It was moving swiftly and presently Rogers and Willet came to look at it.

The two warriors brought their light craft on steadily, but stopped well out of rifle shot, where they let their paddles rest and gazed long at the shore.
"It is like being without a right arm to have no force upon the lake," said Rogers.
"It cripples us sorely," said Willet.

"Perhaps we'd better swallow our pride, bitter though the medicine may be, and retreat at speed." "I can't do it," said Rogers.

"I'm here to hold back St.Luc, if I can, and moreover, 'tis too late.

We'd be surrounded in the forest and probably annihilated." "I suppose you're right.