t ahead to where something dark could be
seen crossing the line of sight.

"One of the canoes," said the doctor quickly. "We shall be right aboard
her."

He crept forward, but Jack forestalled him, and was hauling in the line
till they wore close up.

"Mr Bartlett--father!"

"Yes; what is it?"

"You are rowing right into one of the canoes."

CHAPTER TWENTY TWO.

A SHARP LESSON.

The men ceased rowing, and Jack sat with his heart beating painfully,
his mind full of memories of accounts he had read concerning encounters
with savages, and wounds inflicted by poisoned arrows and spears.

As he sat in the intense darkness, watching the brilliant star-like
lamp, it all seemed to be dreamlike and impossible that he should be
there--he who so short a time before was leading that quiet student life
in the study or library at home.

But there was the black canoe gliding by the light, and like so many
silhouettes the dark, clearly-defined figures of the savages busy
paddling.

No, it could not be the canoe he had seen first, it must be another, and
the next minute he had proof thereof, in this canoe passing across the
disk of radiant light, leaving it for a few moments clear, and then
another appeared, and he watched the little black silhouettes steadily
moving as they paddled, till the long boat had gone by, when another
appeared and passed.

"Give way!" came in a whisper; then the oars dipped silently, and they
began to move onward.

"We must make a dash for it, or they will surprise the yacht," whispered
the mate. Then he leaned over backward, and the exciting words
came--"Astern there. Guns ready and load."

A faint whisper or two from the mate's boat told that the men not rowing
had received a similar command, and Jack, as he thrust a couple of
cartridges into the breech of his gun, felt that the canoes would be
paddling round the yacht, and have reached the other side by the time
they were alongside.

"Are we not going to shout and alarm Captain Bradleigh?" whispered Jack
to the doctor.

"No; sit still," said that gentleman sternly. "He and your father are
the leaders. We have only to obey. Don't fire till you receive
orders."

A low deep sigh came from Ned, but it was accompanied by a faint
"click--click; click--click."

"Both barrels at full cock," thought the lad. "But how horrible to have
to fire at any one, even if he is black."

But all the same, horrible or no, the lad cocked bot