ojer!"

"What is it!" cried Tom, drawing out the empty cartridge case and
putting in a new one. "Why, you don't mean to say--"

"But I just do mean to say it!" cried Bob, stamping about and laughing
as he opened the breech of his gun, and drew out two empty cases, to
replace with full.

"Not loaded!"

"No," cried Bob, "That moment, you know, I shot at the snipes, and
hadn't time to load again. Did you ever see such a game, keeping those
chaps off with an empty gun? Oh, I say, don't!"

This last was in consequence of the energetic action taken by the two
poor girls, who, seeing themselves now safe, began to demonstrate their
gratitude by hysterical cries and sobs, seizing and kissing the lads'
hands, and finally placing their arms round them and kissing their
cheeks.

"Oh, this is awful!" cried Tom Long, who was blushing like a girl.

"I shall be compelled to tell my mamma!" said Bob. "There, there, it's
all right. Come, give me your hand, Semiramis, or Cleopatra, or
whatever your name is, and let us make haste down to the river before it
is too late."

The girl seemed to understand him, and ceased sobbing as she prepared to
continue the flight, the other clinging to Tom Long's left hand.

"I say, though, let's have the birds," said Bob, stooping to pick them
up; but the girl snatched them from him, to carry them herself.

"Yes, Tom, old fellow; no doubt about it, they're slaves. Come along,
or we shall be cut off. It's not polite to let the ladies carry the
baggage, but as we are the escort we must be prepared to fight."

"I say!" cried Tom Long, "do you know the way?"

"Not I," said Bob; "don't you?"

"Not the ghost of an idea!" cried Tom.

The girls were watching them, and evidently in a state of great
excitement were trying to comprehend their words; but as soon as they
saw their indecision, and their bold start off in the direction they
imagined to be correct, then the slave girls understood their dilemma
and stopped them, gesticulating and shaking their heads as they pointed
in a quite fresh direction.

"They know where the ship lies, see if they don't," said Bob. "Let's
trust them."

"But suppose they lead us wrong?" replied Tom.

"Not they," cried Bob. "They'll lead us right away. Come along, my
fair specimens of chocolate a vanille; and the sooner we are safe under
the British flag, the better I shall like it."

The girls started off at a sharp walk, and then made signs that they