eam. Our friends found, however, before long, in one of the reaches,
the wind heading them; and, looking astern, they saw that several large
canoes and other boats had put out from the shore, and were in pursuit
of them. The slavers probably calculated on their getting on shore, to
enable them to come up with them. The current, however, was strong, the
wind was tolerably steady, the schooner went about like a top, and a few
tacks carried them through each of the reaches, when the wind headed
them. Thus they made good way; but still there were many dangers to be
encountered. They might, for the present, easily keep ahead of their
pursuers; but, unless they could get a free wind, to cross the bar, they
must bring up, as it would otherwise be madness to make the attempt.
They had gone a long way up the river, and it was difficult to say how
the wind might be at the mouth. At last, in a long reach, they ran the
pirates out of sight. They, however, suspected that the latter were
stopping to collect more of their forces before coming on to the attack.
At length the schooner reached the main channel of the river. Hemming
and Murray and Adair looked anxiously up the other stream in the hopes
of seeing Mr Evans' boat.

"Perhaps she has come down, and will be waiting for us at the bar,"
observed Hemming. "If she has got hold of the schooner we were looking
for, we shall very likely find her ahead of us; at all events we must
keep on till we find her."

The little vessel was accordingly kept on down the river. Great was
their disappointment, on coming in sight of the bar, to find a heavy
surf breaking over it, while the breeze which came in set very nearly up
the stream. It was absolutely necessary to bring up. The anchor was
dropped, and as the vessel swung to the tide the dark waters came
whirling and eddying by with a force which made Hemming thankful that he
had not attempted to cross the bar. As soon as he had brought up, he
made every preparation for defending the vessel from the attack to be
expected. Having got all their arms ready, he had ropes passed round
and round the vessel above the bulwarks, so as to serve in the place of
boarding-nettings, and then, not without great difficulty, they hoisted
their own boat on board, and stowed her amidships. These important
preparations being made, they lighted the fire in the caboose and cooked
a dinner, for which an abundance of provisions was found on board. A
c