lf-naked savages, armed with bows and spears, tall feathers
ornamenting their heads, and the skins of wild beasts floating from
their shoulders, dashed out of the forest. My uncle took the helm, and
the seamen gave way with might and main. The current was strong, and
the savages had some distance to traverse before they could reach the
margin of the stream. As they saw us escaping, they let fly a shower of
arrows; but from the uncertain light--for the dawn was only just
breaking--their aim was, fortunately, bad; and by the time they reached
the edge of the water we had got some way down the stream. We did not
relax our exertions, for they might possibly follow us along the banks,
and, as the river took two or three turns, cut us off at some narrow
part. Their arrows, my uncle afterwards told me, he believed were
poisoned. The Indians shot another flight, several of which dropped
unpleasantly close astern of us; but they now saw that we were beyond
their reach, though their fierce shouts and cries still followed us.

The wind had by this time completely fallen. We made rapid way down the
stream, happily escaping any sunken logs, and once more saw the broad
surface of the lake extended before us. Still, there was no time to be
lost, as the Indians might possibly have canoes concealed along the
banks, and might follow us; though, unless they had the agility of
monkeys, there was little probability of their making their way among
the mangrove-trees.

"If they do come, we must try and keep them at bay," observed my uncle.
"None of them appear to have firearms, and our guns will tell upon them
before they can get us within reach of their arrows."

The men, having no wish to fight where nothing was to be gained, pulled
away as fast as they could lay their backs to the oars; and we soon shot
through the narrow opening, and rounding the extreme point of the bay
into which the stream emptied itself, we steered for the village for
which we were bound. We had a long pull before us; but fortunately the
deer-skin kept the water out very well, and we had only occasionally to
bail to keep her clear. I could not refrain from giving a glance astern
every now and then, to ascertain if the Indians were coming; but we saw
nothing more of them.

We had brought away a supply of the cooked venison, and after rowing
some distance the oars were laid in, and we turned to to breakfast. My
uncle served out a cup of wine to each of the