n beat
them off. Of course there is more risk of being discovered that way, but
I think we had better chance it."

They kept along for some distance on the side of the hill, and then,
when about a hundred yards from the huts, crawled down to the river,
crept back along the bank until they reached the boat, which was hauled
up with the native canoes on shore.

"How are we to get it down, Luka?" Godfrey whispered. "If we stand up to
carry it down those fellows by the fire, who are not twenty yards away,
must see us. If we try to push it down we are safe to make a noise."

"Wait a moment, give me knife again," Luka said; and having obtained it
he went along the line of canoes, cutting and slicing the skins from end
to end. Then he returned to Godfrey.

"They can't follow now," he said. "Once on board we are safe."

"I have been thinking, Luka, our best plan will be to lie down one on
each side, and to hoist her up as well as we can, and move her forward
inch by inch."

Luka nodded, and they separated to carry out their plan, when Jack
decided the matter by leaping on board, and sending the paddles with a
rattle to the bottom of the boat.

"Jump up, Luka, and in with her."

As they sprang up there was a shout from the three natives by the fire,
which was answered by the fierce barking of two or three score of dogs.
After a moment's hesitation two of the natives rushed back to their
yourts for their bows, while the third, who happened to have his close
at hand, fitted an arrow and discharged it hastily. As they were running
the boat down it missed its mark, and before he could shoot again the
boat was in the water, and they had sprang on board. The native ran down
to the edge with his bow bent, but Luka's bow twanged and the man fell
back with an arrow through his body. They seized the paddles and drove
the boat twenty yards into the stream, when the whole of the Samoyedes
rushed down to the bank and began to discharge their arrows.

[Illustration: GODFREY AND LUKA ESCAPING FROM THE SAMOYEDES.]

"Lie flat down, Luka," Godfrey said, setting the example, "the stream
will take us."

There was a great jabber of voices on the bank.

"The chief is telling them to take to their canoes," Luka said laughing.
"You will hear some shouts directly. The water won't begin to come in
through the slits till they put their weight in the canoes."

Godfrey lifted his head for a moment and saw five or six of the natives
on the