“It was worth seeing,” said Henry, “and we’ve been in great luck, too.  There, hear ’em!  They’ve got the water out of their mouths and are giving tongue again!  Pull, Sol!  Pull!”

Loud shouts came from the sentinels who had risen from their bath and it was followed by cries in the Spanish camp.  Torches flared, there was the sound of running footsteps, and dusky figures appeared at the river’s bank.

“Pull, Sol!  Pull!” exhorted Henry again.  “We’re not yet out of range!”

Shots were fired and bullets pattered on the water but none reached the boat.  They heard angry cries, imprecations, and they saw one figure apparently giving commands, which they were sure was that of Francisco Alvarez.

“Now if they had our Kentucky rifles and real marksmen,” said Shif’less Sol, “they could pick you an’ me off without any trouble.  Thar’s light enough.  But with them old bell-mouthed muskets they can’t do much.  No, Henry, we’re bold pirates on the high seas an’ we’ve been an’ took a Spanish gall-yun—­ain’t that what they call their treasure ships?  ’Pears to me, Henry, I kinder like bein’ a pirate, ’specially when you do the takin’, an’ ain’t took yourself.”

“That’s so,” laughed Henry, “but we’d better keep pulling, Sol, with all our might.  They’re sure to pursue, and, as they have plenty of men for the oars we need all the start that we can get.”

They were well out in the middle of the stream now, and the deep, powerful current of the Mississippi was aiding them greatly, but both glanced back.  The shore was lined with men and another volley was fired.  All the bullets fell short, and Shif’less Sol laughed contemptuously.

“Now they are beginnin’ the pursuit,” he said.

Four boats had been cut loose, and, filled with Spaniards, they were pushed from the bank.  Henry turned the prow of their own boat until it bore in a slanting direction toward the eastern shore.

“What’s your plan?” asked the shiftless one.

“The river, you know, has overflowed on the eastern shore over there for three or four miles; we must lose ourselves in the forest on that side.”

“An’ let ’em pass us?”

“That’s just it.  We want ’em to go on ahead of us to Louisiana, while we follow.  Besides we’ve got to pick up Paul and Jim and Tom.”

Shouts arose from the pursuers and more shots were fired, but they were still beyond the range of the Spanish muskets and the two were untouched.  They were not even alarmed.

“There’s a lot of confusion in the boats,” said Henry, who looked back again with a critical eye, “and as they don’t pull together they’re not gaining.  The night is also growing darker and that helps us, too.  Keep it up, Sol!”

“All right,” said the shiftless one, increasing his stroke.  “It’s fine to be a pirate, Henry.  Wonder why I never tried it afore!  But I believe I’ll always be a pirate at night when you’ve got more chance to git away.”