evident that the light canoes would be alongside before the exit from
the lake could be reached, and Rob said so.

"Yes, sir, you're quite right, unless we can scare them off," said the
guide, who had been busy making a rough barricade in the stern by piling
boxes and barrels one upon another, leaving openings through which they
could fire, saying, "It isn't strength we want so much as shelter to
baulk their aim, for they're terribly clever with their bows and arrows,
Mr Rob, sir."

But very little was said in those anxious minutes, with the little
party, after their many struggles with nature, now called upon to
prepare to face man in his savage form.

"Feel frightened, Joe?" whispered Rob as the two boys lay together by a
couple of loopholes, well sheltered beneath the awning.

"Shall you laugh at me if I say yes?"

"Not likely, when I own to it too. I say, I wish they'd leave us
alone."

"Look here, Mr Brazier, sir," said the old sailor just then, after
admonishing his men to pull their best, "I'm going to ask you to let me
manage this."

"No," said Brazier sternly; "I wish to avoid all the bloodshed
possible."

"So do I, sir--specially ours," said Shaddy drily; "and mine would be
the way."

"Quick, then: explain," said Brazier, as the boys listened eagerly.
"Make haste, for the enemy are very near."

"Soon done," said Shaddy, "only what I proposed, sir: you folk keep me
supplied with guns, and I'll try 'em with gentle measures first, and
rough ones after. I'm a tidy shot, eh, Mr Jovanni?"

"Yes, excellent," said the lad.

"Very well, then, you shall try to stop them," replied Brazier, "but I
warn you that if I am not satisfied I shall take the lead myself."

"All right, sir, but don't you make the mistake of giving up and
trusting these people! That means death for all of us. _They must be
beaten off_."

There was something very startling in Shaddy's tones as he uttered these
words, and Brazier looked at him wonderingly.

"We shall have to come back this way, so why not retreat at once with
the stream?"

"Because we don't come back this way, sir; that's all. Didn't the lads
tell you? I'm going to take you into the big river another way."

"I say, look out!" cried Rob excitedly, as he saw the water flashing
behind at the rapid dip of the Indians' paddles and noticed the stolid
look in the heavy round faces of the men astern, who sat ready with
their bows and arrows, the spears of the pad