able to employ the second boat in bringing water on
board as, if heavily laden, the water would force its way in
through the hastily-executed repairs. The captain, then,
accompanied by Harry and an armed crew, took his place in her; and
went ahead of the larger boat into the stream.

It was found to be but three or four feet deep, with a slow current
and, for some little distance up, was too brackish to be used. It
was not until they entered the line of forest that it was found
fresh enough. The men in the first cutter proceeded to fill their
casks, while those in the other boat laid in their oars and, musket
in hand, watched the forest. In a few minutes the work was done,
and the first cutter rowed straight for the brig; while the second
cutter followed her, for some distance beyond the trees, and there
waited for her return.

"So far, so good," Fairclough said; "but I am afraid that we shall
be disturbed, before we have made another trip. No doubt, some of
the natives followed the cutter along the shore, yesterday. I don't
suppose they recognized what your object was, as you did not enter
the stream; but when they saw the brig going the same way this
morning, I have no doubt that they set off in this direction.
However, with one more boat load we can manage, well enough, until
we reach the Hooghly for, with this wind, we shall make a quick
run."

In a quarter of an hour the cutter was seen returning and, when it
approached them, Fairclough again took the lead. All appeared still
in the forest, and the men had just begun to refill the casks, when
a shower of arrows fell among the boats.

"Let half your men go on with their work, Mr. Hardy, and the others
stand to their arms."

Not a single foe was visible, but the arrows still flew fast from
among the trees.

"Open fire!" Fairclough said. "Fire anywhere among the bushes. I
don't suppose that we shall hit them, but it may frighten them.
They can't know much about firearms."

From both boats a scattering fire of musketry at once opened, the
men loading and firing as quickly as they could. The effect was
immediate. Arrows still fell, but only occasionally; and evidently
shot at random, for but few of them came near the boats.

The men in the first cutter were working energetically, dipping
breakers into the water and emptying them into the large casks. In
three or four minutes these were filled, and Hardy hailed the
captain.

"We are full up, now, sir, both