with paddles and had already got into deep water.

Rushing forward until the water was up to their waists, they again sent
their arrows whistling towards us, several actually striking the raft,
though not with sufficient force to stick into it. When they saw that
we were really beyond their reach, they vented their disappointment in
fearful yells.

"Shriek away, ye redskin savages," cried Tim; "your noise doesn't hurt
us. If you don't look out for yourselves, you'll have some of the
'gators snapping off your legs presently."

The cries of the Indians, however, had the effect of keeping the
creatures at a distance, and several swam past us, evidently alarmed at
the unusual sounds.

We were now all paddling away with might and main, two on each side, the
black steering and sculling with his paddle at the same time.
Fortunately, the weather remained fine, and the wind, which was light,
was in our favour. What we had to dread most was a strong wind
springing up from the eastward, which might have driven us back and
placed us at the mercy of the savages. We were still uncertain whether
we should altogether escape them. They might build a raft and pursue
us; or might be acquainted with some path leading along the northern end
of the lake, by which, light-footed as they were, they might get round
to meet us when we landed, or to follow up our trail.

We found paddling a raft harder work than we had expected, and our arms
soon began to ache. Stopping for an instant, I tried the depth of
water. It was still too great to enable us to use our poles with
advantage. At length, however, the breeze increased, and I proposed
that the masts should be stepped, as they were all ready, and that we
should hoist our blankets for sails.

This we at once did; but they did not hold enough wind to help us as
much as we expected, and we still had to keep the paddles going.
Looking back, we could see the Indians on the shore; which was
satisfactory, as it made us hope that they did not intend to follow us
by land.

"It will take them some time to build a raft," observed Carlos. "If
they do, we shall then encounter them on equal terms, for we could pick
them off with our rifles before they could get near enough to shoot
their arrows at us."

We continued our course to the opposite shore, which appeared as far off
as ever. We had, however, reason to be satisfied that we had decided on
crossing the lake on a raft; for had we attem