was clear, and it might be fatal to wait any longer.

With a muttered prayer to Heaven not to desert him in his peril, he let
himself down in the river, and struck out for the shore. He proceeded with
all the care and stillness of which he was capable; but he had taken no
more than half a dozen strokes, when he was seen by both the sailors.

"Hello! what's that?" asked Bob, running to the stern of the vessel, and
peering over in the gloom.

"I guess it am a whale," suggested Sam, anxious to befriend the lad.

"A whale!" repeated the man with an oath, "it's that kid. Hello, there!
Stop, or I'll shoot you!"

And he pointed his revolver at the head of Jim, who, instead of heeding
the command, sank beneath the surface, swimming as far as he could before
coming up. When he reappeared he was a dozen yards from the schooner.

The very moment he came up the villain discharged two shots from his
pistol directly at his head.

"Look out, or dey'll hit yous!" called Sam, unable to repress his
solicitude for the boy.

Could the miscreant finish the lad when swimming, it would be as good a
way as any to dispose of him.

It looked as if he had succeeded, for Jim uttered a groan, and sank out of
sight.

But it was only a trick intended to deceive the sailor.

The latter observed the head as it reappeared, still nearer shore, and he
fired again, two shots, as before. The other sailor, fearful of a miss,
was hastily lowering a boat.

He worked so expeditiously that the craft dropped into the water the next
minute. Both sprang into the boat, and began rowing with might and main in
pursuit of the fugitive.

Poor Sam could only stay on deck, in a torment of fear, while he prayed
the good Lord to protect the boy.

When the little boat left the side of the larger one, Jim Travers had
improved the precious moments to the utmost.

He had already passed over the greater part of the intervening distance,
and never in all his life did he swim as now. And there was need of it,
for the pursuers were determined he should not escape them.

Providentially, none of the bullets had struck him, though one or two had
passed very near.

Jim cast a terrified glance over his shoulder, and saw the boat coming
with great speed toward him.

There was no escape by diving, for there was too much light from the moon.

He must reach land far enough in advance to give him an opportunity to
flee or hide himself.

A second after, Jim dropped hi