Uncle Paul, who sternly bade him be
silent.

"I too must think, my lad," he said--"and pray."

The silence was shared by the sailors, who only indulged in a whisper
now and then.

And how the rest of that night passed away Rodd hardly knew. Of one
thing only was he quite certain, and that was that sleep never visited
the occupants of that boat.

Daylight at last, when such provisions as were absolutely necessary were
partaken of as the boat went steadily down-stream, for there was water
enough in the river still to have completely changed its sluggish
character, while this was hailed by the men with delight, seeing that it
helped their course, while wherever the wind was available the sail was
hoisted and they sped along, every one keeping a sharp look-out for
their last bivouac but one, it having been decided amongst them that
they must have been swept by that one, which was hidden by the swollen
stream.

But in spite of the keen observation of the sailors and the sharp
look-out by the doctor and the two lads, that day passed without the
familiar sandy embayment among the trees being sighted, and before long
it became a certainty that they were gliding along a different channel
to any they had passed before.

The flood might have altered the stream to a certain extent, but they
passed banks that were certainly different, and just at dusk when a
brisk breeze was blowing they glided through an opening among the trees
which did not seem familiar, and the question arose, should they turn
back?

But before it was settled, darkness fell, and another dismal night was
passed.

The next day broke bright and fine, and encouraged thereby, every man
was keenly on the alert to try and sight one of the Spaniard's
halting-places; but it was long before such an opening was found, and
then when it was hailed with delight as their resting-place at the end
of that day's work, it was forced upon them that they had never been
there before.

Fortunately, though their stores were diminished in quantity, fish were
plentiful, and every now and then a bird fell to Rodd's or the doctor's
gun, for it was felt to be a necessity, as more and more all realised
that they were involved in a perfect labyrinth or network of watery
ways, and that their stores should be supplemented. For opening after
opening in the great walls of verdure kept presenting itself, nearly
always involving the party in a dispute as to whether they had been
the