And Joe, in desperation, literally forced his way through a mass of bushes, with Jack close at his heels.
Breathing hard, and bearing numerous scratches, as a result of their encounter with twigs, brambles and stickers, the two at length reached the shore, and saw, to their great satisfaction, that it extended on either hand in a clear stretch.
“And there’s the ‘Gray Gull,’” cried Jack. “Redfern has lighted the lanterns. Run like the dickens, Joe; and we may get there by the time the row starts.”
Both boys were good runners; and they dashed ahead pell-mell.
Soon they saw seven dusky figures emerge from the woods just ahead and make straight toward the house-boat. Colonel Ellison was now stalking pompously in the lead.
Another hard spurt; and Jack and Joe dashed up just as the Colonel’s stentorian voice rang out.
“Hey, you on board that scow, step outside! I have a few words to say to you.”
CHAPTER XIV
“THAT CHAFFER FELLOW”
“Ma foi, I hope that monsieur the Colonel finds that scamp,” murmured Pierre Dufour, for the tenth time. “It was for him that George run away; and for him that he insult me; and for him that he say ‘fired’—‘fired’ to me. Bah! And what does monsieur the Colonel say? He say, ‘Pierre, you have done well; I make you my compliments.’ A la bonne heure.”