rhead branches torn from the trees and carried into the
stream. Still the Indians, with unaccountable pertinacity, followed us.
We scarcely now dared look behind us, as all our energies were required
to keep ahead; yet once more I turned round. Several of our pursuers
were standing up and drawing their bows. The arrows flew by us. "Oh, I
am hit!" cried Arthur. "But I wish I had not said that. Paddle on!
paddle on! I may still have strength to go on for some time." Now,
indeed, I felt ready to give way to despair; still, encouraged by
Arthur, I persevered. For a moment only he ceased paddling. It was to
pull the arrow from the wound in his shoulder; then again he worked away
as if nothing had occurred. The next flight of arrows, I knew, might be
fatal to all of us. I could not resist glancing round. Once more the
Indians were drawing their bows; but at that instant a fearful rumbling
noise was heard, followed by a terrific crashing sound. The trees above
our heads bent forward. "Paddle out into the middle of the stream!"
cried Arthur. Duppo seemed to have understood him, and turned the
canoe's head away from the shore. The whole cliff above us was giving
way. Down it came, crash succeeding crash, the water lashed into foam.
The spot where the canoe of our savage pursuers had last been seen was
now one mass of falling cliff and tangled forest. Trees were ahead of
us, trees on every side. The next instant I found myself clinging to
the branch of a tree. True had leaped up to my ride. Duppo was close
to me grasping the tree with one hand, while he held my gun above his
head in the other. I took it from him and placed it in a cleft of the
trunk. Without my aid he quickly climbed up out of the water. The
canoe had disappeared, and where was Arthur? The masses of foam, the
thick, down-pouring rain, the leaves and dust whirled by the wind round
us, concealed everything from our sight.

"Arthur!--Arthur!--where are you?" I cried out. There was no answer.
Again I shouted at the top of my voice, "Arthur!--Arthur!" The tree,
detached from the bank, now floated down the stream. I could only hope
that it would not turn over in the eddying waters. Still the loud
crashing sounds of the falling cliff continued, as each huge mass came
sliding down into the river. The current, increased in rapidity by the
rain, which had probably been falling much heavier higher up the stream,
bore us onward. Oh, what would