"
"No need to threaten," said one of the men; "we will do our best for
our own sakes, as well as for yours and that of the Shepherdess. We
understand the plan, but to light reeds we must have fire."
"Here are matches," said Otter.
"Wet matches will not light, and we must swim," answered the spokesman.
"Fool, do you then swim with your head under water? Tie them in your
hair."
"Ah! he is clever," said the spokesman. "Now, if we live to reach them,
when shall we fire the reeds?"
"As soon as you are ready," answered Otter. "You will not come easily to
the back of them. Farewell, my children, and if you dare to fail, pray
that you may die rather than look upon my face again."
"_Ou!_ We have seen it once, is that not enough?" answered the
spokesman, looking at Otter's huge nose with wonder not untouched by
fear.
Two minutes later the four men were swimming swiftly down the dike,
taking their chance of the alligators.
"Drop the bridge," said Leonard; "we must start."
Otter lowered it, at the same time explaining its mechanism, which was
very simple, to Soa, Peter, and some of the other Settlement men.
"Now, mother, good-bye," said Leonard. "Loose all the men you can,
and keep a keen look-out, so as to be ready to lower the bridge if you
should see us or your mistress coming towards it. If we should not
come by dawn, be ready also, for then we shall probably be dead, or
prisoners, and you must act for yourself.
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