They were eager to kill the escaped African before he got far enough away to give information of their retreat, for they knew not at what time an armed force in search of them might approach the coast.

But they were very wary about running into danger.

There was somebody with that black fellow--somebody who wore boots.
After a time they came to the boat.

The minute they saw this, each miscreant crouched suddenly upon the sand, and, with cocked guns, they listened.

Then, hearing nothing, they carefully examined the boat.