The chances were that we should thus be aboard for several days; certainly until we encountered some other boat bound down stream, which would accept us as passengers.

Meanwhile what should I do?
How escape observation?
How reach Rene, without encountering Kirby?
The answer was not an easy one.

The deputy would not know me, for I had never been seen by him.

Kirby believed me dead, yet might recognize me in spite of that conviction if we met face to face.

Still, would he?
The daring hope that he might not came to me in a flash.