Amos pointed the glass through the shrubs toward a distant ship that swung at anchor close to the shore, and while he tried out their prize, Chris watched the departure of the three gamblers. Gosler had evidently paid up while Chris was returning to their hidden perch, for he was now hustled into the boat by the other two. Soon the three were far down the stream and their boat was moving into the main flow of the river. "Here," Amos said passing back the glass, "you look. That's a mighty fine ship out there, black as the _Mirabelle_ is white, but she looks fast and strong just the same." But Chris, taking the glass, was idly following the progress of the three men. Gosler, lost in gloom, sat in the stern hugging his rags about him. The other two bent their backs to the oars and headed straight for the anchored ship. Turning the glass to the brig Chris hunted for the name as the prow swung about. Through the glass the letters, gold on the black-painted side, leapt at his eye across the distance. _Venture_, Chris read, and with a beating heart he saw his adversary's ship for the first time. CHAPTER 16 "Come along, Amos! We must get a closer look at that ship!" Chris cried, putting his glass away. Scrambling down, the two boys ran along the stream until it was shallow enough to cross. The water was icy, telling, as well as the turning leaves and cooler air, that fall had come and winter was on the way. Hurrying forward, Chris and Amos reached the mouth of the stream where it joined the river. There on the left bank of Rock Creek, high rushes grew in rank profusion on the marshy land. They rose higher than the heads of the two boys and were too closely packed to allow for easy passage. "We'll have to skirt the very edge," Chris said glancing about. "Barefoot would be the best. This soft ground would soon go over our shoes and maybe suck them down." "Keep right against the rushes," Chris warned Amos, "and if a boat shows up coming from the wharves, we can't take any chances. We'll have to dive into the rushes and hide, just in case it's Claggett Chew." [Illustration] "That's right," Amos nodded his head vigorously. "I don't want to meet _him_ again, and you do less'n me!" he chuckled. The two went on, making slow progress, for the river was deep at that point, with little foothold between the end of the jungle of reeds and deep water. "Keep an eye out, Amos!" Chris called back over his shoulder as he went ahead. It was no time before Amos's voice came huskily up to his friend. "Chris! Chris--hold on! There's a boat with four men in it just left the last wharf, and they're headin' this way! Get in those rushes quick--my clothes is mighty bright!" [Illustration]