398 TKAVEL, ADVENTURE, AND SPORT. 



a strange, unnatural cry saluted their ears, and strain- 

 ing his eyes through the darkness, the young English- 

 man saw a head and a hand appearing above one of 

 the limbs of the forest giant. 



" Misericordia!" cried the voice "Socorro/ Por 

 Dios!" 



It was the Mexican whom Hodges had knocked 

 into the water, and who, by means of the tree, had 

 saved himself from drowning. 



" Turn the boat ! " cried Hodges, " your country- 

 man is still alive." 



" Es verdad! " exclaimed the desperadoes, and the 

 "boat was turned. Meanwhile the negro had come 

 gradually to himself, and now crouched down at the 

 feet of his deliverer. He peered over the gunwale at 

 the half-drowned Mexican. 



" Gor-a-mighty, massa!" cried he, seizing the 

 Englishman's oar "dat Miguel trike him dead, 

 massa; Miguel very bad mans." 



"Keep still, Pompey," answered Hodges, pulling 

 with might and main to the assistance of the Mexi- 

 can. The boat shot alongside the floating tree, and 

 the half-drowned wretch had just sufficient strength 

 left to extend his hand, which the Englishman 

 grasped. 



" Take care, massa ! the pirates will kill us both," 

 cried the negro. 



At that moment the boat received a violent shock, 

 a wave dashed over it, and threw the Mexican on 



