Venning's heart was pumping blood at express speed under the violence of his efforts, and his eyes in a wild stare were fixed on the approaching craft, which had now brought its living freight within recognizable distance.

He could distinguish the two Belgian officers and the swart face of the Arab chief, Hassan.

He could see the men with rifles, aiming, as it seemed, straight at him, and then he ducked his head as he saw the smoke once more belch from the seven-pounder.
At the same moment he was nearly capsized by the sudden swerve of the Okapi, as she almost turned on her keel.

The shot struck the water so close that the spray drenched them.

Compton looked round and shouted aloud-- "They're aground! Hurrah!" Venning, recovering himself, saw the men on the launch hurled to the deck.
"Hurray!" he shouted.
"Keep on!" shouted Compton; and, after another five minutes' burst, the Okapi swept behind one island and passed in between two others.
"Now," he said, "give me the levers." "You're welcome," said Mr.Hume, wiping the moisture from his brow and taking a huge breath.
He went forward to the wheel, and threaded the Okapi through narrow passages between islands of all shapes and sizes, until after having got into such a fastness as would be impracticable for the launch to reach, he ran the boat on a shelving sandbank.