e was turned, and they started in the direction from
which they had come, by which Stephen concluded that they had unwittingly
made half a circuit. They now paddled steadily and gravely, watching the
darts of sunlight, and evidently steering by them. Before they had gone
far the character of the forest changed, the trees grew somewhat further
apart; but an undergrowth of smaller trees rendering it extremely
difficult for them to force their canoe onward, their knives had
frequently to be brought out to cut a way through the creepers. Angry
words were frequently exchanged between them, each, it was evident to
Stephen, accusing the others of being the cause of the disaster. The
quarrel became more and more embittered, until at last two of them started
up, and, drawing their knives, fell furiously upon one another. In the
struggle they almost capsized the boat, and catching at each other to save
themselves, both went overboard together.

The struggle was continued in the water, the men stabbing each other
fiercely, while the Indian on board endeavoured in vain by his shouts to
induce them to abandon the strife. Presently one of them, struck to the
heart, threw up his arms and sank; the other turned to swim back to the
boat, but after one or two feeble strokes he too sank lower and lower, and
the water soon closed over his head. The remaining Indian stood, for a
time immovable, with terror and consternation in his face, and then he
shook his fist threateningly at Stephen, whom he evidently regarded as
being in some way the author of their misfortune, and then, taking up his
paddle, proceeded to row. His manner, however, was indecisive. He had lost
all confidence, and turned aside whenever the way was barred by creepers,
instead of trying to cut through them. At times he ceased paddling
altogether, and sat gazing restlessly around him, at other times he
paddled with feverish energy. Some water had come in over the gunwale
during the struggle between the Indians, and Stephen managed to turn
round, face downwards, to take a hearty drink.

When evening came on, the Indian was paddling almost mechanically, when
from a branch of a tree above something dropped down. For a moment Stephen
could not discern its nature. There was a swift, rapid movement, a
piercing cry from the Indian, followed by the sound of cracking bones, and
then the man was lifted bodily out of the boat. Stephen could now see two
great coils wrapped round his bo