We tore away at the reeds, and there, sure enough, was a canoe of sufficient size to hold twelve or fourteen people, and in it a number of paddles.
Another two minutes and we were rowing across that lake.
We came safely to the other side, where we found a little landing-stage made of poles sunk into the lake.

We tied up the canoe, or rather I did, for nobody else remembered to take that precaution, and presently were on a path which led through the cultivated fields to the house.

Here I insisted upon going first with the rifle, in case we should be suddenly attacked.

The silence and the absence of any human beings suggested to me that this might very well happen, since it would be strange if we had not been seen crossing the lake.
Afterwards I discovered why the place seemed so deserted.

It was owing to two reasons.