Then as they looked a twinkle appeared in the eye of each.

The twinkle deepened and the two broke simultaneously into a soundless laugh.
"We want one of those boats," said Henry.
"We shorely do," said Shif'less Sol.
"We need it in the course of our duty," said Henry.
"We jest can't git along without it," said Shif'less Sol.
"It will be much easier floating down the middle of the Mississippi in a boat than it will be walking along the bank all the way." "It will shorely save the feet, an' give a feller time to think, while the current's doin' the work.

It jest suits a lazy man like me." Again they broke simultaneously into a laugh that contained no sound, but which was full of mirth.
"It's taking what doesn't belong to us, and we are not at war with the Spanish," said Henry.
"They tried to hold Paul a prisoner, and they're not at war with us," rejoined Sol.

"We've got a right to hit back.

Besides, we're doin' it to save a war, and we're only borrowin' their boat fur their own good." The two, without further ado, made a circuit around the Spanish camp, coming down on the northern side.