ook out!" shouted Ned. "You'll be over."

For a sudden puff of wind had caught the boat in front, and she heeled
over so much with the large spread of sail that the water began to creep
in over the leeward side. But at a word from the mate half-a-dozen men
shifted their positions to windward, and there were two or three inches
clear once more, as the boat with her three sails well-filled began to
rush through the water.

"And now they're goin' to take us under," said Ned, nervously seizing
the side with one hand. "My word, we are beginning to go."

"Yes; this is different to rowing," cried the doctor, as their boat
danced about and ran swiftly through the disturbed water left by their
companion. "But, unfortunately, the wind will help the canoes as much
as it helps us."

"But if it does not help them more, we shall be up to the yacht first."

"There's another side to that, Jack," said the doctor; "suppose they
sail faster than we do. What then?"

This was unanswerable, and they sat back in the boat, running through
the water with a little wave ever-widening on either side.

"I hope the painter won't give way," said the doctor at last, "and that
they will not leave us behind."

"They'd miss us directly," said Jack. "Their boat would go so much
faster."

"Couldn't go faster than she is. Why, Jack, it must be a clever canoe
that can beat us."

"Goes too fast to please me," whispered the man at the first
opportunity. "Strikes me, Mr Jack, that one of these times when they
swing over to the left so they'll drag us under, so that our boat will
fill and go down; and if we do, what about that there pig?"

"What pig?" said Jack wonderingly.

"Why, you know, sir, close in there as we came along. If there's things
in this water that can pull down pigs, won't they be likely to pull down
us?"

"There's plenty of real trouble to think about," said Jack quietly,
"without our trying to make out imaginary ones. The boat will not
fill."

"Eh? what's that?" said the doctor; "this boat fill? Oh no; she rides
over the water like a cork. Can't see anything of the enemy, Jack; the
spray along the reef makes a regular curtain, and shuts off everything.
I hope it hides us well from our black friends, for I don't want to get
into a row of that kind. Well, Ned, if it comes to the worst, do you
think you can manage a gun?"

"Cleaned Sir John's guns often enough, sir."

"Yes, but can you shoot?"

"That means hold