A motion on the deck caught the attention of the boys, and Clay went out to find the pirate who had fallen at the second shot trying to crawl to the railing. The boy did not interfere. The wounded man reached the railing at last and threw himself into the river.
“I don’t believe he is strong enough to swim ashore,” Clay said, “but we’ll leave that part to him. If he lives, he’ll be hanged some day, so he may as well drown now. Any man who will resort to physical torture to extort money has no claims whatever on humanity.”
“Now,” Don observed, with a quiet smile, “suppose we go on up the river? You boys were having trouble enough with me before this pack of pirates took the notion to steal my money from you. It seems to me that the only safe place for us is up in the Grand Canyon! I move that we get under way to-night and keep going as long as the river will permit.”
“That’s good advice,” Clay replied. “We’ll get as far away from this country as possible before daylight! This thing is getting on my own nerves! I’ve been looking for a quiet week or two, but I haven’t found them.”
The boys lost no time in getting the motors started. Then followed beautiful days on the river. The boys fished and slept and held boxing tournaments with Teddy, and sailed on under the sun and under the stars until the banks grew higher, the mountains closer to the river, and they knew that they must begin to take great care in navigating, for the Colorado river is not noted for its peaceful disposition!
One night they drew into a little creek running into the Colorado from the California side and built a roaring fire on the shore.
“Across the river,” Case said, pointing, “are the Blue Ridge mountains, and the summits you see are Mount Perkins and Mount Davis. Ten or fifteen miles up the river is Black Canyon, and thirty miles above the entrance to the canyon is Fortification Rock! There the Colorado turns to the east. Here our wild sport begins.”
CHAPTER XV.—TEDDY MEETS A RELATIVE.
“And right here is where we back up!”
It was one day later, and the Rambler lay in what looked to be a great lock, with gates out of sight! There were high walls on either side, and just ahead the view was shut off by an abrupt bend in the rocky formation. The Colorado river was pouring like a Niagara over a ledge where the narrow canyon turned.