o us, and we are not at war with the
Spanish," said Henry.

"They tried to hold Paul a prisoner, and they're not at war with us,"
rejoined Sol. "We've got a right to hit back. Besides, we're doin' it to
save a war, and we're only borrowin' their boat fur their own good."

The two, without further ado, made a circuit around the Spanish camp,
coming down on the northern side. There fortunately for them the trees and
bushes were thick to the water's edge, and the shore was very low. In
fact, the river, owing to the flood, overlapped the bushes.

They redoubled their caution, using every art and device of woodcraft to
approach without noise. They could see the flare of the camp fire beyond
the bushes, and now and then they caught sight of a sentinel's head. They
felt amply justified in this attempt, for Alvarez had not only held Paul a
prisoner, but was plotting with the Indian chiefs to slay all the white
people in Kentucky.

"Here are the boats," whispered Henry.

There they were, eight in number, large, strong boats, every one with
several pairs of oars, and tied with ropes to the bushes.

The eyes of Shif'less Sol watered as he gazed.

"They look pow'ful good to a lazy man," he said, "I could shorely sleep
mighty comf'table in one o' them while Jim Hart wuz pullin' at the oars."

"I think the small one at the end nearest to us would just suit our
party," said Henry; "although it has more, it could be handled easily with
a single pair of oars."

"Shorely!" said Shif'less Sol, "but how to git away with it is now the
question."

It was indeed a problem, vexing and likewise dangerous. A sentinel, musket
on shoulder, walked up and down in front of the Spanish navy, and he
seemed to be very wide awake. Moreover, two men slept in each boat.

"We must get that sentinel somehow," said Henry, "not to hurt him, but to
see that he doesn't talk for the next half hour or so."

"What's your idea?" asked the shiftless one.

Henry whispered to him rapidly and Sol grinned with satisfaction.

"Good enough," said the shiftless one. "It'll work," and he crept away
from Henry deep in the bushes a little west of the sentinel. A moment or
two later the Spaniard on watch was startled by a sharp, warning hiss
from the edge of the thicket. He knew very well what made it--a
rattlesnake, a thing that he loathed and feared. He certainly did not want
such a deadly reptile sliding through the grass on his feet, and, clubbing
his musket