eck the pursuers, however
numerous. The nine rifles would be enough, with a few shots from the
revolvers. The savages would fancy nine hundred under the mystifying
shadows of that spectral-like grove.

With confidence, strengthened by these considerations, I once more
turned my face up-stream; and breasting the current, waded on.

CHAPTER NINETY ONE.

UP-STREAM.

My progress was far from being rapid. The water was occasionally deeper
or shallower, but generally rising above my hips--deep enough to render
my advance a task of time and difficulty. The current was of course
against me; and though not very swift, seriously impeded me. I could
have advanced more rapidly, but for the necessity of keeping my head and
that of my horse below the escarpment of the bank. At times it was a
close fit, with scarcely an inch to spare; and in several places I was
compelled to move with my neck bent, and my horse's nose held close down
to the surface of the water.

At intervals, I paused to rest myself--for the exertion of wading
against the current wearied me, and took away my breath. This was
particularly the case when I required to go in a crouching attitude; but
I chose my resting-places where the channel was deepest, and where I
could stand erect.

I was all the while anxious to look up and take a survey of the camp: I
wished to ascertain its distance and position; but I dared not raise my
head above the level of the bank: the sward that crowned it was smooth
as a mown meadow, and the edge-line of the turf even and unbroken. Had
I shown but my hand above it, it might have been seen in that clear
white light. I dared not show either hand or head.

I had advanced I knew not how far, but I fancied I must be near the
lines. All the way, I had kept close under the left bank--which, as
Rube had predicted, now rose a full half-yard above the water-line.
This was a favourable circumstance; and another equally so was the fact
that the moon on that--the eastern side--was yet low in the sky, and
consequently the bank flung a broad black shadow that extended nearly
half-way across the stream. In this shadow I walked, and its friendly
darkness sheltered both myself and my horse.

I fancied I must be near the lines, and longed to reconnoitre them, but,
for the reasons already given, dared not.

I was equally afraid to make any farther advance--for that might be
still more perilous. I had already noted the direction of