“How!—­Do you get them to tow you?”

“Nay, that were impossible.  A jerk from the tow-rope of a steamer at full speed would tear us asunder.  Have you observed these two strong ropes running all round our gunwale, and the bridles across with ring-bolts in them?”

“I have, and did not ask their use, as I thought they were merely meant to strengthen the canoe.”

“So they are,” continued the hermit, “but they have other uses besides—­”

“Massa,” cried Moses, at this point.  “You’ll ’scuse me for ‘truptin’ you, but it’s my opinion dat Spinkie’s sufferin’ jus’ now from a empty stummik!”

The hermit smiled and Nigel laughed.  Laying down his paddle the former said—­

“I understand, Moses.  That speech means that you are suffering from the same complaint.  Well—­get out the biscuit.”

“Jus’ de way oh de wurld,” muttered the negro with a bland smile.  “If a poor man obsarves an’ feels for de sorrows ob anoder, he allers gits credit for t’inkin’ ob hisself.  Neber mind, I’s used to it!”

Evidently the unjust insinuation did not weigh heavily on the negro’s spirit, for he soon began to eat with the appetite of a healthy alligator.

While he was thus engaged, he chanced to raise his eyes towards the south-western horizon, and there saw something which caused him to splutter, for his mouth was too full to speak, but his speaking eyes and pointing finger caused his companions to turn their faces quickly to the quarter indicated.

“A steamer!” exclaimed the hermit and Nigel in the same breath.

The vessel in question was coming straight towards them, and a very short time enabled Van der Kemp to recognise with satisfaction the steamer owned by his friend.

“Look here, run that to the mast-head,” said Van der Kemp, handing a red flag to Nigel.  “We lie so low in the water that they might pass quite close without observing us if we showed no signal.”

An immediate though slight change in the course of the steamer showed that the signal had been seen.  Hereupon the hermit and Moses performed an operation on the canoe which still further aroused Nigel’s surprise and curiosity.  He resolved to ask no questions, however, but to await the issue of events.

From the marvellous hold of the canoe, which seemed to be a magazine for the supply of every human need, Moses drew a short but strong rope or cable, with a ring in the middle of it, and a hook at each end.  He passed one end along to his master who hooked it to the bridle-rope at the bow before referred to.  The other end was hooked to the bridle in the stern, so that the ring in the centre came close to Nigel’s elbow.

This arrangement had barely been completed when the steamer was within hail, but no hail was given, for the captain knew what was expected of him.  He reduced speed as the vessel approached the canoe, and finally came almost to a stop as he ranged alongside.