little of their faces above water that they could scarcely have been seen
from the shore.

Both the lads were good swimmers, but Dick was perfectly at home in the
water; and Ned, knowing his own inferiority in this respect, left himself
entirely in his brother's hands. Soon Dick, in his quick glances to note
their position, perceived that three boats alone of all the number had got
fairly away down stream--that their occupants had got out oars and were
quickly coming up to the swimmers; but he saw, too, that on both banks the
Sepoy guns kept abreast of them, and that a fire of artillery and musketry
was maintained. For a moment he thought of being taken on board; but their
chance of escaping the fire centered upon them seemed hopeless, and he
judged it was better to keep on in the water. He accordingly paddled
himself out of the center of the stream, so as to give the boats a wide
berth, trusting that the attention of the enemy would be so much directed
at the boats that the floating bodies would be unnoticed. As to keeping
afloat for any time, he had no fear whatever. The water of Indian rivers
in the heat of summer is so warm that swimmers can remain in them for many
hours without any feeling of chill or discomfort.

An hour later Dick lifted his head and looked forward. The firing was two
miles ahead now. But one boat of the three still floated, and Dick
congratulated himself that he had decided not to join his fate to that of
those on board. Hour after hour passed, and still the boys floated on,
until at last the sun went down, dusk came and went, and when all was dark
they turned on their faces and swam quietly down the stream. For many
hours, alternately swimming and floating, they kept their course down the
river, until toward morning they gently paddled ashore, crept into the
thick jungle of the bank, and fell asleep almost instantly.