reptiles of the river had seized him; and then he knew that he was lying
in the bottom of the boat, and someone was pouring brandy between his
lips.

"I just ketched the glint of his white face under the water," said a
voice which seemed to be Dick's, "and ketched hold of his jacket. It
was a near touch, and no mistake."

"Give way, my lads, give way!" was the next thing Bob Roberts heard; and
as if in a dream he made out that they were rowing fast in chase of the
prahu, which, with all her sweeps out on either side, was going rapidly
through the water, her object being to get down to the tidal way at the
lower part of the river, where there were mangrove-fringed creeks and
inlets by the hundred, offering her a secure hiding-place from her
indefatigable assailant.

"We shan't never ketch her, sir," growled Dick.

"No," replied the lieutenant, sharply, "but we'll hang on to her to the
last. How far are we now from the steamer?"

"Not two miles, I should think, sir."

"Make ready then, marines," he cried, "and fire after her; hit her, if
you can. Two fire at a time--mind, slowly and steadily. They will hear
it on board, and be on the look-out, and if they don't sink her as she
goes by them, why, it's a wonder."

Almost directly after there was the report of a couple of rifles, and
then two more at half-minute intervals, while right on ahead, in the
darkness, they could hear the heavy beat of the prahu's sweeps, and knew
that she was going more rapidly than they.

"How are you now, Roberts?" said the lieutenant, kindly.

"Coming round, Mr Johnson," said Bob. "Thank-ye for picking me up."

"Keep your thanks for to-morrow, Roberts," said the lieutenant,
bitterly. "How vexatious to make such a mess of the affair?"

"There's another one a-coming, sir," said Dick, softly. "You can hear
the oars beating right behind us, sir."

The lieutenant listened.

"There must be a great curve in the river here," he said, "one that we
did not notice in the fog."

"Then it's a precious big curve, sir, that's all I can say," exclaimed
old Dick; "for if that ain't t'other prahu coming down, with all sweeps
out, I'm a Dutchman."

"They never can have failed the same as we have," exclaimed the
lieutenant, listening. "No--yes--no. You are right, Dick, my man.
Cease firing there. Make ready, my lads, and we'll plump every shot we
have into this one as she comes abreast, and then lay the boat
alongside, and board her i