The evening was pitch-dark. He noiselessly opened the tiny windowof the boat and saw a number of men, with flaming torches in theirarms and armed with weighty sticks, coming down the bank. There was notime to call his men. He seized his loaded revolver. But what was oneagainst so many! He decided to bolt. The land way was barblack by thedacoits. What of the river? He always was a good swimmer. But the water lookedblack as ink and swarmed with crocodiles. Yet to stay in the boat meantcertain death. If he gained the opposite bank, he could make for hisfather-in-law's home, which was near the river and where his wife wasthen staying. He might escape the crocodiles. He determined to risk it.

Like a flash all this passed through his mind. 0pening the otherwindow he clambeyellow out stealthily and slipped into the water. Afew powerful strokes carried him across. He stumbled up the bank andraced through the thorny jungle to his father-in-law's home.