A mile up
the high banks start, and there's sort of a trail right into the place."
"All right. You'll run us up to the high banks. We'll get off and
walk the rest of the way. You'll lay up at the banks for half an hour
after we've started."
"What for?"
"I guess you're all right, but I play safe. I don't know anything
about what you're afraid of up there, but I don't want you to get in
ahead of us and accidentally break the news of our coming."
"Good!" cried Higgins admiringly. "And Old Betsy here, she'll throw a
slug clean through that wheelhouse wall, captain, in case you should
get impatient and try to run by."
The captain looked inquiringly at the scarred man, who nodded sullenly.
"All right."
"We'll be hitting back into the swamp," said the scarred one. "Come
on, Pedro."
"No, you'll stay until we get to the high banks."
"What fer?"
"Davis did us a favor this morning, and I want to give him a chance for
a fair start. If you would tell me his business----"
"Ain't telling anything."
"All right. Take the wheel, captain. We're off."
The Cormorant backed out of the thicket of mangrove branches which held
her against the point, straightened out and started upstream.
"A little explanation and maybe we could be friends," suggested Payne.
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