calls in imitation of the mina-bird went wailing
through the night. What was Kali's surprise to hear the answer a few
yards in front of him! And what was that dark shape bobbing up and
down on the boom?

While he watched, amazed, the big clumsy logs divided, and swung slowly
out, leaving the channel clear. Piang had severed the ratan thongs.

"Leeeee lelele ouiiiiii!" crashed through the night, and Kali
recognized his tribal war-cry.

"Piang! Piang!" he cried. The dark shape, clinging to the drifting
boom answered, and Kali rushed toward it. Before the enemy could
gather their scattered wits, the whole party was sweeping by, on
toward freedom. As Kali bore down on Piang, the boy raised himself
to meet the raft. It was coming at a terrific rate, and he feared it
would knock him off the boom; measuring the distance, he prepared to
leap. On came the raft, Kali leaning far over the side, arms extended
to grab the boy. When Kali was only a few yards off, Piang screamed:

"_Boia! boia!_" ("Crocodile! crocodile!") The men on the raft saw the
water stir and hurled spear and arrow, but they glanced off the scaly
hide. It was a race with death, and what a miserable death for Piang,
their idol! The boy grew cold and sick as he waited. Suddenly the raft
paused, held in check by Kali's pole. Piang almost fainted. What was
his chief doing? In a moment he realized that the quick action had
saved his life. The raft swerved, bumped against the crocodile, and
came between it and Piang. The next moment Piang was in Kali's arms.

In the light of the gray dawn, Sicto watched these two as they gazed
into each other's eyes; they swept triumphantly by, heedless of
flying arrows. The radiant fire-tree blooms still clustered around
Piang's head, and his sacred charm gleamed in the early light. Firmly
believing that spirits had aided Piang in his remarkable feat, Sicto
trembled with fear, and, with a last glance at the victorious charm
boy, he turned and fled into the jungle.

Wonderingly, Kali Pandapatan and his followers viewed the new cut-off
as they floated by. Amazed, they listened to the marvelous tale. Old
Dato Kali Pandapatan laid his hands once again on his favorite's head:

"Little brother," he said, "this shall be known as Piang's
Cut-off. Some day you will be the greatest dato in Mindanao."

FIFTH ADVENTURE

RIDING THE CATARACT

News that a strange craft had put into Cotabato reached Piang in his
mountain home. Hur