s of the Indians were
seen again at the edge of the far forest. The last time they saw them they
were so far down that they were almost opposite the point where the
Spaniards lay, which indicated two things to them, first the certainty
that Alvarez had not moved, and second that "The Galleon" and her crew
were absolutely safe for the time being, where they lay.

"I suppose that Alvarez is in no hurry and decided to take a day of rest,"
said Henry.

They finished their own labors late in the afternoon and contemplated the
mast and sail with pride.

"Now that it's done, I'm glad that it hez been done," said Shif'less Sol.
"It'll save me a lot o' work hereafter. It would be jest like you fellers
to make me git callous spots all over the inside o' my hands, when the
hide on Jim Hart's is already so thick it wouldn't hurt him to do all his
rowin' an' mine, too."

"I jest love to see you work, Sol," said Long Jim Hart. "I can't enjoy my
rest real good, 'less at the same time I'm layin' on my back watchin' you
heavin' away."

Nevertheless, all took a long rest though maintaining a vigilant watch,
and, with pleasure, they saw a dark night come on. When the twilight was
completely gone they steered once more for the main stream, not using
their sail yet, because of the boughs and bushes.

"We've got to keep in the edge of the forest," whispered Henry, and in
that manner they crept cautiously southward. After a while they stopped
suddenly and all exclaimed together. They distinctly heard the sound of
rifle shots straight toward the south and perhaps a mile away.

"The savages hev attacked," said Shif'less Sol in a whisper. "Go it,
Spaniard, go it, Injun, one may lick and tother may lick, but whether one
may lick tother or tother lick which. I don't care."

They pulled a little nearer to the last line of trees in the water and
there off to the south they saw the little pinkish dots that marked the
rifle and musket fire. It was too far away for them to see anything else,
but they heard distinctly the intermittent crackle of the shots.

"Neither will win," said Henry. "The Spaniards are too strong to be
defeated, but they won't venture the unknown terrors of the river at
night. The Indians, who are in their canoes, will draw off when they find
they are not doing much harm."

"Wish we could put up that sail," said Shif'less Sol, who was still at the
oars. "I'm shore gittin' a callous lump in the pa'm o' my hand."

"It wo