succeeded by a splash. Then another splash, and while, with
their nerves all on the strain, they listened trembling with excitement,
there was another faint gurgling cry; but, instead of being from the
direction in which their rescuer had gone, it was close to them in the
river, and ceased at once, to be heard again more faintly lower down.

"Oh, Ned," whispered Frank, passionately, "that was poor old Hamet.
They've krissed him, and thrown him in the river."

"Can't we help him?" panted Ned, knowing as he spoke that they were only
vain words.

"No--no--no," groaned Frank. "And hark! They're coming after us."

For there were shouts, and quite close at hand the glow of torches
dimly-seen above the trees, while as the boys strained their eyes in the
direction, Ned jerked Frank's arm.

"Hark!" he whispered; "some one's crawling along the path. Can't we
run?"

"Can't we fly?" said Frank, bitterly. "It's all over."

"Hist! quick!" came from the water; "get in."

There was the sound of wood brushing against the bushes, and a dark
object rose in front of them.

"The boat!" said Frank, excitedly. "Hurrah! In with you, Ned."

The latter needed no second admonition, but sprang in against the man
who was holding on by the boughs, and as the boy stumbled and fell,
Frank followed.

It was none too soon, for there was a sharp rustling behind them,
something dark sprang right after them, and another black figure, which
had struggled through the tunnel-like passage, rose up; but the boat was
loosened, their rescuer struck out fiercely, and the man who had tried
to leap on board fell back into the water with a splash, and they heard
him dragging himself out just as there was a peculiar thud close to
where Ned stood.

"What was that?" he whispered.

"Spear," said the man, laconically; and they heard him drag the weapon
out of the thwart into which it had stuck.

The shouting continued, and it was as if two parties were answering one
another; but the sounds grew more distant, and Ned realised that they
were gliding down the stream.

"They'll come after us in another boat," panted Ned.

"No. No boat," said the man.

"Oh, Hamet, old chap," whispered Frank, "we thought they had krissed
you, and that we heard you go down the river."

"No," said the man, quietly. "Two men keeping boat. Not hurt."

Ned felt a strange shrinking sensation, and his imagination supplied the
facts of the case, as he mentally saw thei