ound, despair,
a gleam of hope was sent to sustain them! Is it not often thus in the
dealings of God with man?

There was no relaxation of effort, however, on the part of the crew
until the breeze bore down on them. Then the mate and Hugh Morrison,
drawing in their oars, set up the mast and hoisted the sails. Instantly
the good craft bent over, as if bowing submissively to her rightful
lord, and the gurgling water rolled swiftly from her prow. Still the
men plied the oars, but now with the strength of hope, until the breeze
freshened so much as to render their further use unnecessary.

"Now, indeed, the tables are turned," said Dominick with a great sigh of
relief, as he drew in his oar.

"Yes; if the wind holds," said the doctor, glancing back anxiously.

"It'll howld," said Malone firmly.

"Who made you so sure a judge of weather?" demanded Jenkins.

"Sure it isn't me as is judge. It's the widdy. She says to me this
mornin', says she, `The'll be a stiff breeze afore night, Teddy,' an' I
nivver found the widdy wrong in her forecasts o' the weather."

"The distance decreases rapidly! Hurrah! boys, we'll catch them yet,"
cried Dominick.

This was obviously the case. With her large sails filled by a stiff
breeze almost directly astern, the boat went through the water like "a
thing of life." The savages, perceiving this, redoubled their efforts,
but in vain. The pursuers gained on them rapidly.

An exclamation of surprise burst from those in the boat as they observed
two splashes, one on either side of the canoe, as if some one had fallen
or leaped overboard. A great shout from the savages followed, and they
suddenly ceased to paddle. The canoe was still too far off for the
pursuers to make out what had occurred; but in another minute they
observed that two round black objects emerged from the water some
distance astern of the canoe. The savages also saw these, and uttered a
frightful yell as they backed their craft towards them.

"They've jumped overboard!" exclaimed Dominick. "Now, boys--ready with
your guns!"

No need for this order. All were ready in a second, but none dared to
fire for fear of hitting the swimmers.

Just then a savage rose in the stern of the canoe and poised a short
spear.

Instantly every gun in the boat was pointed.

"Not a shot!" shouted Dr Marsh, as he sprang forward with a
double-barrelled rifle in his hand.

"Keep her away two points!" he cried, as he knelt to