Page:Ballantyne--The Battery and the Boiler.djvu/194

 After long and earnest gazing, and much, whispered conversation—though there was no occasion for caution at such a distance from the land—they came to the conclusion that a vessel lay concealed just within the mouth of the creek towards which the wind was driving them, and that, as they apparently had not been discovered by those who owned the vessel, their wisest course would be to land, if possible without attracting attention, somewhat farther along the coast.

"But how is that to be done," asked Robin, "as we have neither oar nor rudder?"

"Nothing easier," returned Slagg, seizing the axe and wrenching up the plank that had prevented Stumps from finding a watery grave, "I 've on'y got to cut a handle at one end, an' we 've got a oar at once."

In a few minutes the handy youth converted the piece of plank into a rude oar, with which he steered the raft, so that it gradually drew to the southward of the creek where the strange vessel lay, and finally took the land in another inlet not far distant.

It was evident, from the silence around, that no one was stirring in the vessel, and that their approach had not been perceived. Congratulating themselves on this piece of good fortune, they lowered their sail, drew the raft under the bushes,