Part 27 (1/2)

”We're in for it,” cried Critch, pointing upstrealasses, Burt saw at least a dozen other canoes slinking down close to the banks Catching up his rifle, he ai shot, but as the echoes rose the boys saw the paddlers spring overboard, and the canoe filled and sank a ot us, Burt! Mebbe we can hold 'em off while our arrows last, but--”

At that instant so happened that caused the boys to whirl and stare at each other with pale faces Clear and sharp above the yells of the warriors, and co from the left bank, the south bank, they had heard the report of a heavy rifle!

”Hear that!” yelled Burt ”There's a hunter there!”

”Hurray!” shouted his chu Mbopo a clap on the back that sent the dwarf staggering ”Mwanzi'll fix them, old scout Hurray!

Try another shot, Burt!”

And as a flight of Zwengi arrows poured into the island, Burt fired again, this time in the air As if in answer there came another shot from the left bank, and a yell went up fro island threw up his ari, while the pig them as they fled back to their canoes Next instant a canoe put out fro through his glasses ”White helan to dance up and doaving his arms like mad, ”an' it's your uncle and Cap'n Mac! Hurray! Hurray!”

A week later a s her way down the broad Makua River In the shade of her awning reclined Mr Wallace, Captain Montenay, Burt and Critch John was busying himself forward, and the decks of the little craft were littered with long, curved packages that looked strangely like elephant tusks

”Well, it was hty lucky for us that you started after us that way,”

Burt was saying ”If you'd tried to strike right through the black dwarf country we'd have s worked out?”

”Not a bit,” asserted Captain Mac quietly ”It looks to me, Burt, as if the hand o' Providence was in it”

The boys stared at the Scotch to his feet