Part 25 (1/2)

”We must run for it!” yelled Bob. ”Come on--for the s.h.i.+p!”

”Give them a volley first!” shouted the captain.

Six shots, poured into the advancing troop, threw them into confusion.

As the treasure-seekers turned to run a spear glanced over our hero's shoulder and stuck quivering in the ground a dozen yards beyond.

At the top of their speed they rushed toward the sh.o.r.e.

At first they fancied they were not pursued.

After going a hundred yards, however, a wild yell and the patter of feet told them they would have to do their best.

Enc.u.mbered as they were, with both the lads partly disabled and the captain no speedy runner, the savages soon gained on them.

”We must give them another volley!” panted the captain.

Though the guns chosen were breech-loaders, it took some little time to reload them whilst at a run.

Suddenly Bob felt a shock, which nearly made him fall.

However, he recovered himself with a stagger.

”The sack saved you,” gasped Captain Sumner. ”But for that the spear would have pierced your back. Now wheel round and fire!”

As they fronted the natives they found that not thirty yards divided them.

At that short range every bullet told.

Three men fell dead, and as many were wounded.

The captain gave them a couple of shots from his revolver before he once more turned and ran for his life.

”That accounts for about half them,” exclaimed our hero.

As they gained the head of the beach Jack stopped short.

”Go on!” he gasped. ”My side! I am stuck!”

Bob put his arm through that of his friend, who had dropped his gun, and dragged him onward.

The captain turned and fired the remaining chambers of his revolver among the crowd, now within a score of yards.

The small boat was in waiting, and into it they tumbled, amid a storm of spears.

Both the captain and Bok, who rowed, were stuck.

Our hero seized the oars from the hands of the latter and pulled with all his strength for the yacht.