skets are, I believe, all loaded."

"All right, sir," said Jack. "I loaded them before I placed them in the
canoe, and I do not think those black fellows will stand a taste of our
bullets."

Poor little Bella looked very much frightened when she heard us talk of
firing.

"They will not fire unless there is absolute necessity for it," I heard
Kate say to her. "You know, Bella, it will only be done if we have to
defend ourselves."

The current was so strong and our canoes moved so swiftly that we were
quickly leaving the main body of Pangwes. We heard their shouts of rage
and disappointment as they saw us escaping them. Horrid as were those
shrieks and cries, they of course only made us paddle the harder; but
still I felt anxious lest the smaller body I have spoken of might
outstrip us.

"Suppose the Pangwes try to cut us off at another place, could we not
haul our canoes up and make our escape overland?" exclaimed Natty,
showing that he had understood the reason of the movement we had
observed.

"We might escape them, certainly, for the moment," I answered; "but we
could not proceed on our journey without our canoes."

"But we might return and get them, or drag them overland," he observed.

"That would be a task, I fear, too great for our strength," I said.
"But your suggestion, Natty, is worthy of consideration, if we are
hard-pressed."

I told Stanley what Natty had said.

"I hope we shall not be obliged to do that," he answered. "Paddle away,
lads; we shall soon, I hope, see the last of them."

On we went, the river now making its way through a thick forest, the
trees coming down to the very water's edge; now again it opened, and low
prairie land was seen on the eastern side. The level appearance of the
country made me fear that the river might make some bend such as I
supposed our enemies were attempting to reach. The banks were, however,
too high to enable us to see to a distance. At any moment they might
appear on the shore. At length the banks became somewhat lower, and,
standing up, I caught sight of a body of men hurrying across the
prairie. They were, however, at a considerable distance behind us; and
now it evidently depended on whether we should reach the supposed narrow
place before them or not. I had often read of heroines; but as I looked
at the calm countenance of Kate, showing that she was resolved to go
through all danger without flinching, I could not help thinking that she
de