esay she
understands how to handle it as well as you do, and we shall make better
way."

I at length consented. When she had the paddle in her hand I lay down
in her place at the bottom of the canoe, and I soon saw that she was
working away with far more energy than I had lately shown. I watched
her for a few minutes admiring the grace and dexterity with which she
plied the paddle, and then my eyelids closed, and in another instant I
was fast asleep. I do not think I ever enjoyed a more sound slumber,
lulled by the ripple of the water on the side of the canoe as we glided
rapidly along. Charley, being older and more inured to labour, was able
to keep up better than I was, and I knew that he would not give in while
there was any necessity for his exerting himself. I had pulled the
matting over my head to preserve myself from the heat of the sun, which
struck down with great force on the calm water.

"There they are, there they are!" I heard Charley shouting out.

His words awoke me, and starting up I could distinguish two dots on the
water right ahead.

"Are they our friends, though?" I asked Charley, after I had gazed at
them a few seconds.

"I hope so," he answered. "I felt sure that they were ahead of us, for,
thinking that we were before them, they have been paddling on, expecting
all the while to overtake us."

"What does Iguma think?" I said, and tried to make her understand that
we wanted to know whether the canoes we saw were those of our friends.
To my great satisfaction she appeared to have no doubt about the matter.

I then begged that she would let me have the paddle again, but she
smiled and replied that her arms did not ache, and advised me to take my
brother's paddle.

"I don't mind if you do for ten minutes or so, I will then resume it and
try if we cannot come up with the other canoes," said Charley.

"How long have I been asleep?" I asked him, as I took his place.

"Three or four hours, I suspect," he answered, "though I have not had
time to look at my watch."

As I thought would very likely be the case, no sooner did Charley lie
down than he dropped off into a sound sleep. As after my long rest I
felt very capable of work, I determined not to arouse him, treating him
as he had treated me.

Iguma and I made the canoe glide rapidly over the water. A light breeze
had sprung up, somewhat cooling the air and enabling us to increase our
exertions. I eagerly watched the canoes ahea