Mr. Gilder, noting this by a backward glance over
his shoulder, instantly halted and concealed himself behind a large
tree-trunk. From here he peered at the retreating figure of the boy
until it was no longer visible. Then he gave vent to the same peculiar
whistle with which Plater had announced his own approach to the log-hut
in the woods. The sound was immediately answered from no great
distance, whereupon Mr. Gilder hastened in that direction. A minute
later he returned, bringing a coil of stout rope, one end of which he
made fast to a tree on the bank. At the same time both Grimshaw and
Plater appeared, each bearing a large package securely wrapped in
canvas on his shoulder.
All three men entered the skiff and pulled out to the raft, carrying
the loose end of the rope with them. Mr. Gilder and Grimshaw quickly
returned to the land, leaving the burly Plater to make a vigorous
attack with an axe against the sides of one of the wheat bins. He soon
splintered and tore off a board, leaving an aperture through which a
broad stream of wheat rushed out on the deck of the raft. This Plater
began to shovel overboard, working with furious energy, as though
combating a hated enemy. In ten minutes both bins were empty, and so
much of the wheat had gone into the ever-rising waters that the raft,
which had been on the point of floating when Plater began his
operations, now did so, and swung in close to the bank at the end of
its new cable.
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