The rude shock of awakening to what doubtless might prove some
new form of danger was still upon me when I heard a rattling of
loose stones from the direction of the bluff, and turning my eyes
in that direction I beheld the author of the disturbance, a great
copper-colored man, running rapidly toward me.

There was that in the haste with which he came which seemed quite
sufficiently menacing, so that I did not need the added evidence
of brandishing spear and scowling face to warn me that I was in no
safe position, but whither to flee was indeed a momentous question.

The speed of the fellow seemed to preclude the possibility of escaping
him upon the open beach. There was but a single alternative--the
rude skiff--and with a celerity which equaled his, I pushed the thing
into the sea and as it floated gave a final shove and clambered in
over the end.

A cry of rage rose from the owner of the primitive craft, and an
instant later his heavy, stone-tipped spear grazed my shoulder and
buried itself in the bow of the boat beyond. Then I grasped the
paddle, and with feverish haste urged the awkward, wobbly thing
out upon the surface of the sea.

A glance over my shoulder showed me that the copper-colored one
had plunged in after me and was swimming rapidly in pursuit. His
mighty strokes bade fair to close up the distance between us in
short order, for at best I could make but slow progress with my
unfamiliar craft, which nosed stubbornly in every direction but
that which I desired to follow, so that fully half my energy was