“I know of a road,” the girl returned breathlessly, “but it is across the river, and is very narrow and uneven.”
Phil gazed frantically at the swift current as it appeared intermittently through vistas in the trees while they sped along. Once across undiscovered they would be safe.
“But Juan, he cannot swim; he will be afraid,” he cried hoarsely.
“Never fear for him. It was necessary Colonel Salas should think so in order to persuade him to sit in front of you. He fell into my trap very obligingly,” she returned, a half smile curving the corners of her mouth.
“The river then is our only chance,” Phil declared decidedly. “It will be death for us all to attempt to pass the two armed outlaws.”
“These horses are all good swimmers,” Maria answered hurriedly. “Just hold on to the saddle and give them their heads. I know where we can land, so follow me. Look out for Juan,” she ended in sisterly fear.
As Maria, followed by the midshipmen and Juan, forced her horse to enter the forbidding river, a fusillade of rifle-shots sounded from a point in the river some thousand yards above them, and the smack of bullets struck the water close to the horses’ forefeet. A new danger now confronted the fugitives. Those above them had discovered their intention to cross the river. Fortunately as yet they were beyond the effective range of rifles, but if the two men at the ranch should discover the move they were making to put the river between them and their enemies, they could quickly cross in their canoe and locate themselves in the path of escape.
The horses drew back at first, erecting their ears and neighing timidly, doubtless scenting the huge crocodiles hidden in the rank growth upon the banks.
Phil heaved a relieved sigh as he saw Maria’s horse emerge from the water on the far side, and scramble up the steep bank, the dripping girl clutching securely the saddle.
Little Juan behaved like a veteran, guiding his horse with a gentle hand across the current until the animal’s feet took the bottom on the other side and when the horse’s back emerged, he was sitting again securely in the saddle.