to fear that they would never
be able to reach the periagua in time. To be overtaken meant the same
as to be dragged down upon the sand, and torn to pieces by the sharp
tusks of the peccaries. The periagua was still three hundred yards
distant. The Indians saw the chase, and knew the danger--knew it so
well, that it was not likely they would venture ashore to the rescue;
and as for Pouchskin, he was unable to budge an inch--even had there
been no other means of saving his young masters. It was a moment of
fearful apprehension for the faithful Pouchskin. He had seized his
fusil, and wriggled his body into an erect attitude; but he felt
powerless to do more.

In this moment of peril an object came under the eyes of Alexis that
promised safety. At least it held out the prospect of a temporary
retreat from the danger--though whether they might succeed in reaching
this retreat was not certain.

This object was a tree--not standing and growing, but a fallen tree--
dead, and divested of its leaves, its bark, and most of its branches.
It lay upon the sand-spit--where it had, no doubt, been deposited during
the season of floods--not exactly in the line of their flight, but some
paces to the right of the track they would have followed in keeping on
to the periagua. It was nearer them than the boat, by full two hundred
yards; and Alexis observing this, suddenly conceived a hope that they
might yet reach the tree, and find shelter, either upon its trunk or
among its branches. Of these the larger ones still remained--rising
many feet above the surface of the sand, and shrouded under masses of
weeds and withered grass, which had been there deposited at the falling
of the flood. Indeed, Alexis scarce looked to the capabilities the tree
afforded for giving them a secure retreat. There was no alternative.
It was like the drowning man catching at straws. He only cast a look
behind him, to see what time they might have to spare; and by a quick
glance calculating their distance from the pursuers, he shouted to Ivan
to follow him, and turned obliquely towards the tree.

They had noticed the tree when first starting to run, but had not
thought of it as a place of retreat. Indeed, they had thought of
nothing except getting back to the boat; and it was only now, when this
had proved clearly impossible, that they determined on taking to the
tree.

As they faced full towards it, they were able to note the chances it
offered for