immediately began, as
if in obedience to the order just given, to climb the bank, not a dozen
yards from the spot where we were lying.

The object of this movement undoubtedly was, to anticipate and frustrate
any attempt on the part of the fugitives, to escape, by quitting the
shore and making towards the interior. The party thus detached had
probably been directed to continue the chase, keeping to the higher
ground. If so, they would pass quite near our place of concealment, and
there was some danger of our being discovered, to avoid which, we
crouched close to the ground, and remained perfectly silent and
motionless. The point where the savages were attempting to ascend was
steep and difficult, and several of them, apparently to disencumber
themselves for the effort of climbing, threw their clubs and spears
before them to the top. One of these weapons, a short, heavy club, fell
near me, and fearing that the owner might come to seek it, I hastily
cast it to a conspicuous place, free from vegetation, a little distance
from the bank, and nearer the spot where they were scaling it. But the
savage had probably noticed where it first fell, for the next moment
some one came running directly towards the place, and just as I was
expecting to see him stumble into the midst of us, a deep guttural
exclamation announced that we were discovered. Any further attempt at
concealment was clearly idle, and we sprang up at once; the man was
within three yards of us; he seemed quite as much startled as ourselves
at so sudden a rencontre, and after standing for a minute looking at us,
he turned and ran off to his fellows.

"They will be back directly in a body," said Browne, "and we must decide
quickly what we are to do--whether to trust ourselves in their power, or
to make such resistance as we can, if they undertake to meddle with us."

"I doubt if it would be safe to trust them," said Morton, "at any rate I
don't like the idea of risking it. There are but five or six of them;
the rest are far enough off by this time."

"I wish Arthur were here," said Browne, anxiously; "he understands them
and their ways, and could tell us what we ought to do. I don't know
what the probability is of their injuring us if we throw aside our arms
and submit ourselves to them, and therefore I am loth to take the
responsibility of deciding the matter."

Meantime the savages appeared to be also holding a consultation. They
stood at a short dista