s hard rowing, I should say, in and out, and we got a long ways before we come upon Bill Titely.”
“Then we’ll begin moving as soon as it is quite dark, my lads,” said Murray. “Till then, a careful watch and silence, for there is no knowing whether the enemy may not have a way through the cane brake which will enable them to come upon us by surprise.”