o stopped work. What could it mean?

No one of the white people stirred or whispered. Could they have done
so they would have checked the beating of their hearts through fear of
being betrayed. Surely something had awakened the suspicion of the
natives.

Suddenly some one spoke on board the craft. The voice was audible, but
the doctor, who was a master of Hindoostanee, could not catch what was
said. At the same instant a splash was heard, and the lank form bent
over, as he pressed the long pole against the bottom of the river and
resumed his slow walking toward the stern. The noise of paddles, too,
was heard again. The craft had resumed its progress, and for an
instant every one believed it was about to pass by. Then Jack Everson
said:

"By heaven! they're coming for us!"

All saw that the boat was swinging around so as to head toward them.

"Into the cabin, quick!" commanded the doctor, and the women quickly
scrambled out of sight, while the men lay down, so as to screen their
bodies as much as possible.

"It won't do to let them come too near," added the physician. "Try to
make every shot tell."

As he spoke he took the best aim he could and fired. Jack Everson was
but a moment behind him, and Anderson discharged his gun almost
simultaneously.

CHAPTER XII.

A WHITE MAN'S VICTORY.

It was clear that the reception was a stunning surprise to the Asiatics
in the other boat. In times of confusion and terror strong men often
sit dazed and meekly submit to massacre when sturdy resistance would
leave a far different tale to tell. Such was the case at Meerut, at
Delhi, at Cawnpore, at Lucknow and scores of places where the human
fiends revelled in massacre and crime.

But here, where evidently the same submissiveness was expected, the
miscreants were fired upon before they had discharged a single shot
themselves. Not only that, but the Caucasians kept the thing up. This
was contrary to all rule and precedent.

If, however, the white men did not wait to be slain, neither did the
dusky barbarians sit still and allow themselves to be shot down. They
ceased paddling and appealed to their guns, whose bullets began
whistling about the heads of the defenders in the other boat.

Who of our friends did it will never be known, but one of them
perforated the gaunt scoundrel who, with his form bent over, was
pushing the pole while he stalked the length of the boat, returning
again to the prow to rep