"Down by the shore," Will answered, "hidden in the bushes."
"Then you have pulled us out of a tough scrape," said Vic's father. "Twice we have narrowly escaped capture, and we expected to be taken before daylight."
After the wreck of the schooner they and all the men had reached shore safely, and the men had gone on into the mountains. But the small boat was stove, and the two Americans were in a trap. They had found the cabin, and hidden there from the Spanish guard.
Vic leaned heavily upon her father when they started for the boat; and before they reached the shore he and Will were carrying her, for her strength was gone.
"No wonder she is used up," said Will, as the boat beat out to the eastward, tacking tediously toward the American coast; "no wonder, after all she has been through. But how she kept up till we found you! She is the bravest girl in Florida, Uncle David. Our coming after you was all her doing."
Whatever the others said about Will's share in the rescue, it was enough to warrant him in saying, as he does when the boys begin to talk about the Cuban war: "Yes, I've had a little hand in that thing myself. So has my Cousin Vic."