Chapter Fifty One.
An End to Difficulties.
Daylight found the little party steadily advancing, but the blacks were in pursuit, and Oliver passed along the line to have a short conference with Panton, leaving Drew, Smith, and Wriggs to form the rear guard.
“Glad to see you, old fellow,” said Panton. “I was afraid I had said good-bye when you were left with that powder keg.”
“But I haven’t a scratch, only a little burn. What are you going to do?”
“Get to the shore if I can, and try and find and take possession of their canoes.”
“Impossible,” said Oliver, decisively. “Look here, we are on the way to the old crater. Let’s get to that natural fort. Once up there and inside the great volcano wall we can easily keep these wretches at bay, and they cannot burn us out there.”
“No, but—”
“We must give them a severe lesson, and beat them off. It is our only chance.”
“Anything for the best,” said Panton. “Very well, then, I’ll turn off, and we’ll hold that piece you remember where it was so steep, and—”