sunshine; and striking the path on the other side, gazing watchfully as
we could, ready for attack, and fully expecting to see the Indians in
possession of the boat, we finally reached the landing-place, where Pomp
was laid in the stern, the weapons were placed ready, and faint and
dripping with perspiration, I sank down beside Pomp as the rope was cast
off.

CHAPTER THIRTY NINE.

My eyes were for ever running from tree to bush, and plunged into the
windings of the path, as Hannibal and Morgan seized the oars, sat down,
and, after the head had been pushed off into the current, began to pull
a heavy stroke that sent the boat rapidly along and out into the middle
of the stream. For after my old experiences of starting from that
landing-place, in addition to that which I had gone through that day,
the nervous tension was so great that my imagination ran riot at first,
and I saw dark faces peering out from among the canes, bronzed arms
holding bows, while others drew arrows to the heads, and the loud yells
of the Indians seemed to ring through my dizzy brain. But as, after we
had reached the farther side of the stream, the boat surged on through
the water with no sound really heard but the splash of the oars, I began
to grow more calm, the more so that we passed clump after clump, and
patch after patch of undergrowth, from which arrows came whizzing last
time, to strike into the sides of the boat, or fix themselves in the box
with a hollow sounding rap.

As soon as I could collect myself a little, I plunged my hands over the
side and bathed my face, and drank. Then hurriedly turning to poor
Pomp, I placed his head more easily, Hannibal's great dark eyes watching
me the while, and then took the tin baler, filled it with the cold,
clear water, and began to bathe the boy's temples, pausing again and
again to trickle water between his closely-set teeth.

But for a long time he gave no sign of recovery, but lay back breathing
faintly, and with his eyes tightly closed.

"Coming to, Master George?" said Morgan.

"No," I had to reply again and again. And each time at my response I
heard the boy's father utter a sigh.

But Hannibal did not cease to row a steady stroke, though I saw his
forehead wrinkle up, and there was a wild look of misery in his eyes.

We had passed round the wooded point in safety, and soon after were well
out of our stream and in the big river, when, seeing that we were beyond
the reach of arro