Drifting with the current, I kept the blunt nose pointed directly toward the bulging side of the "Santa Maria," yet without venturing to glance in that direction, until a sharp challenge of the vigilant sentinel warned us to sheer off.
Slowly shipping the heavy steering oar, finding it difficult even in that moment of suspense to suppress a smile at the expression of terror on Alphonse's black face, I stood up, awed by the solemn massiveness of the vast bulk towering above me, now barely thirty feet away.

For the first time I realized fully the desperation of my task, and my heart sank.

But the gesticulations of the wrathful guard could no longer be ignored, and, smothering an exclamation of disgust at my momentary weakness, I nerved myself for the play.
"_Caramba_!" the fellow shouted roughly in his native tongue.

"Stop there, you lazy niggers; don't let that boat drift any closer.

Come, sheer off, or, by all the saints, I 'll blow a hole clear through the black hide of one of you!" "Hold her back, boy!" I muttered hurriedly to the willing slave.