At length it ceased, and now
Winn noticed for the first time that a faint light was beginning to
tinge the eastern sky above the tree-tops.
"Daylight is coming," thought the boy, "and it is high time for me to
be off." He was glad of an excuse for leaving a place that had all at
once become filled with such unexplained terrors. Feeling his way
cautiously to the river-bank, he reached the little raft without
mishap. It took him some time to get it clear of the boom; but at
length he succeeded, and with a very decided feeling of relief he
pushed off into the current, and proceeded on his journey.
Winn's spirits rose as his clumsy craft moved out from the heavy
shadows of the island, and he began to whistle to convince himself that
he had not been afraid of anything after all. Suddenly he heard low
voices close beside him, a dark object dashed up to his raft, and a
dazzling light was flashed full in his face. The next instant two men
sprang to his side, threw him down, searched him for arms, secured his
knife, which was the only thing resembling a weapon that he possessed,
and forced him into a large skiff containing several other men.
"Close the lantern," ordered one of these in a low but stern voice,
"and pull for that fire on shore. No doubt we'll bag some more of them
there.
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