however, that a number of heavily armed men must be scrutinizing their
actions from the roll; for that strong white glow was kept closely
focused on the boat all the time they proceeded to drag in the anchor,
and start working the push poles, with which the little hunting cabin
launch was well provided.

The water in the harbor they had found was of considerable depth, but
fortunately the poles were long as well as stout, and presently the boat
began to move slowly in response to the energetic efforts which Thad and
Giraffe put forth.

Bumpus had assisted to pull in the anchor, and was now squatted like a
big frog near the bow. He knew full well that his position was very
much exposed, and that in case the unseen enemy chose to actually open
fire upon the boat, he would likely be the first to suffer; but in spite
of this Bumpus refused to budge. He had gotten over his first qualms of
fear, and feeling ashamed of allowing himself to give way to such a
sensation, and he a scout in the bargain, the boy was now going to the
other extreme, and growing actually reckless.

It made him think of the time some of his mates had declared they had
seen a real boni-fide ghost in the town graveyard, and dared Bumpus to
lead the way in there, late at night, when they were passing. He had
felt his teeth rattle together, just as they had been doing now; but
summoning all his courage to the fore he had grimly said: "who's
afraid?" and trembling like a leaf shaken in the wind, he had stalked
into the cemetery, much to the admiration of his chums, who had expected
the fat boy to back down abjectly.

The boat approached the shore slowly.