Page:Dick Sands the Boy Captain.djvu/507

 AN ATTACK. 479 river. When the pièce of thatch had been knocked off in passing the piles, a glimpse had been caught of the passengers bclow, and avvarc that the cataract ahead must ultimately bring them to a standstili, the eager barbarians had foliowed them persistcntly day by day for the last cight days. Now they thought they had secured their prize, but loud was their yell of disappointment when on stripping off the thatch they found only one person, and that a mère boy, standing beneath it. Dick stood as calmly as he could at the bow, and pointed his gun towards the savages, who werc sufficiently acquainted vvith the nature of firc-arms to make them afraid to attack him. Mrs. Weldon with the others, in their eagerness to watch Dick's movements, had remaincd standing upon the shore of the river, and at this instant werc caught sight of by one of the natives, who pointed them out to his companions. A sudden impulse seized the whole of them, and they sprang into the canoë ; there seemed to be a practised hand amongst them, which caught hold of the rudder-oar, and the little craft was quickly on its way back. Although he gave up ail as now well-nigh lost, Dick neither moved nor spoke. He had one lingering hope yet left Was it not possible even now that by sacrificing his own life he could save the lives of those that were entrusted to him î When the canoë had come near enough to the shore for his voice to be heard, he shouted with ail his might, — " Fly, Mrs. Weldon ; fly, ail of you ; fly for your lives ! " But neither Mrs. Weldon nor Hercules stîrred ; they seemed rooted to the ground. " Fly, fly, fly ! " he continued shoutîng. But though he knew they must hear him, yet he saw them make no effort to escape. He understood their meaning ; of what avail was flight when the savages would be upon their track in a few minutes after ? A sudden thought crosscd his mind. He raiscd his gun