get across some time."

"I know that, but their rafts are no doubt miles up the river."

It was now plain why they determined to follow up our party. Their own
territory had been invaded, and this came to all of the boys with a
shock. The getting of the boat was now a most hazardous operation.

They saw the two savages swim from the shore, and remained quiet until
they came within thirty feet of the shore.

"Now," said Harry, "the moment they start to wade, let us make a rush
for the bank, and we will have them at our mercy."

Each of the warriors carried a spear, but no other weapon, but those on
the opposite shore had bows, as well.

The surprise and consternation on the faces of the savages, when the
party appeared, was too remarkable to describe. Their first action was
to turn, but Ralph cried out: "Hola, hola," and Tom laughed as he now
remembered the savage word for "stop."

They did "hola," but for a moment only, and then diving down in the
water, attempted to make their escape.

The boys were now on the brink of the stream, and not more than twenty
feet away from the struggling men. "Hola, hola," shrieked Ralph and Tom
in concert, as they aimed their guns at them.

"That devil in front is the fellow we want to get. He is the meanest of
the entire outfit. Oh, yes, you remember me, don't you?" Ralph
continued, talking to the savage. "I have a notion to bore a hole
through you."

The savage raised himself, and evidently believing his hour had come,
did, as all savages do, poised his spear, as he raised himself out of
the water, and attempted to throw it. But before he could execute the
movement, a shot from Harry threw him back into the water and his spear
disappeared.

During this commotion the other savage dived, and he must have been an
expert, because the boys shot three times before he showed any evidence
of being hit, and then it was only a wound.

The boys ran back to their place of concealment to get the reserve guns,
and during that period the wounded one floated out into the stream and
the boys made no further effort to reach him.

The chief, as Ralph called him, was undoubtedly struck in a vital spot,
as he disappeared and reappeared, while slowly floating down with the
current.

The boys retreated behind their shelter, and sat down to rest and
recover from the excitement of the last fifteen minutes.

Meanwhile, what were the savages beyond doing? Consternation seemed to
seize them. T