r you mind," said the American sharply. "Just you sit down
and wait for orders. We'll tell you which way to go."

"But--" began the man.

"Silence, sir!" cried Briscoe sharply. "All! look out!"

An arrow stuck in the side of the boat so close to Brace that it passed
through his loose flannel shirt, pinning it to the wood; and Briscoe
swung himself round and fired sharply in the direction from which it had
come.

The shot rattled among the leaves, and they and a few twigs came
pattering down into the water, while directly after there was another
report from right away to their left.

"Hah! that must have come from the brig," cried Brace.

"Right," said Briscoe. "Now then, lads, you know which way to punt her
along: the creek opens out and winds about in all sorts of ways, and I
daresay we could wander in a regular maze for hours; but we know which
direction to make for now. You listen keenly for the next answer to my
shot, Mr Brace, for I'll fire again soon: only I should like something
to fire at. See that arrow?"

"Yes," said Brace, stretching out his hand to withdraw the arrow from
where it had pierced the side of the boat.

"Don't do that; let it be, and draw your flannel over the feathering.
Look at the slope it takes. I fancy the man who shot that must have
been seated on the branch of a tree."

"It may have been shot from a distance and taken a curve."

"No," said Briscoe; "there are too many boughs for it to have come
through. It was sent from pretty close, I should say; and between
ourselves I hope we shan't have any more. Ah, that's right, my lads.
She's moving nicely now. I only wish you were able to row."

"Same here, sir," growled the man handling the boat-hook; "and we wish
you could bring down one of they savages as keeps on trying to hit the
target, meaning we. This sort of thing aren't pleasant here in the
dark."

The American nodded, as his eyes literally glittered in the gloomy
shades, for he kept on turning them in all directions, and then with his
face lighting up he took a quick aim and fired away to his right,
scattering leaves and sending them pattering down; but apparently with
no other effect save that there was another shot fired, and certainly
from a much nearer point.

Just then the men gave a cheer, for as they urged the boat in the
direction of the spot whence came the last shot, they caught sight of a
bright ray of light.

Five minutes later there was a distinc