ld run out easily, and they then
prepared for the first attempt.

[Illustration: PITA TRIES STEPHEN'S PLAN IN ORDER TO ESCAPE FROM THE
WHIRLPOOL.]

CHAPTER XVIII.

CAPTURED BY INDIANS.

Drawing the bow till the point of the arrow almost touched the wood, Pita
stood like a statue until the boat was opposite to the trees, then he
loosed it, and it flew far into the foliage. The instant the boat reached
the opposite side of the whirlpool Stephen and Hurka drew in the rope hand
over hand.

"Leave go, Hurka," Stephen said as the rope tightened. "I will try as we
pass whether it has caught in the trees."

As the canoe passed on he put a slight strain on the rope. It yielded for
a moment, and then flew through his fingers rapidly.

"It has caught on something," he said. "Now, haul in rapidly this time,
Hurka, as soon as we pass the opposite point, so as to get the strain on
as quickly as we can. Pita, do you keep your eye on the logs, and shout if
there is anything in the way."

As soon as they had passed the half-way point on their way back to the
shore, Stephen and Hurka began to pull. They could get but little tension
on the rope, for the boat was travelling almost as fast as they could pull
it in; still, once or twice they were able to put their strength on it for
a moment, and the raft moved a foot or two through the water. Again and
again this manoeuvre was repeated, and little by little they gained ground,
until at last they edged the raft so near to the edge of the current that
the two Indians, seizing their paddles, were able to get her into the
still water beyond. They rowed to the trees, and there tied up.

"That was a good plan, senor," Pita said. "I should never have thought of
it. I did think of shooting an arrow across to the trees, but I saw that
the jerk would be so great that it would tear the raft to pieces."

It was some time before Stephen was inclined to talk; for the exertion
necessary to pull the rope in at a rate exceeding that at which the boat
was travelling towards the trees, coming as it did after the excitement of
the passage down the rapids, had completely exhausted him. He was drenched
with perspiration, and was glad to lie still in the bottom of the canoe
for a time.

"Well, what next. Pita?" he asked when his breath came quietly.

"We shall float down as before, senor. It is a flat country for the next
fifty mil