our boatmen heaved with their
paddles and encouraged each other with shrill cries, in a solid line
down swept the first sheet of rain.

In an instant Charley was drenched to the skin. So were the other
passengers, and the stinging drops lashed the bare bodies of the
paddlers. The water swiftly gathered in the boat, so that Mr. Grigsby
and the captain began to bail with gourds kept handy for the purpose.
But, hurrah! There, on the near shore ahead, was another little
village, Pena Blanca, its low huts showing dimly through the spume of
the storm. Straight for it made the canoe--hit the sloping bank, and
stuck while out stumbled the passengers, the captain shouldering his
partner.

Francisco ran ahead, to show the way; and calling, dived in through the
doorway of a hut larger than its neighbors. Charley followed, and in
they all scurried. The other boatmen had stayed behind to spread
rubber blankets over the baggage.

IX

TIT FOR TAT

Francisco spoke to the family in the hut, and rising, one of them
lighted a candle. It was a two-story hut, and quarters were engaged in
the up-stairs room for the three in Charley's party; while Captain
Crosby and the sick man were given a place on the ground-floor.

The up-stairs was entered by a ladder. There was nothing better to be
done than to sleep in wet clothes; and Charley, on his grass mat, was
just beginning to be drowsy and fairly comfortable, and barely heard
his father say to Mr. Grigsby: "We ought to pull out at daybreak, but
that depends on what we can do for the captain," when the captain
himself came poking up through the hole in the floor.

"Hello!" he said. "It's Crosby. Are you awake?"

"Yes, sir. What's wanted?"

"Nothing, thank you. I suppose you'd like to get away early."

"As early as possible, captain. But we're at your service."

"Your time is valuable now, gentlemen. Mine isn't. If you're going to
catch the _California_, you haven't a moment to waste."

"We'll miss the _California_, rather than leave you in the lurch."

"You'll not miss her, if you make an early start and go right on
through. I told you you wouldn't lose by your kindness to my mate and
me, and you won't. I stay here; you go on whenever you choose."

"No, sir," said Mr. Adams. "If we can help you any we'll stay by you."

"I stop here," announced the captain. "As for my mate, he stops, too.
He'll never travel again. Tomorrow I bury him. He's gone, making