"There was too good a chance to suit me. If that bullet had come an inch nearer I'd be dead by this time."
"But it didn't, and when you found he hadn't hit the mark, you told him where you was by runnin' away."
"I couldn't help it," Jim replied apologetically. "I don't reckon I was cut out for a detective, an' when folks begin shootin' right at me I'm bound to run."
"Have you been up to the camp?"
"Not much. I stayed right here in the boat to find out what was goin' on."
"Then there's no knowing but he has been ashore and set the men free."
"If that's so the sooner we get out of this place the better," and Jim would have headed the boat toward the outlet, but that Jet prevented him by pulling lustily on the other oar.
"Look here," the latter said, angrily, "if you act like this I'll dump you overboard, or shoot, whichever comes handiest. Now row for our camp, and do the best you know how, if you don't want to get into a pile of trouble with me."
Jim obeyed meekly, and a few moments later Jet was running at full speed toward the clump of cedars.
The encampment was, apparently, just as they had left it, and Jet gave vent to a sigh of relief as he ascertained that the prisoners were still bound securely.