It ar'n't in my way o'
business. Ropes and swabbing and pullin' a oar or setting of a sail's
more in my line, mate."

"That will do," said Oliver, firmly, and somehow, though he was yet weak
and rather helpless from the injury he had received, he dropped at once
into a way of taking the lead, unchallenged by either of his elder
companions.

"Now, then," he continued, "is there any better plan? Silence! Then
we'll try the one we have before us, and follow cautiously in the
savages' track."

"How do you feel, Lane?" said Panton in a whisper, as they two stood
together during a halt.

"Tired and hot."

"So do I, but I didn't mean that. Do you feel fighty?"

"Fighty? No; not at all. Rather, as if I should like to run away."

"That's frank," said Panton.

"Well, it's the truth. I'm weak and done up, and I don't think I'm one
of the fighting sort. It doesn't seem nice either to shoot at human
beings, but I suppose we shall have to."

"Yes, it's their lives or ours, my lad; but as you say, it's not nice.
You won't think me a coward, will you, if I tell you that I feel just
the same as you do?"

"Hush! don't talk," whispered Drew, who was a little way in front,
keeping a sharp look-out, "I don't think they are far ahead. Ready to
go on?"

"Yes," said the others in a breath, and the toilsome march was resumed,
Drew, as the lightest and most active, going in front, the two sailors
following, and Oliver Lane and Panton, as the weakest of the party,
bringing up the rear.

The sun beat down with tremendous force, but the heat was forgotten in
the excitement, as, forced by circumstances to imitate the savages, the
little party crept cautiously on, taking advantage of every bit of cover
and keeping well in under the shade of the trees at the edge of the
forest. At any moment it was felt that they might come upon the rear of
the enemy, when, if undiscovered, the aim was to remain in hiding. If
seen, Drew proposed to wait until there was any attack, and then fire;
the others to follow, taking their cue from him, and without hurrying,
following one another, so as to give those who fired first time to
reload and continue a steady fusillade. This, it was hoped, would drive
the savage crew into confusion and enable the party to get on to where
they would be opposite to the brig, when they could rush across without
running the risk of being fired at by their friends, who would have had
fair warning of their appro