discovering that we had run off with their
property, and if they could obtain the means, would, of course, follow
us; we hoped, however, by paddling on, to get well ahead before being
discovered. We should be in most danger when passing the village we had
seen on the bank some way down the stream.

Boxall told Selim to take the helm--as his black face might make the
natives suppose that we were a party of white slaves sent down the river
by our owner--while we four paddled with might and main. As we neared
the village we plied our paddles harder than ever. Just as we got
abreast of it, we saw a native in the front of one of the huts.
Discovering us, he shouted to some others, who rushed out of their huts
and followed him down to the river. We did not stop to ascertain what
they were about to do, but paddled on. We had not got far, however,
before we saw a canoe being launched from the bank. We might easily
have distanced her, and were expecting to do so, when there appeared two
more canoes some way ahead of us, putting off from the shore, evidently
with the intention of intercepting us. Our only hope now was that we
could fight our way past them. Had we possessed our firearms, or even
Antonio's scimitar, this we might have done without much danger; but
with only our paddles and Ben's long pole for weapons of defence, we
should run, we knew, a great risk of losing our lives: still the attempt
must be made.

We paddled on boldly, shouting at the top of our voices, in the hope of
intimidating our enemies. Those in one of the canoes seemed doubtful
about attacking us, but the others came boldly on, sending, as they got
near, a flight of arrows towards us. Selim shouted to them, telling
them to keep off, and saying that we only wished to be allowed to pass
in peace. To this they paid no attention, however, but, uttering loud
cries in reply to our shouts, came dashing towards us. Ben, who had got
his long pole ready, sprang up, and plunged it with such force that it
ran through the body of one of the savages, who was dragged overboard.
The others, alarmed by the death of their companion, paddled to a
distance, and assailed us with fresh flights of arrows. Happily, they
were not well aimed, and none of us were struck.

We now began to hope that we should escape, though, as we paddled on, we
were hotly pursued by two canoes. We were, however, distancing them,
when we found that the river made a sharp bend, and r