His nature contained much that was devout and spiritual and he, too, with his impressionable imagination, peopled earth and air almost unconsciously with spirits, good and bad.

The good and bad often fought together, and sometimes the good prevailed as they had just done.

There lay in the canoe the paddles, which they had lifted out of the water in their surprise at the sudden attack, and beside them were the rifles and everything else they needed.
They were content to let the canoe travel its own course for a long time, and that course was definite and certain, as if guided by the hand of man.
The wind always carried it toward the northeast and farther and farther away from the fleet of Tandakora.

But they took off their clothing, wrung out as much water as they could, and wrapped themselves in the dry blankets from their packs.

Robert's spirits, stimulated by the reaction, bubbled up in a wonderful manner.
"We'll see no more of Tandakora for a long time, at least," he exclaimed, "and now, ho! for our wonderful voyage!" They drew the wet charges from their pistols and reloaded them, they polished anew their hatchets and knives and then, these tasks done, they still sat for a long time in the canoe, idle and content.