from my wounds.

I had just communicated my intentions to Ella, when I saw something
passing swiftly along beyond the low point which formed the northern
extremity of the bay, which I knew at once to be the head of the boat's
mainsail, and presently she shot clear of the land, and headed well up
for the very spot where the canoes lay.

The savages no doubt saw her too, for a shower of arrows was immediately
let fly at us; but by this time we were out of their range. A second
shower followed, but with no greater success; and then, with a savage
yell, at least a hundred blacks sprang forth into the open, apparently
_determined_ to prevent our escape.

I at once faced round, for, though we were beyond the reach of their
arrows, they were by no means beyond the reach of my bullets; and,
quickly levelling my rifle, I took deliberate aim, calling on Ella to
make the best of her way to the canoes as I did so, covered the nearest
savage and fired. Without lowering the rifle from my shoulder, I
quickly selected another mark, which, in my haste and eagerness, I
missed, hitting a man close behind him however, so that my shot was not
thrown away; then another, and another, and a fifth.

This checked their rush, and a sixth shot stopped them altogether. My
rifle was now empty. I glanced over my shoulder, and saw that Ella was
within a few yards of the canoe I had indicated, and that Bob was coming
up at a rattling pace; so I suddenly dropped the rifle from my shoulder,
and turned and ran for the beach as fast as my now rapidly failing
strength would permit, reloading as I ran.

This, as I expected, proved the signal for a general chase, the savages
rushing after me two feet to my one, uttering the most terrific cries
and yells, brandishing their clubs and spears, and sending an occasional
arrow after me.

I was soon unpleasantly informed that I was once more within reach of
their missiles, one of the arrows entering my left shoulder and piercing
the shoulder-bone, a second sticking in my left arm, close to the former
wound, and three entering my right leg almost simultaneously, taking
effect about six inches above the knee. I still staggered on, however,
and, in about two minutes more, which spread themselves out to the
length of ages in that exhausting and agonising race, I reached the
canoe in which Ella had already placed herself as I had directed.

I had succeeded in reloading all six chambers of my rifle, and I now