"Grab a root and growl, now," commanded Lopez. "I'm ridin' this trip.
And mind you," he continued, "you better row quiet. No splashin' and
bangin' around with them oars."
"We'll row as well as we can," replied Harry. "A Boy Scout always does
everything he undertakes as well as he knows how."
"You're great Boy Scouts, you are," sneered Lopez. "If I had a boy like
you, I don't know what I would do with him."
"You couldn't have a boy like us," declared Arnold with some heat. "You
know heredity exerts a wonderful influence on boys."
This sally, luckily, was lost on Lopez for his knowledge of English was
limited to say the least. His mind, ever alert, caught the sarcasm in
the boy's tone, but he hesitated about showing his ignorance by asking
questions concerning the meaning of the big word. He contented himself
with abusing the boys in vile language.
Pulling manfully at the oars the captives sent the scow through the
water at a good rate of speed, rapidly shortening the distance between
themselves and the town. Ever and anon Lopez cast a backward glance over
the stern. Finally he commanded the boys to pull in closer toward the
shore. His voice assumed a brisker tone with a note of anxiety in it. He
was visibly excited.
"Lopez," announced Arnold, "I see a light behind us. It's gaining on us.
I've seen it for two or three minutes. What is it?"
"Hush up about lights, boy," commanded their captor. "Youall don't see
no lights. They ain't no lights there at all.
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