t
was so lively that in the uncertain light of the moon accurate shooting
would only be possible at a range of about a hundred yards, or less, and
he was so fearful of the possibility of injury to Flora that he was
quite determined not to shoot until he could make absolutely sure of his
mark.

And now he suddenly became aware that he was no longer gaining nearly as
rapidly as before upon the chase; indeed there were moments when he
doubted whether he was gaining at all. For a few minutes he was puzzled
how to account for this--for the breeze was still as fresh as ever,
indeed he was rather inclined to believe that, if anything, it was
slightly freshening--but presently, as he watched the canoe, he detected
a kind of rhythmical glinting appearance on each side of her; and then
the explanation occurred to him. His presence, and the fact that he was
in pursuit, had at last been discovered by the savages, and they were
now endeavouring to increase their speed by paddling. "Well," thought
Dick, grimly, "let them paddle, if they will; at the speed at which that
canoe is travelling they will be obliged to expend a great deal of
strength to perceptibly increase it, and they _must_ tire sooner or
later. They may succeed in prolonging the chase somewhat, but I shall
catch them, all the same."

But now a new cause for anxiety on Dick's part arose, for presently--
whether in consequence of some subtle clearing of the atmosphere, or
because of the gradual change of the moon's position in the heavens--the
island that Dick knew lay somewhere ahead, and for which the canoe was
obviously steering, suddenly loomed up ahead with such startling
distinctness that Leslie feared that they must be very much nearer to it
than was actually the case; and as the time sped on without bringing him
very appreciably nearer to the chase, he became haunted by a dread lest
the fleeing savages should after all reach the shore and gain the
assistance of their friends before he could overtake them.

At length, however, he found that he was once more creeping up to the
canoe, despite the fact that her occupants were still paddling
apparently as vigorously as ever; it was obvious that, notwithstanding
appearances, their long spell of exceptional exertion was telling upon
them, and, consciously or unconsciously, they were gradually relaxing
their efforts. Slowly, and foot by foot, the catamaran crept up; and at
length Dick was convinced that not more t