“We shall be swept around the cape,” said Diego, after looking up once.
“How far off from land are we?” asked Juan, looking cautiously over the side.
“A hundred yards, I should say,” answered Diego. “Do you not think so?”
“Yes. What shall we do then?”
“We don’t know what there is the other side of the cape,” said Diego, in a whisper. “Would it not be best to swim ashore as soon as we find ourselves off the cliff, rather than take our chances by going farther?”
It was one of those questions difficult to answer; but as it had to be answered quickly, if at all, Juan took the view that Diego did, and they decided to swim for the cape.
“I think I can do it,” said Diego. “Can you?”
Juan answered that he thought he could, and so they waited anxiously for the moment to come, each thinking, but not saying, that the step might be a fatal one, and each determined to resist capture at any cost. They watched until the canoe had drifted past the point of rock that jutted from the promontory. Then Diego rose with the intention of plunging off, but sat down and whispered to Juan:
“We can’t be seen from the shore now. Let us paddle with our hands and get nearer in if we can.”