But the
skiff continued to come up hand over hand.

"She'll get us long before we reach the shore," murmured Dent as he
marked the relative distances, and he spoke in the native tongue with
the Shan, who only answered with a grunt or two which had a sound of
acquiescence.

"Give me the paddle, Buck," said Dent.

"No, no," said Jack, "it's my turn." Every muscle in his body was
tingling to put its strength against the smooth current and the weight
of the sampan.

"We're going to try a little trick," said Dent, and Jack perforce had
to sit still. He glanced down the river and saw a light low on the
water, as if a boat was coming towards them. He wondered whether it
meant chance of help, but in any case, it was far off, and the enemy
were now terribly near, and his attention was drawn again to their
position of immense peril.

Dent and the boatman were now pulling easily, and the long skiff
darted up to them faster and faster still. Jack watched their pursuers
with a fascinated eye. There was not the faintest sound made, save for
the regular plash of the rising and falling oars. They were so near
that he could see the naked backs of the oarsmen glisten as they swung
their bodies to and fro in the starshine. Nearer, nearer, came the
long darting skiff.

Jack held his breath. The sharp nose was within half a dozen feet of
the stern of the flying sampan, for Dent and the boatman were once
more pulling with all their might. For the first time a sound was
heard from the pursuing boat. A single word rang out from the
steersman, and the rowers bent to one last tremendous effort to hurl
their stout skiff upon the fragile sampan. But at that very instant
Jim Dent dipped his paddle deep on the left side, the Shan made a
corresponding movement with his oars, and the light vessel spun round
on her heel and darted away from the impending stroke.

So close were the two boats when this skilful manoeuvre was executed
that the dripping bow oar of the pursuers was flourished almost in
Jack's face as the sampan flew round. He seized it, but did not
attempt to snatch it from the oarsman's clutch. He had no time for
that, but he made splendid use of the chance afforded him. He gave it
a tremendous push, and released it. The rower, caught by surprise, was
flung over the opposite gunwale, and the skiff was nearly upset. As
the sampan darted away on her new course, the skiff was left
floundering on the water.

"Good for you," chuckled