No, Henry, we're bold pirates on the high seas an' we've been an' took a Spanish gall-yun--ain't that what they call their treasure ships?
'Pears to me, Henry, I kinder like bein' a pirate, 'specially when you do the takin', an' ain't took yourself." "That's so," laughed Henry, "but we'd better keep pulling, Sol, with all our might.

They're sure to pursue, and, as they have plenty of men for the oars we need all the start that we can get." They were well out in the middle of the stream now, and the deep, powerful current of the Mississippi was aiding them greatly, but both glanced back.
The shore was lined with men and another volley was fired.

All the bullets fell short, and Shif'less Sol laughed contemptuously.
"Now they are beginnin' the pursuit," he said.
Four boats had been cut loose, and, filled with Spaniards, they were pushed from the bank.

Henry turned the prow of their own boat until it bore in a slanting direction toward the eastern shore.
"What's your plan ?" asked the shiftless one.
"The river, you know, has overflowed on the eastern shore over there for three or four miles; we must lose ourselves in the forest on that side." "An' let 'em pass us ?" "That's just it.

We want 'em to go on ahead of us to Louisiana, while we follow.