run a great risk of sharing their fate. Still we delayed. At last the
skipper, with a sigh, exclaimed, "We must get up the anchor, Peter; the
poor fellows would have come back before this if they were coming at
all."

Uncle Paul no longer made any objections. We shortened in the cable,
but it required all our strength to haul up the ponderous anchor. We
had managed to lift it out of its oozy bed, when we heard a shout, and
looking up we saw the three natives rushing through the forest. Without
stopping for a moment they dashed into the water. As they swam off they
called out to us to heave them ropes. They were quickly alongside; and
even before they had scrambled on board Kallolo cried out, "Get under
way! get under way! No time to be lost!"

"That's just what we were about to do," said the skipper; "but why,
after keeping us so long, are you in so great a hurry?"

"We could not help the delay; but there's no time to be lost. We will
tell you all about it presently. Get under way! get under way!"
repeated Kallolo.

As he spoke, he and his companions sprang forward to assist in hoisting
up and securing the anchor. The oars were then got out, and the
vessel's head was so directed that she might get round the point of land
which had served to shelter us. The sails were in the meantime loosed,
so as to sheet home as soon as they filled. Kallolo and the other
Indians were pulling so lustily at the oars, that they had no time to
tell us what had happened; but I saw them looking anxiously up the
river.

As we got out into the stream, clear of the long point which had
hitherto concealed the upper part of the river from our view, we saw a
large vessel under all sail standing down towards us. Her appearance
was sufficient to account for their alarm. There could be no doubt that
she was Spanish, and that, should she overtake us, we should be captured
and carried to their settlement of Angostura; where we should certainly
be thrown into prison, and very probably lose our lives. As might be
supposed, we all pulled away with redoubled efforts, till we made the
long oars crack. Fortunately the Spaniard had but little wind, and we
were well able to keep ahead of her; but should a breeze come she would
probably get it first, and bring it up with her, and too probably
overtake us.

"Courage, my friends! courage!" exclaimed the brave skipper. "The _Good
Hope_ is not captured yet. She will prove no laggard, depen