lear of the bend of the river. Slowly it
surged onward meeting the stream, urged on by the strokes of six rowers,
the Portuguese flag streaming out from the stern, and a small carronade
mounted in her bows. In the stern sheets sat a tall, upright figure,
the tiller ropes in either hand, dressed in a monkey jacket, pilot cloth
trousers, and a sailor's cap. His long white hair streamed in the wind,
and by his side a nearly naked savage. "Could he be mistaken? No,"
said Hughes again, speaking aloud, "it is Captain Weber, and Masheesh
has not deserted us. He was bringing aid, alas too late."

"Boat ahoy!" shouted Hughes, as he stepped from behind the bush, waving
his rifle in the air.

A loud shout came over the river; the next moment the skipper's left
hand gave the yawl's bows a broad sheer towards the bank, and Masheesh
and the old sailor were by his side. His tale was soon told. Not a
moment was lost, and though they found the clearing empty, the spoor of
the Amatonga was plain. Masheesh was sent forward to reconnoitre, the
Portuguese soldiers were landed, and the result is known.

"And what is that over yonder, which I took for you?" asked the
missionary.

Hughes rose from the spot where he had been sitting, the missionary's
hand in his; he stooped over the heap, and threw the skin aside.

"It is Matumba," he said; "look at the mark of my grip on his throat,
and the dark blood-stain on his side. He gave me trouble enough," he
continued, as he threw back the skins over the dead savage; "and his
face with its starting eyeballs, and tongue hanging out of his mouth, is
no pleasant sight. He was a treacherous savage, but died the death of a
brave."

"I don't see," said Weber, who now joined them, "that there is any
reason why we should not pitch the bodies of these villains into the
fire and have them consumed. It is more ship-shape than leaving them to
the jackals."

The thing was no sooner said than done, and the party made short work of
it. The body of the captain of the "Argonaut" was carried down to the
boat, and covered with the Portuguese ensign. Those of the Amatonga
placed on the fire, which was burning fiercely.

"One, two, three, and yo heave ho!" shouted the sailors, as Matumba's
corpse was launched into the air, and fell with a heavy thud into the
middle of the flames, sending up a shower of sparks. Fresh brush was
heaped over it, and the whole was left burning.

"Poor Mason," said Cap