lassy sea
like a dolphin, while a shout from our pursuers told that they had
observed our motions.

"I see something like land ahead," said Jack in a hopeful tone. "It
seems impossible that we could have made the island yet; still, if it is
so, we may reach it before these fellows can catch us, for our canoe is
light and our muscles are fresh."

No one replied; for, to say truth, we felt that in a long chase we had
no chance whatever with a canoe which held nearly a hundred warriors.
Nevertheless, we resolved to do our utmost to escape, and paddled with a
degree of vigour that kept us well in advance of our pursuers. The
war-canoe was so far behind us that it seemed but a little speck on the
sea, and the shouts to which the crew occasionally gave vent came
faintly towards us on the morning breeze. We therefore hoped that we
should be able to keep in advance for an hour or two, when we might
perhaps reach the land ahead. But this hope was suddenly crushed by the
supposed land, not long after, rising up into the sky, thus proving
itself to be a fog-bank!

A bitter feeling of disappointment filled each heart, and was expressed
on each countenance, as we beheld this termination to our hopes. But we
had little time to think of regret. Our danger was too great and
imminent to permit of a moment's relaxation from our exertions. No hope
now animated our bosoms; but a feeling of despair, strange to say, lent
us power to work, and nerved our arms with such energy that it was
several hours ere the savages overtook us. When we saw that there was
indeed no chance of escape, and that paddling any longer would only
serve to exhaust our strength without doing any good, we turned the side
of our canoe towards the approaching enemy and laid down our paddles.

Silently, and with a look of bitter determination on his face, Jack
lifted one of the light boat-oars that we had brought with us, and
resting it on his shoulder, stood up in an attitude of bold defiance.
Peterkin took the other oar and also stood up, but there was no anger
visible on his countenance: when not sparkling with fun, it usually wore
a mild, sad expression, which was deepened on the present occasion as he
glanced at Avatea, who sat with her face resting in her hands upon her
knees. Without knowing very well what I intended to do, I also arose
and grasped my paddle with both hands.

On came the large canoe like a war-horse of the deep, with the foam
curling