In the darkness which followed the boys could feel the water rising in the boat. The current was pressing the craft down against the timber raft, and the creaking of the hull proclaimed a badly wrecked boat.
“Say,” Case called out, “one of you boys get out a light. We’ve got to make a jump right soon. This is some adventure! What?”
Jule reached for his electric, but Alex. caught his arm.
“There’s a light on the Missouri bank,” he said, “and it looks to me like the cabin windows of the Rambler were sending it out. Lay low in the dark and drift with the raft!”
[CHAPTER VIII—FACES AT THE WINDOW]
“Look here, Red,” the outlaw who had been called Sam said, addressing the giant, as the Rambler struck the half-submerged tree, “we’ve got up against something hard!”
“We never should have put out into the river!” retorted Red. “A few more bumps like that, and to the fishes we go! Get a pole out, and see if you can push away from that consarned tree. Then we’ll soon get to shore.”
Sam went into the cabin, where Clay sat, side by side with the bear cub, on a bunk.
“Where’s your river pole?” he demanded. “You must have something of the kind!”
“There’s one in hooks at the side of the cabin,” replied the boy. “If you’ll cut this cord I’ll help you get out of the current.”