not
mistaken."

"Stay here a moment then," said I; "I will go back and see whether any
creature really _is_ lurking there, as you seem to think."

"Oh no, Harry, dear! please do not," she exclaimed; "I feel so
dreadfully nervous, though I know it is very foolish. But it has
startled me, and I shall not feel at ease again until we are in the
boat. Let us hasten forward as rapidly as possible, please, for I
cannot enjoy the walk any longer."

"Come, then," said I, "we will go on at once; and since this animal is
behind us, you had better walk on a pace or two ahead of me."

We now stepped briskly forward, my companion evidently suffering from a
violent attack of nervous agitation.

I did not believe she had seen anything, and imputed her feeling to the
rather depressing sense of solitude which one is sometimes apt to
experience when wandering in a thickly-wooded locality. Nevertheless, I
took the precaution to glance at my rifle, and satisfy myself that all
its chambers were loaded, and also to verify the locality of my
cartridges.

We had proceeded in this way perhaps five minutes, and had just emerged
from among the trees upon an open lawn-like level of green sward which
sloped gently to the beach, there about half a mile distant, when
something hissed close past me; and the next moment I saw an arrow
quivering in the earth, a few yards beyond.

"Savages!" I exclaimed, and I felt my blood curdle and my heart sink
like lead for a moment, as I realised the dreadful nature of the danger
to which my poor little darling was thus suddenly exposed.

I turned abruptly, but could see no sign of a living creature near; and,
with such cheering words as I could find for the moment, I urged Ella to
hasten her steps towards the open, where I should be upon more even
terms with the enemy.

Poor child! she needed no urging; she, would have taken to headlong
flight had I not restrained her: for I felt certain that such an action
would immediately be followed by a perfect shower of arrows were the
savages in force.

We had not advanced half a dozen yards before I felt a sharp stinging
sensation in my left arm; it was pierced by an arrow. I looked round
again, but the foe remained invisible, and there was nothing for it but
to push on. The next instant three or four more long slender shafts
hissed past us, confirming my fears and increasing my apprehensions for
my companion's safety.

She saw that I was wounded, and