that we were safe, at
all events, till daylight, when we caught sight of two boats coming out
from among the pirate fleet and steering up stream. I gave up all for
lost, as I knew that they would whip our heads off in a moment should
they come up with us.

"`Don't give in!' cried Jack; `perhaps it isn't us that they're after.'

"We ceased pulling lest the light should fall on our oar-blades, for we
should have had no chance if they had made chase.

"`Let's paddle in under these bushes,' whispered Jack; `they're very
thick, and we can lie hid here, while maybe they'll pass us.'

"We did as he proposed. As the boughs overhung the water and almost
touched it with their ends, we hoped that the pirates would not discover
us. We could just look out across the river, and saw the boats still
coming towards us. We both lay down in the bottom of our boat and
remained as quiet as mice, scarcely daring to look up above the gunwale
for fear of being seen. We could hear the voices of the pirates and the
splash of their oars as they drew nearer. If they had before seen us
they might have observed the spot where we had disappeared, and I
expected every moment to have my head whipped off my shoulders. Just
putting my eyes above the gunwale, I saw the two boats, broadside on,
pulling along. They hadn't found us out. On and on they went, right up
the stream. They must have thought that we were still ahead. We, of
course, didn't dare to move, hoping that they would give up the chase
and go back again.

"`We must not be too sure that they won't look for us when they do come
back,' said Jack. `Howsomdever, there's no use crying out till we're
caught. I'll tell you what; the best thing we can do is to get on shore
and make our way inland; then, though they may find the boat, they won't
catch us.' I agreed; so, shoving the boat farther in till we reached
the bank, we sprang on shore, and having secured her by the painter, set
off directly away from the river. As it was very dark, we had to grope
our way amongst the trees and bushes, though the glare in the sky from
the burning houses enabled us to steer a right course. We half expected
that a snake or a wild beast might pounce down upon us, and we had no
arms to defend ourselves. But anything was better than to be caught by
the pirates. At last, when our clothes were torn nearly off our backs,
we reached some open ground, and set off running till we got to a wood
on the