“Don’t any of you wish to go on shore?” he inquired.
“Not yet,” replied Sanford. “If you wish to take a walk, I will push off from the shore, and wait till you return,” said Sanford, very respectfully.
“What’s up? You won’t go on shore, and you wish me to do so!” exclaimed the suspicious officer.
“Nothing, sir,” protested Sanford. “We don’t intend to run away. We think that is played out.”
“If you wanted to do so in this desolate country, I would let you do it, if I were the principal. But you are up to some trick, I know.”
“What trick, sir?” demanded the coxswain, innocently.
“I don’t know, but it is your next move,” replied De Forrest, as he seated himself, and seemed confident of his ability to check any mischief which might be in the minds of his crew. “Shove off, bowman! Up oars! Let fall! Give way together!”
The oarsmen, rather vexed at the turn of events, obeyed the several orders, and the boat was again cutting the still waters of the fjord. All around them were rocks, with several large and small islands in sight. In various places on the rocks were affixed iron rings, to which vessels could make fast in warping out of the bay when the wind was light or foul. A portion of the rock to which they were attached was whitewashed, so that the rings could easily be found, even in the night. To one of these rings, on a small island near Odderö, which commanded a full view of the landing-place, De Forrest directed the coxswain to steer the boat.
“Make fast to that ring,” said the officer.