ays will when work is to be done, bending bravely to
their oars. They also, as had the other boat, met a strong current.

"Hurrah, my lads, hurrah!" shouted the lieutenant, bending forward
almost mechanically to give time to their strokes. "If the chase has
gone up the channel, we must take care that she does not creep away from
us, that is all."

"Ay, ay, sir," answered Dick Needham. "No fear but we'll hunt her up if
she is above water."

In a chase on shore some signs discernible either by the eyes or the
olfactory nerves are perceptible by which the pursuers may be guided,
but the gallant seamen had only hope on this occasion to lead them on.
That, however, was enough. The scenery of this branch was as monotonous
as that of the other. Mangrove bushes, with a few tall palms appearing
over them, lined the banks, and here and there an opening left blank by
nature, or perhaps made by the dark-skinned natives.

"I wonder if, after all, the schooner did come up this way," observed
Paddy Adair sagaciously. "If she went up the other, I don't think she
could."

His remark of course produced a laugh. No great amount of wit was
required to do that. They looked about in every direction, to discover
some one from whom they might obtain information, but no one was seen.

"It is not very likely the black fellows would trouble themselves with
telling us the truth, so it doesn't much matter," said Paddy. "They are
all in league with the slavers, from the king who dresses up on great
occasions in a cocked-hat, top-boots, and an old blanket, to poor
Quasho, who has never had his nakedness covered since he was born."

Notwithstanding their want of success, still they perseveringly pulled
on.

Suddenly Murray put his hand on Adair's shoulder, pointing at the same
time with the other ahead. "I say, Terence, what do you see away there
at the end of the reach?" he asked. "Does it not look to you like the
stern of a vessel?"

"So like it that it must be one," said Hemming. "Hurrah! the slaver
must be ours after all."

Just at that moment the sound of firearms coming from a distance was
heard, borne faintly on the wind through an opening in the mangrove
bushes. Shot after shot followed. "The other boat must have fallen in
with some of the rascals; the two channels cannot be far apart,"
exclaimed Mr Hemming. "Give way, my lads, give way."

He could not help in his eagerness saying this, although the men were
alread