party had only just embarked when a few heavy
drops of rain came pattering down upon the tightened canvas, soon
increasing to quite a deluge, but, with the peculiarity of a tropic
storm, just when it was beginning to try the canvas and threatening to
soak the interior of the boat, it ceased almost instantaneously, and
they sat listening to the rushing sound of the rain as it swept over the
forest, rapidly growing more distant till it died away.

"Gone!" cried Rodd excitedly. "We didn't want any more troubles, and it
would have been dreadful to have been wet through again."

"Don't be too hopeful, my boy," said Uncle Paul. "That may only be the
advance guard of a far worse storm. It seems too much to think this is
the end."

"It might be all, sir," said Joe Cross, "for it's been an awful bad 'un,
going on for hours in the distance."

"Then we shall be having the water rise again," cried Uncle Paul.

"Yes, sir; that's what I thought," replied the man, "and why I moored
the boat so fast."

"Quite right," cried the doctor, "for likely enough we shall be having
the water coming down from far away, and we must hold on here at any
cost, or we shall be lost again."

"What time do you suppose it is, Joe?" asked Rodd.

"Wants about a couple of hours to daylight, sir."

"Morning!" cried the lads together. "Ah, then it will be easier to
bear!"

During the rest of the darkness it was evident that the storm had passed
over them. There were a few distant mutterings of thunder and little
flickerings of lightning which grew fainter and fainter, to die away in
the west.

The sailors crept out from beneath their awning on to the sand, and were
able to announce that the river had only risen a few inches, and the
rain that had fallen had rapidly soaked in and drained off, while a
pleasant cool air swept briskly over them from the east, heralding a
fresh bright dawn, which came at last with all the promise of a glorious
day.

With some difficulty a fire was started, but once begun the men soon
contrived to get up sufficient for the hurried breakfast; the canvas was
struck where necessary, and the rest spread to dry in the coming
sunshine; and then all being ready for their next start, the doctor
consulted with the coxswain, who after a little pressing gave his
opinion as to what would be the best course to take.

"You see, sir," he said, "I have been thinking that I could get us back
to our last camping-place; I mean, b