The Evil-Looking Boatmen.

           Buttheislanders,seeingthatIwasreallyadrift,tookpityonme.Idriftedveryslowlytotheeastward,approachingtheislandslantingly;andpresentlyIsaw,withhystericalrelief,thelaunchcomeroundandreturntowardsme.Shewasheavilyladen,andIcouldmakeoutasshedrewnearerMontgomery’swhite-haired,broad-shoulderedcompanionsittingcrampedupwiththedogsandseveralpacking-casesinthesternsheets.Thisindividualstaredfixedlyatmewithoutmovingorspeaking.Theblack-facedcripplewasglaringatmeasfixedlyinthebowsnearthepuma.Therewerethreeothermenbesides,—threestrangebrutish-lookingfellows,atwhomthestaghoundsweresnarlingsavagely.Montgomery,whowassteering,broughttheboatbyme,andrising,caughtandfastenedmypaintertothetillertotowme,fortherewasnoroomaboard.

           Ihadrecoveredfrommyhystericalphasebythistimeandansweredhishail,asheapproached,bravelyenough.Itoldhimthedingeywasnearlyswamped,andhereachedmeapiggin.Iwasjerkedbackastheropetightenedbetweentheboats.ForsometimeIwasbusybaling.

           ItwasnotuntilIhadgotthewaterunder(forthewaterinthedingeyhadbeenshipped;theboatwasperfectlysound)thatIhadleisuretolookatthepeopleinthelaunchagain.

           Thewhite-hairedmanIfoundwasstillregardingmesteadfastly,butwithanexpression,asInowfancied,ofsomeperplexity.Whenmyeyesmethis,helookeddownatthestaghoundthatsatbetweenhisknees.