raft had not materially changed. The larger had perceptibly gained
upon the smaller; but a good distance still separated them, and both
parties were doing their utmost. The wind was blowing stronger than at
mid-day, but it was not such a gale as had been feared, and our
friends were not without hope of eluding the natives, who were
endeavoring to overtake them.

Inez Hawthorne could not avoid seeing how matters stood, though she
was far from suspecting the whole truth. Mr. Storms told her that the
other boat contained pirates, who were doing their utmost to overtake
them, and they were striving their hardest to prevent it. As it stood,
there was a prospect of a fight, in which she would likely be called
upon to take part. She smiled, looked reverently upward, and said she
was ready whenever needed, and then she remained as cool and watchful
as either of her friends.

Mr. Storms advised her not to go to sleep, as the coming night must
decide the case one way or the other for them.

"No fear of my sleeping," she said. "I realize our position too well
to do that."

"And Inez," whispered Storms, "these two savages on board are the
worst sort of men. Keep watch, and do not place yourself in too
dangerous a position respecting them."

"I have been alarmed more than once at their looks and mutterings."

As the sun went down, it was a curious sight when the double canoe
rose on a swell and was outlined against the flaming disc behind, as
we have described the ship and the moon more than three years before.

The sight was a strange one, though it lasted but a moment, when the
craft went down, and the smaller proa swiftly climbed the long slope
of the watery mountain in front. The round moon speedily rose in the
sky, and it was so bright that it was hard to tell when twilight ended
and its light began.

Never did Storms and Sanders long for utter darkness more than on the
present occasion. Had the moon been obscured, they would have made a
sharp turn in their flight, with every prospect of throwing the others
completely off their trail, and with every reason to hope for a clean
escape before sunrise.

But the flood of moon light prevented either proa losing sight of the
other.

"There's only one thing left to us now," said the young captain.

"And that's to fight."

Fred nodded his head.

"Well, we can do that. But I wish we were well rid of these fellows
with us. It puts us between two fires, and there can be no