“About five hundred yards.”
“How is it the oars go so quietly now?” whispered Jack.
“Muffled, and the men are just dipping them, so as to keep a fair way on.”
The next two or three minutes were passed in silence, Jack’s boat having once more dropped astern to the full length of the rope.
The lad had risen to stand up and watch the line of light extending from them right up to the source of the rays ahead, and from his position he could look right over the foremost boat.
“How deceptive it is!” he thought. “One can hardly tell how near we are, and—ah!—”
“What is it, boy?” whispered the doctor.
For answer Jack pointed right ahead to where something dark could be seen crossing the line of sight.
“One of the canoes,” said the doctor quickly. “We shall be right aboard her.”
He crept forward, but Jack forestalled him, and was hauling in the line till they wore close up.