Maxwell's boat was beached, while that of Vernon proceeded up the river
to the little stream. The skill of his pilot, of whom Vernon had felt
many doubts, soon brought him to the creek. The current, he found, was
quite rapid, and he feared it would carry him into the midst of the
"enemy's camp" before Maxwell should have made his demonstration. As the
boat was whirled along towards the centre of the island, for the oars
could not be used, on account of their noise, his position seemed to
grow desperate. Vernon was on the point of risking the noise, and taking
to the oars, when he discovered an overhanging branch, which he seized
as the boat passed under it. Fortunately for him, a bend in the stream
turned the current from the middle of the creek, or its violence would
have drawn him into the water. By the aid of his companions, he
succeeded in making the boat fast to the branch. He listened; but all
was still. There were no indications of the approach of the other party.
Seating himself in the stern-sheets of the boat, he again considered the
operations in which he was soon to engage; but, as these were
necessarily to be directed by the circumstances of the moment, his
deliberations soon gave way to that impatience which the perpetrator of
crime experiences at an unexpected delay.
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