this was their first adventure, and it was apt to make a deep
impression on both lads.

A dozen pulls sufficed to bring the rope aboard and then the poles
were taken in hand with the idea of shoving off from the shore.

They had been careful not to let the boat ground, remembering
their experience of the previous night, so this part of the job
was not difficult at all.

Just as they began to move with the current they heard a loud yell
from the shore, and looking up saw one of their late visitors
standing there, surveying the vanishing shanty-boat with manifest
dismay and anger.

His shout was evidently understood by the others, for they could
be heard tearing along down the shale heading for the scene.

But our boys had now pushed the boat far enough out into the
stream to avoid any possibility of being boarded, no matter how
bold the desperadoes might be; and it gave them no concern that
the trio howled and swore and threatened all manner of things for
being deserted in this manner, just when they thought they had a
good soft snap for a breakfast, and perhaps fat pickings.

Thanks to the friendly current, the boys were quickly beyond
earshot of the loud-tongued and chagrined blacks on the shore.

"Ugh! that wasn't a pleasant experience, was it? Did you ever set
eyes on three more villainous mugs in all your life? Those