Part 15 (1/2)
The hunter loosened the canvas awning, and stood up for a long look aft Then he faced about, and threw a quick glance up-river
”Keep her straight for that wooded island,” he said, pointing ahead towards the south bank; and Venning pulled the steering-line to place the Okapi on a new course
Mr Hu and packed it away ”Now, my lads,” he said, ”we'll just face the position That's the fort launch racing up, and she could overhaul us in two hours If we surrender we should be safe from violence, but they would probably confiscate our boat or detain us for weeks If we resist they would be justified in running us down What shall we do?”
”Escape,” said Co chi to escape,” continued Mr Huood as admit that we aided and abetted Muata, and, if captured, they would make it harder for us”
”At any rate, we meant to free Muata”
”Besides, we must escape,” said Co off their faces, for, as soon as they worked at high pressure, they felt the pull of the screw
”Co up his sleeves
”Couns”
They obeyed hirasped one in either hand, and got more speed out of the Okapi than they had by their united efforts The muscles stood out like ropes on his brawny arms, and the levers smoked in the slots
”Keep her to the north of the island”
The boat hu, drew up to the nose of the island, skirted its reedy side, where stood a hippo eating at the rank grass, and then dropped it astern
”Good,” said Mr Hurunt of satisfaction, as he swept his eyes over the river
”See those dark spots ahead? They must be the first of the thousand islands that stretch away right up to the Loanda river If we can get into the set out the rifles in the well, with the ammunition handy
”Whistle for a wind That's all Fix your eyes on the islands, Compton, and slip in where they are thickest”
”Ay, ay,”under the stress of his excitelasses, and as the island they had passed sank low astern, he swept the river for sign of the pursuing launch
”By Jove!” he muttered, with a start
”Well?”
”She has shi+fted her course I can see the white of her hull right under the trees on the south bank”
”She runted Mr Huain Perhaps she put in to speak a native village, and maybe they have not seen us; we are low in the water”
”They'll see us soon enough Tell me when she passes the island we just left”
”She'sstraight for us I can see several people in her bows”