Three lay floating on the water after the shot, and when they took them in
Long Jim Hart, a master on all such subjects, pronounced them to be of a
highly edible variety.
Paul, meanwhile, took out one of the small swords and examined it
critically.
"It is certainly a fine one," he said, "I suppose it's what they call a
Toledo blade in Spain, the finest that they make."
"Could you do much with it, Paul?" asked Shif'less Sol.
"I could," replied Paul confidently. "Mr. Pennypacker served in the great
French war. He was at the taking of Quebec, and he learned the use of the
sword from good masters. He's taught me all the tricks."
"Maybe, then," said Sol laughing, "you'll have to fight Alvarez with one
o' them stickers. Ef sech a combat is on it'll fall to you, Paul. The rest
of us are handier with rifle an' knife."
"It's never likely to happen," said Paul.
The morning passed peacefully on, and the glory of the heavens was
undimmed. The river was a vast, murmuring stream, and the five voyagers
felt that, for the present, their task was an easy one. A single man at
the oars was sufficient to keep the boat moving as fast as they wished,
and the rest occupied themselves with details that might provide for a
future need.
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