scoundrels are sure doomed to meet with a noose before they're
many months older, for if they haven't done murder up to now
they're going to before long. I'm glad we gave them the slip. It
was well done all around. Now to float on for an hour or so, and
then see if we have any luck finding an anchorage."

Maurice contented himself with these words, but Thad had to skip
around on the deck in his usual exuberant style before he could
settle down to taking his trick at the steering apparatus.

Thus the shanty-boat floated on through the darkness, and the
minutes slipped along until the hour set had been exhausted; then,
when they were thinking of coming to a halt, the lights of a town
appeared close by, and it became necessary to navigate with
caution lest they strike some obstruction in the shape of an
anchored boat or a dock where steamboats landed.

It was decided to drop down a little distance below the place and
tie up, for as some of their provision were already getting low,
it would be necessary to go ashore and lay in more bread at least.

When a jutting point shut out the last of the town lights, they
poled in closer to the shore, and began to cast about for some
friendly tree to which the hawser could be attached.

"There's a shanty-boat tied up yonder," whispered Thad, suddenly,
pointing to a place where the gleam of a light through a small
window could be seen.

"Let her float down a bit farther. We don't want too close