heir plan was necessary. He agreed to act as their guide.
They were to assume the character of slave boys belonging to a distant
tribe whom he was conducting to his uncle, a chief of some influence in
the country, and who was secretly favourable to the English. Wasser,
the negro lad, assured them that he was very glad they had not ventured
to make the attempt by themselves, as their detection would have been
almost certain. Hemming delayed as long as he could before embarking,
and he promised to wait for Murray and Adair some way down the river
while they went on their expedition. Their boat, with Dick Needham,
their new friend Wasser, and three other picked men, all well-armed,
shoved off with the other boats, and soon darting in towards a sheltered
nook, which they had before observed, lay as they believed perfectly
concealed from all passers-by. Wasser, however, advised them to cut
down boughs, and to fasten them in front of the boat. This they did,
and, as Paddy observed, they could not desire to pass the day in a
pleasanter way than in a shady bower with nothing to do and plenty to
eat.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN.

A FLIGHT FOR LIFE.

The time passed slowly by while the _Archer's_ boat, with Murray, Adair,
and Dick Needham aboard, and the young African lad Wasser, lay hid under
the bank of the river, waiting for the time when they might sally forth
to the rescue of Jack Rogers. Everybody was eager for the moment, for
all longed to have him safe among them.

Wasser's deep gratitude to Hemming was very remarkable, after a
separation of so many years, as was also his recollecting him. Murray
felt sure that if any one could rescue Jack Rogers, Wasser was the
person to do it. The day at length passed away, and after the party had
taken a supper, as soon as Wasser thought it was safe, they issued forth
from their leafy bower, and with rapid strokes pulled up the stream
towards the fort which had been the scene of contest. Wasser remarked
that none of the blacks would be venturing there at night, and that it
would be the best place for the boat to remain at. Murray and Adair
only landed. Needham had directions to wait for them till within an
hour of daylight, and then, if they did not appear, to conclude that
they were taken, and to pull down as hard as he could to inform Mr
Hemming, and to bring him up to their assistance.

Wasser led the way, Alick and Paddy following close after him. Little
would any of th