The launch was returning, and was returning in answer to a signal that the game had been found! A pungent smell of smoke suddenly reached them, and, standing up, they saw over the reeds that a fire had been made on one of the neighbouring islands.
That was the signal! Glancing shorewards they saw that more canoes were putting off--dark smudges on the water, but growing clearer as the crews dashed the paddles.

But there were enemies even nearer.

As they pulled the Okapi closer into the shadows a boat swept into view, and, evidently obeying directions given from the island where the fire was, took up a position overlooking the first hiding-place of the Okapi.

All the time the launch drew nearer, racing evidently to take advantage of the brief spell of light before the dark, and the canoes raced from the shore to take part in the great man-hunt.

As they drew near, the fleet scattered, some going up-stream, others down, and the remainder dashing straight on in among the islands.
As they scattered to take up their positions, there came a report from the launch's gun.
It was the signal for the drive to begin, and as the echo rolled away, a deep silence followed the previous uproar.