As Maria, followed by the midshipmen and Juan, forced her horse to enter the forbidding river, a fusillade of rifle-shots sounded from a point in the river some thousand yards above them, and the smack of bullets struck the water close to the horses’ forefeet. A new danger now confronted the fugitives. Those above them had discovered their intention to cross the river. Fortunately as yet they were beyond the effective range of rifles, but if the two men at the ranch should discover the move they were making to put the river between them and their enemies, they could quickly cross in their canoe and locate themselves in the path of escape. The horses drew back at first, erecting their ears and neighing timidly, doubtless scenting the huge crocodiles hidden in the rank growth upon the banks. Phil heaved a relieved sigh as he saw Maria’s horse emerge from the water on the far side, and scramble up the steep bank, the dripping girl clutching securely the saddle. Little Juan behaved like a veteran, guiding his horse with a gentle hand across the current until the animal’s feet took the bottom on the other side and when the horse’s back emerged, he was sitting again securely in the saddle. Just as Phil, the last to reach the shore, gained the steep ascent, a sharp crack of a rifle, followed by a loud smack as the bullet dug itself into the muddy soil, announced that those at the ranch had also discovered their presence. As Phil drew himself into the saddle shaking free his reins, a single swift glance down the river showed him the two natives running toward the palm grove where the canoe was tied. A few swift strokes and they would again bar the way. “Come, Syd, we must ride ahead,” Phil cried in a fever of dread, as he dashed by Maria and her brother. “Never mind what happens, señorita, you ride on as fast as you can go,” he continued earnestly as Sydney spurred ahead to join him. “We’ve got to turn those fellows back,” he explained breathlessly. “If they succeed in getting across they will be able to stop us completely.” As the midshipmen galloped madly down the rough trail toward a clearing in the trees from which they could get a clear view of their enemy, both drew their revolvers and held them in readiness. “Look out for your horse, Syd,” Phil continued; “he’ll probably balk when we fire and to be unseated now would mean the end.” As the two horsemen came into view of the boat the two natives, half-way across the river, suddenly dropped their paddles. Two flashes of flame and a light, filmy smoke told that their bullets had been sent speeding in the midshipmen’s direction. But fortunately the rocking canoe had spoiled their aim. The missiles sang harmlessly above the lads’ heads.