mond declared, "like a grampus;" for in
spite of the danger they were in, he amused himself by quizzing his
companion.

"We are gaining on them at all events," said Tom. "If we do not
encounter any more higher up the river, we shall distance them by the
time it is dark, and then we shall have a good chance of getting clear."

The river continued broad, and as the current was not very strong, the
canoe made good headway. They kept in the centre, to run no risk of
being attacked by the natives on the shore. Here and there among the
trees huts were seen, but the inhabitants either did not perceive them
or supposed that they were Papuans, for although they saw several canoes
drawn up on the banks, no attempt was made to launch them.

Thus they went on without relaxing their efforts for an instant until
sunset, when the shades of night quickly crept over the scene. Tom felt
very unwilling to go further from the coast, and proposed looking out
for some creek or bay, shaded by trees, where they could remain
concealed until their enemies were likely to be no longer watching the
river, and they might steal down unobserved. No such spot, however,
could they discover, and when at last wearied by their exertions they
stopped paddling, they heard the shrieks of their pursuers in the
distance.

"They have not given up the chase yet," observed Desmond. "The fact of
their following us shows that they fear we may escape them by some other
way. Perhaps we may find a branch with another outlet to the sea."

"Oh, do let us paddle on," cried Billy. "I don't like the thoughts of
being caught and eaten by the savages."

"Whether they eat men or not, they will knock us on the head, and it
will come to much the same thing," said Casey; "so that we had better
keep ahead of them until they give up the chase, and very likely, when
they don't find us, they will fancy that we have landed, and turn back
to where they come from."

The paddles were accordingly plied with as much vigour as before. Tom
had a pocket compass, but it was too dark to see it; he however judged
by the stars overhead that the river was running from the southward, and
he hoped, by landing on the right bank, to be able to strike eastward
across the country and regain the sea-shore. Had he known the nature of
the task, he would have considered the undertaking far more difficult
than he now supposed it to be. In vain he and his companions looked out
for another b