g and give them a startler."

"And suppose it goes off while you are lighting it, and gives you a
startler, and sends us all to the bottom, how then?"

"Oh, we must risk that," said Rob coolly.

"I'm willing, if Mr Brazier is," said the old sailor quietly.

"Rob will be careful," said Brazier, and they waited with the
contrivance ready, but all hoping that Shaddy's last shots had produced
the desired effect.

It was a vain hope, for once more the canoes tore on to make up for lost
ground, and at last, when Brazier and Shaddy made ready to fire at the
enemy, Rob gave the word for the men to cease rowing, and as the boat
steadied he told Joe to light a match and lowered the canister into the
water.

"Be careful, Rob," cried Mr Brazier. "See that there is no powder
loose."

"Be quick, my lad, or they'll be on to us."

_Crack_! went the match, and as it blazed up it was applied to one stuck
upright in the top of the canister. This blazed in turn, and the flame
flickered a little and threatened to go out as the nearly submerged tin
glided away with the stream; but directly after the flame burned up
steadily, and as Rob gave the word to row once more the dangerous
contrivance was left behind. A minute later they had the satisfaction
of seeing the canoes gather round the tiny light and their occupants
cease rowing as they sat evidently wondering what was the meaning of the
fire burning in the midst of the water--a perfect novelty to them.

"No go!" said Shaddy suddenly. "Match has gone out."

"Burned out," said Brazier.

"All the same, sir, and hasn't started the touch-rag. Wish it had
answered, because it was clever and would have given the beggars a good
lesson not to meddle with respectable people. Here, we shall have to
fire, sir. They're coming on again."

But they were not, for the whole fleet was gathered about the canister,
which, unseen by the occupants of the boat, was emitting a sputtering
little fire as the touch-rag burned slowly; and the wonder of this going
on from a round, silvery-looking object just above the surface of the
water kept the ignorant enemy at a respectable distance.

"Pull, my lads," shouted Shaddy. "We may get into a better place if we
reach the next rapid."

As he spoke there was a deafening roar, a column of water rose in the
air, and a dull concussion struck the boat, while a cloud of smoke hung
over the group of canoes, and, lifting, showed half of them to be
swampe