"Suarez says," he whispered, "that you are to be ready with your tow
ropes. As he secures each canoe he will pass it along to me. You will
be able to see its outlines by the dim glimmer of the fire. But how
will you manage about the dog? He may cause an alarm."
Much to Joey's disgust, he was forthwith muzzled with a piece of rope,
not that this device would stop him effectually from barking, but Elsie
thought he would so resent the indignity that he might pay less heed to
outer circumstances. She needed no warning that Indians were near.
The Argentine miner's description of the community which dwelt on Otter
Creek made her understand that there were hundreds within hail.
A great joy leaped up in her when the first canoe came under her hand.
It was quite easy to manipulate the painter-rope. The stem had a
notched knob provided for this very purpose, and there was a stern-post
against which a steersman might press a paddle and thus swerve the
canoe in any direction. But it was slow work. The craft were moored
without any semblance of order, yet Suarez was forced to secure them in
a definite sequence, or a string of half-a-dozen would become
unmanageable.
When the second canoe was made fast Gray bent towards the girl once
more.
"I have been listening to the tick of my watch," he breathed against
her ear. "I reckon it has taken ten minutes to collect two dug-outs.
Unless we mean to remain all night we must let up on the cutting adrift
proposition."
"I agree," she murmured. "But we must have two more."
He told Suarez of the new development, which was essential, though it
added to the danger of the enterprise. By sheer good fortune, however,
they blundered against the life-boat. A dog barked, and Elsie had a
thrilling struggle with Joey, who was furious that this unlooked-for
insolence should go unanswered. The sleepless cur who yelped ashore
speedily subsided, but it appeared to be an age before Suarez moved
again. He knew, better than his companions, how ready the Indians were
to note such sentinel challenges. Had the alarm continued, the whole
village would have been aroused, and, if the attack on the canoes were
suspected, the water would swarm with vengeful savages.
Elsie found the painter of the life-boat coiled in its proper place.
Soon she experienced a steady pull on the rope. Her little fleet was
in motion. Gray began to help in the paddling. Ere long they came
under the influence of the tide, and she heard the ripple of the water
against the planks of the boat. Then Suarez called a halt and a parley.
It would be far better, he advised, to use the oars in the heavy boat
than attempt to tow it across the strong current from a canoe. They
would gain time and be safer. So they climbed into the life-boat, but
continued to tow the canoes.