instantly in confusion. White laid down the musket and seized the oar
again.

"Now, Ned," he exclaimed, "if we pull as hard as we can and a little
harder, we'll lose them!"

The boat, driven by the oars and the wind, sprang forward. Fortune, as
if resolved now to favor fugitives who had made so brave a fight against
overwhelming odds, piled the clouds thicker and heavier than ever over
the bay. The little boat was completely concealed from its pursuers.
Another gun boomed from San Juan de Ulua, and both Ned and Obed saw its
flash on the parapet, but, hidden under the kindly veil of the night,
they pulled straight ahead with strong arms. The sea seemed to be
growing smoother, and soon they saw an outline which they knew to be
that of the land.

"We're below the town now," said Obed. "I don't know any particular
landing place, but it's low and sandy along here. So I propose that we
ride right in on the the highest wave, jump out of the boat when she
strikes and leave her."

"Good enough," said Ned. "Yes, that's the land. I can see it plainly
now, and here comes our wave."

The crest of the great wave lifted them up, and bore them swiftly
inland, the two increasing the speed with their oars. They went far up
on a sandy beach, where the boat struck. They sprang out, Obed taking
with him the unloaded musket, and ran. The retreating water caught them
about the ankles and pulled hard, but could not drag them back. They
passed beyond the highest mark of the waves, and then dropped,
exhausted, on the ground.

"We've got all Mexico now to escape in," said Obed White, "instead of
that pent-up castle."

The alarm gun boomed once more from San Juan de Ulua, and reminded them
that they could not linger long there. The rain was still falling, the
night was cold, and, after their tremendous strain, they would need
shelter as well as refuge.

"They'll be searching the beach soon," said Obed, "and we'd best be off.
It's against my inclination just now to stay long in one place. A
rolling stone keeps slick and well polished, and that's what I'm after."

"I think our safest course is to travel inland just as fast and as far
as we can," said Ned.

"Correct. Good advice needs no bush."

They started in the darkness across the sand dunes, and walked for a
long time. They knew that a careful search along the beach would be made
for them, but the Mexicans were likely to feel sure when they found
nothing that they had been wrecked