Fire!" cried the lieutenant; for there was the breaking of undergrowth close at hand on either side, and a savage yelling commenced as our pursuers forced their way through.
The men, who had been like hounds held back by the leash, were only too glad to get their orders; and in an instant there was quite a blaze of fire from both sides of the boat, the bullets cutting and whistling through the thick trees and undergrowth; and the movement on the banks, with the cracking and rustling of the bushes and tufts of bamboo, stopped as if by magic.
"Cease firing!" cried Mr Reardon; and then, as if to himself, "Every shot is wasted." I did not think so, for it had checked the enemy, who allowed us to go on slowly another hundred yards or so.
"Allee velly dleadful," whispered Ching to me, as he crouched in the bottom of the boat.

"You tinkee hit Ching ?" "I hope not," I said.

"Oh no; we shall get out into the river directly." "No," he said; "velly long way yet." "But who are these ?" I said--"some village people ?" "Pilate," he cried.

"Allee come home not kill, and findee plize-money gone.

Makee velly angly.