Any fool can take away life.

Only God can give it." "I will be careful," replied Nigel, as he dipped his paddle with all the muscular power at his command.

His comrades did the same, and the canoe shot up the river like an arrow.
A yell from the Dyaks, and the noise of jumping into and pushing off their boats told that there was no time to lose.
"They are strong men, and plenty of them to relieve each other," said the hermit, who now spoke in his ordinary tones, "so they have some chance of overhauling us in the smooth water; but a few miles further up there is a rapid which will stop them and will only check us.

If we can reach it we shall be safe." While he was speaking every muscle in his broad back and arms was strained to the uttermost; so also were the muscles of his companions, and the canoe seemed to advance by a series of rapid leaps and bounds.
Yet the sound of the pursuers' oars seemed to increase, and soon the proverb "it is the pace that kills" received illustration, for the speed of the canoe began to decrease a little--very little at first--while the pursuers, with fresh hands at the oars, gradually overhauled the fugitives.
"Put on a spurt!" said the hermit, setting the example.
The pirates heard the words and understood either them or the action that followed, for they also "put on a spurt," and encouraged each other with a cheer.
Moses heard the cheer, and at the same time heard the sound of the rapid to which they were by that time drawing near.

He glanced over his shoulder and could make out the dim form of the leading boat, with a tall figure standing up in the bow, not thirty yards behind.
"Shall we manage it, Moses ?" asked Van der Kemp, in that calm steady voice which seemed to be unchangeable either by anxiety or peril.
"No, massa.