, rapidly
increasing, was shifting to the north-west, and they might at any moment
find themselves on a lee shore. They had also got so far from the
harbour they had left that it was evident that they could not manage to
get back.

"They'll not desert us, lads, depend upon that," said Uncle Jack, as we
saw them standing away from the coast; "we can neither overtake them nor
land while those fellows on shore show so unfriendly a disposition. We
must try and get back to the village where we procured our guides,
though I don't know what sort of reception we shall meet with when their
friends hear that we have lost one of them. It will be a long pull and
a heavy one, for we shall have a head sea as soon as we get clear of
this bay."

"Why not then make for yonder island to the eastward?" I observed.
"These savages, who don't appear to have any canoes, cannot follow us
there, and we shall be able to remain in safety until our friends come
to take us off."

"We may have to follow your suggestion, Harry, but we must first try to
get back to the river to land our guide according to our promise. He
has proved faithful, and we will supply him with goods with which he may
be able to ransom his companion."

This was said as we were pulling out of the bay, but no sooner did we
get beyond the point than we met so heavy a sea that it was impossible
to pull the whale boat against it, and we were in danger of being
swamped. Our only alternative was, as I proposed, to run for the
island. Even now we had to pull hard to avoid the following seas which
threatened to poop us. We saw the savages on shore dancing, shouting,
and gesticulating when they discovered that we had escaped them. On
finding, however, that we were steering for the island they rushed along
the beach in the same direction, which made us fear that they might
possess the means of crossing over to it, and that after all we should
have to fight for our lives. We had not much apprehension, however, as
to the result. Uncle Jack intended to pull round to the lee side of the
island, and then, should they persist in attacking us, we could shoot
them down from the boat while we kept out of range of their arrows.

As we pulled along we watched the two vessels which were getting further
and further from the coast, although the ship had only her fore and
mizen topsail set, and the brig was under equally snug canvas.

Aided by the wind the boat went faster than the sa