400 TEAVEL, ADVENTURE, AND SPORT. 



" Massa never fear, militiaman sleep well only 

 Sippi's noise. Pompey know the road, Massa Parker 

 not catch him." 



A quarter of an hour passed away, and the strength 

 of the rowers began to diminish under their continued 

 and laborious efforts. 



" Massa soon see land out of the current already," 

 cried the negro. 



Another quarter of an hour elapsed, and they 

 reached the shore ; Hodges jumped out of the boat, 

 and was followed by the negro, still loaded with his 

 fetters. The Mexicans sprang after them. 



" Stop by your boat ! " cried Hodges in a threaten- 

 ing tone. Instead of an answer, a knife, thrown by 

 a sure and practised hand, struck him on the breast. 

 The deerskin vest with which Canondah had equipped 

 him proved his protection. The weapon stuck in it, 

 and remained hanging there. 



" Vile assassins ! " cried Hodges, who now broke 

 off the flat part of his oar, and grasping the other 

 half, was about to rush upon the bandits, when the 

 negro threw his arms round him. 



" Massa not be a fool ! pirates have more knives, 

 and be glad if he go near them. Kill him then easy." 



" You are right, Pompey," said Hodges, half laugh- 

 ing, half angry, at the negro, who was showing his 

 white teeth in an agony of fear and anxiety. " The 

 dogs are not worth the killing." 



For a moment the three assassins stood undecided ; 



