while Johnnie ran to the stern and drew in the painter. He ran the
native craft up alongside the launch, and hopped lightly into her.
Then, as Dick put the propeller astern--for the stream ran fairly strong
here--the native pushed off, and guided the boat into the shallows.
There was a massive tree there--a species of fern, growing to the height
of thirty or forty feet perhaps, and dropping its abundant spreading
foliage like an umbrella all round till the tips trailed in the water.
Johnnie pushed boldly in, and Dick could see the big fronds shaking.
Then he edged the launch closer in till her nose dipped under the
leaves, and he heard her grate against the side of the native craft.

"Got um fast front and back," sang out the native. "No move um,
whateber happen. She fill wid water, and not sink. Tree hold um up
nicely. Yes, and no one know um dere. Whole army pass, and neber
guess. Golly, massa, de berry place!"

"And one to find easily," answered Dick. "Now, hop along, and let us
get off. We've plenty of steam, and I think we'll put her hard at it.
The tales of these warriors of King Koffee make me uneasy, and I'm
anxious to get down to the coast."

Very soon Johnnie appeared from amidst the leaves, and they pushed off
into the stream till they reached the centre. And there they remained
throughout the day, reeling the miles off rapidly, for they had the
stream to help them.

"We'll keep on without a single halt right down to the sea," said Dick,
as he sat on the edge of the engine-well, eating a meal which the native
had just cooked. "We know there will be a moon, and now that the river
is broader we shall be able to see easily. We'll chance sandbanks, and
hope that none will come in our path. By to-morrow morning the natives
should be left behind, and we should be within reach of friends. Good
coffee, Johnnie. You are a capital hand at other thing besides making
war!"

The native stoker grinned his delight as he turned to face his master.

"When me so high me learn to cook," he said, with a merry laugh, holding
his hand out some three feet from the deck. "In my country de women and
de children see to de food while de men smoke and sleep, and get
strength for de fight."

"A queer way of getting up one's muscle," laughed our hero. "Just fancy
training for school sports, or a gymnastic competition, in a similar
manner! One would be rather soft, and hardly in the best condition."

"Dere wher