"
Paul again steered, Henry sat, rifle in hand, and the others rowed. They
took a diagonal course across the stream once more, but this time toward
the eastern shore. They advanced slowly, hugging the dark. Fortunately
there was no moon and the dusk came close up to the boat.
"That's a right noisy fight," said Shif'less Sol, looking toward the
south, where pink and red spots of flame still appeared in the dark and
the rattling fire of rifle and musket grew louder.
"More noise than anything else," said Tom Ross, "but it keeps 'em pow'ful
busy an' that's a good thing fur us."
They were now near the flooded forest on the eastern shore, and they moved
slowly along in its shadow, still watching the distant battle. It
lightened a little, the rim of a moon came out, and they saw toward the
western bank the dark silhouettes of canoes moving back and forth on the
water. Flashes came from the canoes and returning flashes came from the
bank.
"Go it, Spaniard, go it, Injun, go it, one, go it, tother," muttered
Shif'less Sol again.
"The Galleon" slowly passed by in the darkness. The pink and red dots went
out and the sound of the rifle fire died behind hem. They could neither
see nor hear anything more of the battle, and all were of the opinion that
it would soon cease by a sort of mutual agreement of the contestants.
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