But he did not cease to row, and did not appear even to notice the savage until he was within a yard of him; then, dropping the sweep, he struck him a blow on the forehead with his clenched fist that felled him to the deck.

Lifting him up he hurled him overboard and resumed the oar.

But now a greater danger awaited us, for the savages had outrun us on the bank and were about to plunge into the water ahead of the schooner.

If they succeeded in doing so our fate was sealed.

For one moment Bill stood irresolute.