It was likely that the masts and sails had been carried up to the camp, from which place it would have been impossible to remove them without the leader knowing it.
When he spoke to Cheditafa on the subject, the negro told him that after the little ship came in from one of its voyages he and his companions had always carried the masts, sails, and a lot of other things up to the camp.

But there was nothing of the sort there now.

Every spar and sail must have been carried out to sea by the flood, for if they had been left on the shores of the stream the captain would have seen them.
This was hard lines for Captain Horn.

If the Rackbirds' vessel had been in sailing condition, everything would have been very simple and easy for him.

He could have taken on board not only his own party, but a large portion of the treasure, and could have sailed away as free as a bird, without reference to the return of Rynders and his men.