read out as far as was
reasonable, and at every few yards the doctor gave a loud whistle and
waited for a reply.

None came, and they hurried on, rarely recognising anything to act as a
guide, but steadily going down toward the shore; and as there was no
reply to his calls, the doctor soon came to the conclusion that, tired
of waiting, Jack had turned back, and in the full expectation of finding
the missing ones down by the boat, the party was pressed on, but with
their leader getting more annoyed at every step.

The boat was invisible till they were close upon it, lying in the mouth
of the little river where the great trees spread their boughs right
across, and at the first rustle of the bushes being heard the sailors in
charge started up and began to draw her close in shore.

The doctor uttered an ejaculation full of annoyance, but began clinging
directly after to the thought which struck him.

"How long have they gone on board?" he cried as soon as he was well
within hearing.

Then his hopes were crushed, for the men addressed replied--

"Gone on board, sir? Who gone on board?"

"Mr Jack and his man."

"Haven't been down here, sir. Arn't lost 'em, have you?"

The doctor made no reply.

"Here," he cried, "take these birds, and you two who have been resting
come back with me. Lenny, I want you, and you come too," he continued
to another of the men.

The other two who had come down from the mountain slope were eager to
return, but the doctor ordered them to take charge of the boat, and
without pausing a minute shouldered his gun and turned to follow the
path they had taken that morning, with better hope of success.

"I dare say we came close by them somewhere," he said to Lenny. "I
hardly see though how we could have missed them."

"Strikes me, sir, as I know how it was," said the man.

"You think you know?"

"Yes, sir, but it's only thinking, and mayn't be right."

"Tell me what you think," cried the doctor impatiently.

"It was hot, sir, steamy hot under the trees, and Mr Jack is young and
none too strong, and Ned arn't quite got over his trouble."

"Yes, of course. Well, go on."

"Well, sir, they must have trudged after us till they were tired out,
and then sat down to wait for us, and went to sleep."

"I hope that's it, Lenny," said the doctor as they struggled on, up and
up, amongst tree, bush, and rock, while, to add to their difficulty, a
complete change came on with tropic rapidity,