e, and at length the increasing light revealed a small
island a little way further down the stream. I trusted that by our
exertions we might reach it. We continued straining every nerve.
Rapidly the canoe was borne down sideways towards it. "A few strokes
more and we shall be there," I cried out. "Work away, boys, work away."
In spite of our exertions down glided the canoe, and the end of the
island was passed. Still, we might reach some part of the side of the
island. Had I been alone I might almost have leaped on shore. The
moment was a fearfully anxious one. I could distinguish the southern
end of the island. If we failed to reach that we must be lost. Trees
overhung the banks. I gave a few more desperate strokes, and drove the
canoe forward till her bows just touched the shore. "Leap out!" I
cried. The canoe swung round. Natty seized the branch of a tree which
hung down close to him, and swung himself up. I thought Leo and Mango
had done the same, for I saw Leo clinging to a branch of a tree, and the
black springing with the painter in his hand towards the shore. I
therefore, seizing my gun and ammunition, leaped to the bank. What was
my horror the next instant to see Leo fall back into the boat, the
branch he had caught hold of breaking, and the black boy still holding
on to the painter floating after the canoe. Leo seemed scarcely
conscious of his own danger, but rushing to Mango, assisted to drag him
in. My impulse was to spring into the water and try to regain the
canoe, but just then Natty's voice reached me, crying, "Oh, help me,
Andrew! help me!" and I saw that, though clinging to a branch, he could
not manage, laden as he was, to climb along it so as to gain the shore
in safety. I hurried to assist him, my heart sinking at the thought of
what would become of Leo and Mango. I clambered along the tree, and at
length got hold of Natty, but it required some caution to prevent us
both falling off into the water. I got him, however, safe on shore, and
then we hurried together to the south point, anxiously looking for the
canoe. Leo and his companion had got out their paddles, and were
working away in what appeared an utterly vain attempt to reach the north
bank before the canoe would be hurried down the cataract. Natty wrung
his hands in despair.

"Oh, how could it have happened?" he exclaimed, "I would have done
anything rather than let Leo go. What is to be done? what is to be
done?"