on the left. The current
runs close to them, I'm sure, though it's ever so much wider now. I
believe I could almost have touched either side with the boat-hook a bit
ago; now I can only touch one side."

"It's more ripply, too, now, isn't it?"

"Ever so much: seems to boil up all about us, and you can't see the
bright specks sailing about so fast. The top of the water was as smooth
as glass when we were in the great lugger."

"That's a sign we are near the sea, then," said Mike, with more
confidence in his tones.

"Yes, and I don't like it," said Vince thoughtfully.

"Why?"

"Because I've been thinking that there must be another way out; and
knowing all about it, as they do, they'll be waiting at the mouth of
this horrible zigzag place along which we're dodging all this time, and
catch us after all."

"Oh, Cinder!" cried Mike passionately, "don't say that: it would be too
hard. It may be too dark for them to see us if we lie close and don't
make a sound. And look," he said joyfully: "we really are close to the
sea now, for we're going due south."

"Due south it is," assented Vince, as if he were standing at a wheel
steering. "Yes, I suppose you're right, for I can hear the sound of
surf. Listen."

"Yes, I can hear," replied Mike; "but it sounds smothered-like."

"Rocks between us, perhaps. Now then: only whispers, mind!--close to
the ear. Don't let's lose our chance of getting away by telling them
where we are. I say!"

"Yes."

"If there was a boat anywhere near us, could you see it?"

Mike turned his eyes to right and left before answering:

"Sure I couldn't on that side, and I don't think I could on this."

"That's what I felt, and if we're lucky we'll escape them after all.
Now then, silence, and let's get the oars across and each take his place
on the thwarts, ready to row hard if we are seen."

Each from long practice felt for the thole-pins and placed them in their
proper holes; then, softly taking up their oars, they laid them right
across the boat, with handle standing out on one side, blade on the
other, and waited in silence, with the boat gliding on.

At the end of about a quarter of an hour, during which minute by minute
they had expected to be swept out into open water where the great
Atlantic tide was rolling along by the solitary island, Mike
whispered,--

"I say, the boat has turned quite round more than once. Doesn't that
account for the stars seeming different?"

"