tter get a broadside ready and give it
them?" exclaimed Jack. "They are more likely to treat us with respect
if we show that we are well-armed."

"I would advise you not to fire unless hard-pressed," said Senhor Silva.
"We will show our muskets, but they are fierce warriors, and even
should a few be killed, the rest would not be daunted, and would
probably pursue us till a more narrow part of the river is reached, when
they might overwhelm us with their spears and poisoned arrows."

"Let me now take the paddle, Kate," said David, who had placed Igubo at
the bottom of the canoe, resting his head on a bundle. "My arm is
stronger than yours, my sister, and in case the savages attack us, you
and Bella must lie down at the bottom of the canoe."

The canoes glided rapidly down the stream, making the water hiss and
bubble under their bows. Had we not had the two helpless girls to
protect, the adventure would have been an exciting one, which few of us
would have objected to go through. The Pangwes, shouting and shrieking,
and shaking their spears and shields, had now reached the banks of the
river. It seemed scarcely possible that we could escape them. Not,
however, till David had again and again pressed them, would his sisters
consent to place themselves in greater safety at the bottom of the
canoe. The crew of Stanley's canoe plied their paddles vigorously, and
kept just ahead of us. We needed no exhortation from him to follow
their example.

We had now got almost abreast of where the savages were standing. Every
instant I expected to see them draw their bows, with those deadly
poisoned shafts; or hurl their spears, which I knew too well could reach
to a great distance. I saw Timbo eyeing them very calmly.

"If we were to fire a broadside into them now, it would soon put them to
flight," cried Jack.

We, however, kept on without apparently noticing them. As we
approached, they increased their shouts. Some of their chiefs seemed to
be going among them, urging them to rush into the stream. Happily the
river was here much wider than above us, and continued so for some
distance down. A sandbank appeared in the middle. We trusted that a
channel might be found on the right side of it, away from where the
savages stood. We now saw several men with swords in their hands, urged
by their chiefs, rush into the stream.

"See, see!" cried Timbo; "what are those creatures on the sandbank?"

I looked ahead, and ther