nds in the boat--for that
they were my friends I felt certain.

Without further consideration, I rushed from my hiding-place, and began
frantically waving my hands, shouting at the same time at the top of my
voice. As I for a moment ceased, I heard an echo to my cries; and
looking over my shoulder, I saw a party of dark-skinned savages
descending the hill towards the beach. From the glimpse I got of them,
I saw that they differed in appearance from those among whom I had so
long been held captive; I saw, also, that they had neither bows nor
spears. With fierce cries they rushed down the hill towards me; while
louder and louder I shouted, and waved my hands more vehemently towards
the boat. The savages, with pointed daggers in their hands, had reached
the foot of the hill; and I was almost abandoning myself to despair,
when I saw the boat's head turned towards the shore, and a figure in the
bows stand up and wave to me, while a friendly cheer reached my ears.

In a few minutes more--long before the boat could get up to me--the
savages were on the beach. Though I knew that sharks abounded on the
coast, I no longer hesitated, but, rushing into the water, waded as far
as I could, and then struck out towards the boat. I did not take time
to throw off my jacket, but, fully clothed as I was, swam on; one
glance, as I looked backward, revealing the savages not a dozen yards
behind me. If they chose to swim after me, I should have scarcely a
chance of escaping; but that thought did not make me abandon the
attempt. I struck out boldly, and my friends in the boat pulled away
lustily to meet me.

On turning on my back for one moment to rest, though not to stop, for I
still struck out with my feet, I saw the savages on the margin of the
water, fiercely threatening me with their daggers, but not daring to
swim off in pursuit. My mind was greatly relieved; but there was the
risk of cramp, or giving way from fatigue, as also the still greater
danger of being snapped up by a huge shark. My friends, however, knew
this as well as I did, and continuing to exert themselves as at first,
at length came up with me. The time, however, seemed very, very long,
and I was almost fainting from my exertions, when I felt a strong hand
seize me by the collar of my jacket, and Mudge--for it was he who had
got hold of me--pulled me over the gunwale and placed me in the
stern-sheets.

I soon recovered, and the first face my eyes fell upon w