In the straightaways behind and before other canoes, hurrying up-river, were sighted. One of the canoes behind crept closer and closer. Maria and Francisco occasionally glanced over their wet shoulders at it, but although they worked bravely, and Maria sang lustily: Yankee doodle doodle doo, Yankee doodle dandy; Yankee doodle doodle doo, Yankee doodle dandy. Yankee doodle dandy, Yankee doodle dandy, Yankee doodle doodle doo, Yankee doodle dandy! the canoe behind was proving too much for them. Meanwhile Charley wondered how Maria had invented his "American" song. The canoe behind held seven persons; and of course it could overhaul Charley's canoe, for four of the persons were paddlers. Charley, facing backward in the bows, had the best view of it; and as on it came, the four paddlers digging hard, he saw, as somehow he had expected, that the three passengers were the long-nosed man and two partners. With its paddlers grunting in unison, the water spurting from the prow, and the three passengers lolling back, it surged past. One of Mr. Jacobs's cronies yelled, mockingly: "Want a tow?"--and the paddlers grinned. "No matter," panted Maria, to his own company. "We ketch 'em. Dey pay big mooney; pay more 'fore dey get dere. You bet." The river ran swifter, now, and Maria and Francisco worked their level best to make way against the heavy, muddy current. The sun was almost touching the high green ridge to the west, when Mr. Grigsby, who had sharp eyes, said, with a nod of his head: "That must be Gatun, where we stop for the night." The canoe was turning in toward the right bank; and Charley, looking, saw a cluster of thatched huts there. A number of other canoes were tied at the bank, and their boatmen and passengers were loafing among the huts. A loud dispute was going on between some boatmen and passengers. As Charley's boat glided up, and Francisco leaped ashore to hold it, the long-nosed man's angry tones sounded loud and familiar. It was he and his two partners who were threatening their boatmen. "We want to go on. Go on--understand? We paid you extra; big money. No stop here; no stop. You savvy?" But the boatmen shrugged their bare shoulders, and sauntered away, leaving the three men furious. "No use, pardner," called another gold seeker. "These niggers always stop here for the night. You might as well swallow your cud." "But we paid them one hundred dollars to take us straight through," rasped Mr. Jacobs. "Yes, and stole another party's boat in the bargain, I understand," retorted the gold seeker. "Serves you right." "Well, I'd like to have them up North for about ten minutes," growled the man who had drawn knife on Mr. Grigsby aboard the _Georgia_. "I'd tan their hides for 'em." "Shucks! Such tall talk doesn't go down here," answered the other. "They're as free as you are, and no crookeder."