uted, for the burly Dutchman, since he had
become fully awake, seemed to be endeavouring to collect his wits. The
report of the rifle had brought him languidly to his feet, and now he
stared at his two comrades in amazement, wholly unable to understand the
need for such bustling, or for so much excitement.

"Bud whad is zis?" he demanded. "Is id ze middle of ze nighd, or--
whad?"

"It means that you've been asleep when you ought to have been keeping
watch," answered Mr Pepson, bluntly. "Some thieves have cut our boats
adrift, and one is being poled away. Don't stare, Meinheer. Take the
rope Dick has thrown and make it fast. Then follow as soon as you have
steam. Johnnie, get that fire to blaze."

He stepped into the native craft and took the pole which Dick offered
him.

"Ready?" asked Dick.

A loud splash was the only answer, as Mr Pepson let his pole fall into
the water. Dick followed suit, and in a little while they were shooting
down the river, which in these parts was sufficiently shallow to allow
of poling.

"Keep her in near the bank, sir," sang out Dick. "It gets deeper out
there, and I've noticed that the fellow who is poling is sometimes
unable to bottom. We are getting nearer already. Can we try a shot?"

"Wait," was the answer. "We have him in any case. He cannot escape us,
and if we only keep him in sight he cannot take our goods. Keep on as
we are till we are certain of a shot. If he tries to make to the
opposite shore, where all is dense shadow, we will drop our poles and
fire together."

Ten minutes later they had overhauled the runaway to some extent, and
when half an hour had passed they judged that they were within easy
distance.

"Try a shot," said Mr Pepson. "Your young eyes are better than mine.
Don't hesitate, my lad. These fellows are rogues and would kill us
without a thought. We must teach them a lesson."

Till that moment our hero would not have thought of hesitating, for he
had felt the excitement of the chase, and he realised that he had to do
with robbers who no doubt would have no scruples in killing him were he
to come upon them. But just then the excitement had lessened somewhat.
They were overhauling the chase without a doubt, and the figure poling
the runaway boat looked so harmless there in the moonlight. Also he
appeared to be unarmed. However, an order was an order, and his duty
was plain. He dropped his pole into the bottom of the boat, picked up