nt, some near
at hand, telling that the various nocturnal creatures were busy securing
food before the sun should drive them to their hiding-places in the
darkest recesses of the forest.
"What's that?" whispered Bob Roberts to old Dick, who was beside him in
the foremost boat.
"Sounds like something swimming, sir. There, you can hear it blowing."
"Do you think one of the boats has upset," whispered Bob, excitedly, as
he leaned over the gunwale and tried to pierce the mist.
"'Taint likely, sir. Wouldn't they shout if they was turned up!
Leastwise our chaps would; there's no counting for what soldiers might
do, though. I shouldn't say as they'd let their selves drown without a
squeak. That there's a tiger swimming 'crost the river, that's what
that is."
"Get out," exclaimed the middy; "just as if a great cat would take to
the water. Hist! I say, Doctor Bolter!"
"Yes," was whispered back from the next boat.
"Would tigers swim?"
"Yes. There's one trying to cross the river now."
"What did I tell you, Mr Roberts?" growled old Dick, softly.
"Here, give me your rifle, marine;" said Bob, excitedly. "I should like
a shot at a tiger."
"Silence in that boat!" said Captain Smithers sharply; and the oars went
on dipping softly, while Bob Roberts sat and listened till the panting
noise of the swimming creature died away.
"I wonder whether Ensign Long's in the expedition?" said Bob, after a
pause.
"Yes, sir; please I see him," said one of the sailors. "He got into one
of the boats, wrapped up in a big grey great-coat."
"I hope he won't get wounded this time," said Bob. And the men all
laughed; for Ensign Long's wound was a subject that afforded them no
little amusement.
Then the procession went on, the boats gliding along in wonderful
silence. Sometimes a glimpse of the dark foliage told them that they
were a little too near either bank, but on the whole the Malay led them
a very correct course along the centre of the stream, which wound here
and there, sometimes contracting its banks, sometimes widening out, but
always running swift, deep, and strongly, downward towards the sea.
The mist grew thicker, and hung so low down upon the water that at last
the boats had to proceed very slowly, a rope being paid out from one to
the other, so that there should be no mistake, otherwise it was quite
within the range of possibility that one or the other would go astray,
and be wanting at some critic
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