event of their
encountering an enemy, they might have something, at least, to defend
themselves with. Drake did so, and, as he handed it to his friend,
plunged his hand into one of his pockets and brought out something which
he also passed over to Frobisher.

"Why," exclaimed the latter in astonishment, "that's one of my own brace
of revolvers! How in the name of fortune did you get hold of it?"

"And here's the other," said Drake, showing the butt. "I got them out
of your cabin aboard the _Su-chen_--she got back safely to Tien-tsin, I
may tell you; but how I came to be aboard her, or to get up here, is too
long a yarn to spin now. Let it wait until we are in less danger than
we are in at present."

"Right you are, skipper!" answered Frobisher; "the yarn will be
interesting enough, I'll be bound. I'm glad you found these revolvers
and brought them along, for they are good barkers, and a man feels a
certain sense of security with one of them in his hand. Now, lead the
way, since you probably know it best."

Drake took a comprehensive glance at the stars, and then plunged along a
narrow and apparently seldom-trodden path through the jungle, seeming to
find his way by instinct, for the forest was so dense that the moon's
rays seldom succeeded in penetrating it.

They had been jogging along at a steady four miles an hour for about an
hour and a half, when the fugitives were startled by hearing the distant
boom of a heavy gun, proceeding apparently from the spot which they had
recently left. They at once guessed what it meant, and realised the
danger in which they still stood. Evidently Frobisher's escape had
somehow been prematurely discovered, and that gun had been fired as an
alarm. Instead of having, as they had confidently anticipated, about
eighteen or twenty hours in which to make a good start, they had gained
but an hour and a half; and the pirates would be already on their track.
True, it might take them some time to discover in which direction the
fugitives had headed; but they would assuredly make the discovery sooner
or later, and then it would be purely a question of speed.

"By Jove, Drake!" exclaimed Frobisher, "we must hurry now. Those
fellows have discovered my absence; and they will lose no time in taking
up the pursuit, you may depend. Do you know of any hiding-place that we
can make for?"

"I thought of just this thing on my way here," answered Drake, breaking
into a run, "and picked o