and the rest seeing the fate of their
companions, turned about and made for the shore. This gave us time to
reload and be ready should any fresh ones come off to renew the attack.
They appeared, however, to have had enough of it, and we, putting down
our rifles, again took to our paddles and urged the canoe further out
into the river, which was here very broad and the current slow. Still
it ran at a sufficient speed to enable us to ascertain the direction we
were to take. We now had time to look-out for our companions. They
were nowhere to be seen, and we were still in doubt as to whether they
were ahead or astern of us. Charley thought they must have paddled on
and gone ahead, and if so, we should overtake them before long. We
were, however, still followed by other bodies of our enemies along the
shore, for those we had encountered were evidently only a small party,
and, probably, others would be waiting for us close to the banks.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN.

IGUMA RELIEVES ME AT THE PADDLE--WE REJOIN OUR COMPANION!--CHARLEY HAS
THE "WATCH BELOW"--WRECK OF KENDO'S CANOE--I RECOGNISE HERMAN JANSEN
AMONG OUR PARTY--NECESSITY OF TAKING REST--A NARROW ESCAPE FROM SURPRISE
BY A PARTY OF NATIVES--TEMPTATION TO KILL RESISTED--A DANGEROUS ENEMY--
HIPPOPOTAMI--OUR OTHER CANOE DESTROYED--FATE OF THE MURDERER OF CAPTAIN
RODERICK--WE DETERMINE TO DIVIDE OUR PARTY, AND, FOLLOWING THE COURSE OF
THE RIVER, MARCH TOWARDS THE SEABOARD, TAKING IT TURN AND TURN ABOUT IN
THE CANOE--A FEARFUL STORM--OUR ONLY CANOE CRUSHED--CONTINUATION OF THE
JOURNEY ON FOOT--THE "SPARKLING OCEAN" ONCE MORE IN SIGHT--WAITING FOR A
SAIL--THE SIGNAL ANSWERED--CAPTAIN MAGOR--ON BOARD THE "ARROW"--
CONCLUSION.

Believing that our friends were ahead, we paddled on with all our might.
It was of the greatest importance that we should join them before we
were again attacked, for, united, we might set at defiance any number of
our pursuers likely to assail us. As may be supposed, our arms ached,
and though we paddled on mechanically, I felt very sleepy, and
occasionally my eyelids closed. As the sun got up the heat became
excessive, but we did not dare to stop even for a few seconds under the
trees which shaded the banks, lest any of our enemies might be lurking
near, and might pounce down upon us. At last Iguma, who had been
sitting watching us, offered to take my paddle. At first I felt ashamed
to let her have it. "Give it up to her," said Charley. "I dar