ce.

"Oh, no; there may be a few huts with the wives and children close at
hand, but so far as I know there are only a few of them here and there
up the rivers leading a hunting and fishing life."

But the captain's prophecy was not fulfilled. There was a little ripple
on the water for a few minutes after sundown, but not enough breeze to
fill out a sail, and the darkness came on with the brig swinging easily
by the creaking cable, which ground and fretted in the hawse-holes.

"Now, squire," said the captain, turning to Brace, "how's it going to
be? Shall we be all right here at anchor, or will those chaps who got
ashore hunt up all their friends and come off in canoes when it's dark,
to kill us and sack the brig?"

"I'm not experienced enough to say," replied Brace, smiling. "What do
you think?"

"I think I don't know, my lad: it's as likely to be one way as the
other. What do you say to dividing the crew and passengers into two
watches, all well armed and ready for the worst? One watch on deck, the
other below, just lying down in our clothes with a rifle for a
bedfellow, ready to run up at the first call."

"I should say it would be very wise," said Brace, "and I think we had
better do it."

"But there's another way, my lad: suppose we up anchor and drop down
with the stream for a few miles before letting go again."

"I don't like going backward," said Brace, "and we might be getting into
a worse place."

"Out of the frying-pan into the fire, eh? Right: so we'll stop here and
be fried."

The division was made, and soon after dark Brace found himself keeping a
sharp look-out on deck in company with Briscoe and part of the crew, the
captain taking the first watch, while the first and second mates were
below with half the men, ready to rush up at the first summons.

This plan was quite in accordance with Brace's wishes, for it enabled
him to keep stealing down to his brother's berth, and after these visits
he would return on deck better satisfied, for the patient was still
sleeping heavily, and there was not a symptom visible that could cause
alarm.

The captain was also of this opinion, he informed Brace, as the young
man took a turn or two with him up and down the deck.

"You've nothing to fidget about, squire. That arrow was poisoned, sure
enough; but what you did, and the bleeding, washed all the bad stuff
away, and the wound will begin to heal up at once. There, you go and
use your eyes in a