their firing, I don't care a rap about it.
Those guns don't carry over-far, and from what I saw at the stockade I
should say that at a little more than a hundred yards one would only
experience a heavy blow. At fifty the slugs would penetrate. Hullo! I
don't like those beggars."

As he spoke there was greater commotion amidst the canoes, all of which
were now under weigh, while those on the outside, the river side of the
fleet, had broken clear of their comrades and were pushing for the
centre of the stream. This, however, was not what attracted Dick's
attention, and drew the remark from him. It was the sight of two native
craft of larger size which suddenly pushed from the shadow of the bank.
They were crammed to overflowing, and carried big crews, who knelt in a
line along each side. In the centre stood the warriors, shouting and
gesticulating, and fighting their way through the mob. Small
consideration did they give to those who were in their way. Dick saw
the warriors strike at their comrades with the butts of their firelocks,
and watched as more than on of the smaller craft was overturned. Then
he sat down and took up a rifle.

"A shot might help," he said quietly. "How's steam?"

Johnnie pointed to the indicator and looked proud.

"Hab plenty," he said. "Stoke um more and perhaps um bust. Plenty
steam in de biler."

"Then get your rifle, and aim at the rowers in the first of those two
boats. Don't leave her alone. Keep on all the while unless you have to
stoke again."

"Not want to. Hab plenty steam and big fire," answered Johnnie, with a
satisfied nod. "Not hab any more coal till half-hour. By den p'raps
not hab steamer."

"Perhaps," answered Dick, with a smile. "We're going to see to that.
Out with your rifle."

Still gripping the tiller between his knees, while he sat on the edge of
the well, he took a long and careful aim at the first of the paddlers,
the one who set the stroke to the boat, and pressed the trigger when the
sights were on him. Instantly there was a howl of rage, and the man
dropped back on to the rower behind him, while the whole lot came to a
halt. But it was only for a quarter of a minute. One of the warriors
who stood close by lifted the body and hove it overboard without
ceremony. Then he seized the paddle and thrust it into the water.
Crack! Dick's rifle broke the stillness which had followed the shout,
and the man who had just knelt crumpled into a mass, t