aboard!"

"Three cheers first, lads," cried one of the men; "for we shall have our
gold now without washing for it."

They gave three hearty cheers, and as the last was echoing from the
opposite side of the canon every man stood as if petrified, for it was
answered by a savage yell which seemed to come from a couple of thousand
throats; and as there was a rush to where, from the water steps, they
could gaze up stream it was to see quite a fleet of small canoes, each
of which held four or five Indians, bearing steadily down for where the
boats were moored.

CHAPTER FORTY TWO.

FOUND AND LOST.

"Now, gentlemen," said the captain firmly, "what is it to be: turn this
into a fort and fight, or into the boats, hoist sail, and go down
stream? You see it runs our way now."

"Take to the boats," said Sir Humphrey decisively, and the captain gave
the order.

"Slow and steady, my lads," he said; "they can't reach us for some time
yet, and by then we shall be sailing steadily down."

The canoes seemed to be coming on very fast, but the captain was
correct.

The sails were hoisted as soon as every man was in his place, and, to
the satisfaction of all, the heavily-ballasted boats began to glide down
stream before a pleasant breeze with a steadiness that was all that
could be desired.

But by the time they were well moving the first of the canoes was very
near, and their occupants started their savage yelling again and began
to paddle with all their might, till, seeing that the boats were leaving
them behind, they dropped their paddles and seized their bows, to let
fly a shower of arrows.

At this the captain gave the word, and a little volley was fired,
followed by another.

The walls of the great canon took up the reports and echoed them to and
fro till, startled by this novel thunder, the enemy paused in confusion,
many of the canoes being paddled back.

"Anyone hit?" cried Brace.

"No, sir," came loudly from both boats, and the next minute they glided
round the promontory they had passed in coming up, and the rock city
disappeared.

A few minutes later and the last of the canoes was seen.

The wind being favourable and the night following lit up by a full moon,
the retreat was kept up so as to get well beyond danger.

It was far on into the next day before a halt was made to light a fire
and prepare a meal.

The flood had passed away, and with wind and stream in their favour, and
a total absence of