noe hid away under a thick bush.
He soon discovered also two pairs of paddles, and made us understand
that we were welcome to the canoe. It was, however, so small that it
would barely carry all the party. It would certainly not have done so
with safety, except in the very smoothest water. We launched it, and
John and Arthur, using great caution, got in. One of the paddles had
been left behind. Duppo ran back to get it. We saw him eagerly
glancing down an open glade which extended some distance into the
forest. Suddenly he turned round, his countenance exhibiting terror,
and stepping into the stern of the canoe, made signs to us to shove off
and paddle away. He also began paddling with all his might. We
followed his example without stopping to inquire the cause of his alarm.
We had got to some distance, when I happened to look round. I saw that
Duppo was doing the same. At that moment several figures appeared on
the bank near the spot we had left. They were savages, with their
bodies painted and decked with feathers. Bows were in their hands.
They had apparently only that instant discovered us. The next a flight
of arrows came whizzing after the canoe. They fell short, however, and
we redoubled our efforts to urge it forward. Still, deep in the water
as it was, we could scarcely hope to get beyond their reach.

"Majeronas! Majeronas!" shouted Duppo, labouring away with his paddle.

"On, boys, on!" cried John. "We must not allow them to come up with us.
Active as they are, the forest is thick, and we may be able to get
along the water faster than they can make their way among the trees."

Disappointed at finding that we were already beyond their reach, the
savages uttered piercing shrieks and cries to intimidate us. The water
bubbled and hissed as we drove our little canoe through it, coming
frequently over the bows. Still on we went. I could not, however, help
every now and then looking round, expecting to see the savages on the
bank neat us. Their shouts had ceased.

"I am afraid our friends have been defeated," observed Arthur; "and
their enemies have come to attack the village."

"If so, we must defend it," said John. "They may possibly stand in awe
of our firearms. We must, however, try to get to the village before
they reach it, to warn the inhabitants."

"But there are only old men, boys, and women to defend it," said Arthur.
"Could we not try to come to terms with their enemies?"

"I