Maria took her place in the bow while the others distributed themselves evenly upon the frail low seats, grasping their paddles ready to balance the boat when it was cast adrift in the swift current.
Salas stood undecided upon the bank; his men had gone over the trail leading through the almost impenetrable jungle between them and the high palisade upon which was the outlaw’s stronghold.
“Leave the horses here,” he said finally to his two men, “and go back to the palm grove and bring up one of the canoes we left there this morning.”
Phil from his seat in the stern of the banka caught a significant look flung to him out of the eyes of the girl who was seated in the bow, her head bent gracefully backward regarding the Filipino leader. In the rear of Maria was little Juan, his small hands grasping a paddle, much too large for his strength.
“Give the señor your paddle, Juan,” the girl ordered, then turning to Salas she added persuasively, “Sit behind Juan, señor. I’m afraid he might fall overboard and I don’t know what my father would do if anything should happen to him.”
The outlaw smiled and took the empty seat, taking from the boy’s unwilling hands the large paddle.
“Bueno,” he exclaimed, while the two men released the boat, pushing it gently away out into the stream.
Under the strong strokes of four paddles, for the midshipmen were both expert, having owned canoes at the Naval Academy, the native boat swept swiftly through the water. To avoid the strength of the current the canoe was steered close in to the steep bank under the protecting shade of the overhanging trees. Great crocodiles basking on the muddy banks were passed, the animals slinking away as the boat approached, their long tails lashing furiously in their haste. Monkeys filled the trees, whistling and jabbering fearlessly as the boat passed under them.
While Phil exerted himself manfully at his paddle, his thoughts busily sought a plan to escape the enforced hospitality of Salas. A great fear filled his mind as he dwelt upon the horrors of imprisonment among these lawless men. To Sydney and him it would eventually mean death, and to Maria and her little brother a long and dangerous imprisonment and harsh treatment. But why had not Salas made them prisoners at once if he suspected their real identity? Phil did not guess that the outlaw had read defiance and action in the midshipmen’s eyes, and alert as the outlaw’s faculties had become to scent danger even though carefully concealed, he had detected the stealthy motion of Phil’s hand when he had been confronted by his men. Salas was not a coward, but he had realized instantly that if he ordered his men to open fire, unless the first shots killed the Americans, he himself would fall the victim of their vengeance. So he was biding the time when he would have them safe without danger to himself.
The boat had now covered nearly half the distance. Phil wondered what he could do. The slight figure of the outlaw, seated upon the low thwart just in front of him, was so temptingly close and apparently so unconscious of any threatening danger. The native’s revolver lay in its holster just within reach of the lad’s hand, the flap securely buttoned upon its polished handle. Phil realized that when Salas expected treachery his first act would be to capsize the canoe. Being a strong swimmer the native doubtless believed he could reach the bank first and have at his mercy those still struggling in the water. To attempt to unbutton the flap of the holster and take the revolver without the owner’s knowledge was impossible. Phil needed both of his hands to wield the heavy paddle and if he stopped paddling Salas would at once suspect treachery. His heart rose in his throat and his pulses throbbed painfully as a bold plan flashed suddenly into his thoughts. It seemed the one chance of escape. At the rate the boat was going it would soon be at the foot of the trail to the stronghold where Salas’ men would be waiting in force to escort them up the steep incline to the top of the mountain. A huge crocodile lay asleep about a hundred yards ahead and this sight had awakened the plan to action in Phil’s mind.