flash he remembered the banco on the lake, the other sounds he had
heard. Also he remembered that Sicto wanted the same treasures that
he coveted. He had been followed by the bully, and now, without his
bow and arrows, he was helpless. To gain the lake again, he must
pass through that treacherous creek, and he knew that Sicto would
think nothing of robbing him and hastening to the village to buy
the treasures with Piang's hard-earned bright sand. Somewhere those
wicked eyes were watching him from the foliage, but Piang bravely
covered his misgivings.

There were two trails to the village; one lay to the west through
the lake that he had crossed; the other was straight ahead, down the
river. But there were cataracts on this river, and Piang wondered if
he could make his way on foot from the head of the first one to the
right trail. He decided to take the risk and quickly headed his banco
in that direction. As he started down the river, he heard a howl of
rage, and glancing back, saw Sicto preparing to follow.

So! It was to be a race! Piang had foiled the bully, and his little
heart beat faster as he realized the consequences if Sicto should
catch him. Piang had a good start, but the river was so treacherous,
the eddies so powerful, that sometimes his boat seemed to stand still
or almost turn around when it was caught by the counter-current. How
he loved his slim little craft! Whenever possible, it obeyed his wish,
and he chuckled to see Sicto struggling with his heavy boat. If he
could only reach the first head-water and land on the opposite shore,
he would not fear defeat. For who was more fleet-footed than Piang,
who more able to ferret his way through the almost impenetrable jungle?

Cautiously he watched the shore; he had been this way only once before,
and wondered if he could remember where the trail began at the water's
edge. The current was so swift here that it was hardly necessary to
paddle at all; so he rested to examine the shore.

But what was the matter with Sicto? Why had he stopped paddling? In a
flash it came over Piang that the cataract was near, and he started to
back water with all his might. To his horror he found that he could not
control the boat; fight as he would, it paid no heed to his struggle,
but dashed on toward the waterfall. At first Piang thought he would
swim, but realized that he would be swept over just the same. There
was only one thing to be done--he must ride the cataract. Sicto