These two might be returning to the fresh water lakes, and it was possible that he could secure passage.

The people of the bergantins were always humble peons and they cared little for the intrigues of the capital.
It was now about eleven o'clock and the night had lightened somewhat, a fair moon showing.

Ned could see distinctly the boats or bergantins as the Mexicans called them.

They were large, flat of bottom, shallow of draft, and were propelled with both sail and oar.

He was repulsed at the first, where a surly Mexican of middle age told him with a curse that he wanted no help, but at the next which had as a crew a man, a woman, evidently his wife, and two half-grown boys, he was more fortunate.
Could he use an oar?
He could.