k was not yet completed. Piang let go his anchorage and
headed for the mouth of the ditch. The water was rapidly widening
the work of their hands, but in places the cut-off was barely wide
enough to let the long slender floats by, and the water was rushing
through with terrific force. The moon trembled on the brink of the
jungle. Would they reach the other side in time to aid Kali? Suppose
he was driven back before Piang and his men could attack from the
other side?

"_Ala! ala!_" ("Quickly! quickly!") Piang called softly. His raft
came up with a sudden jerk, almost throwing him into the seething,
muddy torrent. Other rafts bumped into his, and soon a blockade was
forming as the swift current bore them down upon him. Piang cut and
slashed at the banks, tearing away protruding vines and accumulating
driftwood. The moon, the moon, would it wait? Frantically he toiled
while Tooloowee held off the other rafts with his long pole. When
Piang's float was finally released, it bounded joyously along, nosing
first one bank, then the other. The river! He could see it! Only a
few rods more!

At the mouth of the ditch there was more trouble. Mud and debris had
collected along the sides, but these were quickly worked through and
they passed into the main river. Little short of a miracle had been
performed. The ditch was growing wider and deeper every moment and
judging from the enormous flow of water, it would not be long before
the river deserted its circuitous route in favor of this direct one.

"Quick! quick!" whispered Piang. "Bungao, bind the siwaka rafts
together and head for Cotabato. We will overtake you before
sunrise." A faint cry reached them. Kali had begun the attack. In
an agony of suspense the brave Moros worked their way up toward the
Big Bend. Suddenly Piang grasped Tooloowee's arm and pointed toward
a streak that ran across the river.

"The boom! We must cut it!" They made a dash toward the obstacle that
stood in Kali's path, but an arrow whizzed by their heads.

"Tooloowee, we have been discovered. I go to cut the way!" and before
the astonished Tooloowee could prevent, Piang had dived into the
water and disappeared.

"Piang, the crocodiles, the crocodiles!" wailed Tooloowee, but the
charm boy could not hear as he slipped up the muddy river, swimming
easily under water. Just as Kali was preparing to retreat, driven back
by the fierce storm of arrows, he gave the signal that had been agreed
upon. Three loud