r the flat country beyond the tangle of
the river margin, but nothing could be distinguished in the darkness.

"No look--lissen, sar!" chattered the sailor.

There was no sound save the rustling of grasses and the lapping of
waters. Then, after a moment of hush, far away in the black void a shot
rang out, followed by others in swift succession. Silence again, and
more shots, nearer than before, and a solitary cry. The ensuing period
of quiet was longer than the last; but when again rifle shots crashed
out, they were so near that the watchers on the hummock could see and
count the flashes.

"Seven, I counted," said Little. "What is it?"

"Cap'n, there's men right beside us, along th' bank," Bill Blunt
reported. "They ain't natives, neither. More like them navy chaps."

"Better line out in case they're like those fellows who put you on the
ant hills, Barry," said Gordon anxiously. "Of course, they may be right,
but--"

"Haf no fears, mine friendts," rumbled. Houten, looming up like a hill
in the blackness. "All dis iss planned. Dose mans beside us are real
navy mans. I toldt you all iss vell. It iss mooch better dis vay."

"Then it must be Vandersee's big drive," exclaimed Barry, suddenly
enlightened. "How about a little light to help him, hey, Houten?"

"Goot. Jah, make a fire, Captain."

Rolfe and some hands hastily built a huge bonfire of dry brushwood on
the damp grass behind the hummock, and beaters were set to prevent the
fire spreading out of hand. Then, as a match was set to it and little
tongues of flame began to take hold, Barry lined out his men and waited
for a clear sight of events. Shots now crashed out so near that the men
firing could be seen in the intensifying light of the crackling fire;
still no shot came back in answer. The steady, relentless pursuit drew
near, and the fugitives began to whimper and howl in panic. They broke
and drove blindly for the river, to meet the colossal bulk of Houten,
silent, impassive, standing out like a mountain to bar their flight; and
the _Barang's_ men, lined beside him, joined the first of a line of
cool, steady naval seamen whose end numbers were still beyond the
lighted area.

"Throw down your guns, or we'll drop you!" cried Barry, and the flying
fugitives halted in dismay while two white men, the leaders, cursed them
venomously and bade them fight.

"Stop, Barry, don't fire!" came back the level, placid voice of
Vandersee, and then the completeness of t