“But what about those two fellows?” asked Phœnix. “We’d better let them get out of sight just as fast as they can,” said Adam. “If they can’t find any place to camp it’ll serve ’em right. It’s not our business to make ’em comfortable, and they can’t stay where we are. So I say let’s put their things on their old boat and tell them to make themselves scarce.” The boys both agreed that in regard to Chap and the two untidy young men there did not seem to be anything to do but to follow Adam’s advice. The Maggie was, therefore, hailed and ordered to come alongside. “Now, look here,” said Adam to the two men; “you’ve got to get out of this just as fast as you can, for we’ve agreed that we can’t keep our hands off o’ you more’n half an hour longer. We’ll give you back your dirty things, for we don’t want none of your property. But I’m not goin’ to give you back your guns, for one of ’em is a rifle, an’ you’re just the fellers to take a crack at us after you got out of range of our shot-gun. I’ll leave the guns for you at Titusville, at the hotel. You can’t have ’em while we’re on the river.” The young men demurred very much at being deprived of their firearms, but Adam’s determination was not moved, and they were obliged to go away and leave their guns on The Rolling Stone. The wind served them better going down the stream than coming up, and so, with pole and sail, and the assistance of the current, they soon put a good distance between themselves and the other boat, feeling in their hearts that if they did not make haste enough, a ball from their own rifle might overtake them. They were so cowardly themselves that they expected every one else to be so. [Illustration] CHAPTER XIV. CHAP’S AMBASSADOR. The stretch of white sand, of which Adam had spoken, was so far away that neither of the boys had noticed it; but the practised eyes of the sailor had singled it out as a place where a landing could be made, and toward it The Rolling Stone was now steered, Phœnix taking the tiller, and Adam using the pole whenever he could. Phil was ordered to refresh himself with some crackers and cold meat, as it would be some time before they could have their coffee. “I’m not going to eat anything,” said Phœnix, “till we have cooked a regular supper; but I tell you it’s jolly to think of getting something good and hot when we land.” “That’s so,” said Adam. And Phil assented heartily. But not one of them imagined how hot a thing was waiting for them. The Rolling Stone thus moving slowly up the river, gradually came into sight of the keen-eyed maiden, who surveyed the water from the high ground in the vicinity of the Browns’ cabin, and, as we have seen, she informed Chap and his companions of its approach.