way.

"And now, my lads, we will go forward once more, and do the best we can.
If we can only get a mile a day it is something, and every man will
lend a hand. We will march at once. Yes, doctor? More bad news?"

"Yes," said Doctor Bolter, bluntly; "our guide has broken down."

"Broken down?"

"Yes, he is quite delirious."

"And," muttered the major, "we are worse than helpless without a guide."

CHAPTER SIXTY.

SIGNALS OF DISTRESS.

The night passed on board the steamer without any alarm, and at daybreak
steam was up, and with the men at their quarters and every gun loaded,
they set off on their return journey.

As the lieutenant said, it was no use to murmur about their misfortune;
all they could do was to try and make the best of matters by getting
back as soon as possible.

He could gladly have gone on at full speed, but caution forbad it.
There were mudbanks and turns innumerable; and even going slowly, the
length of the vessel was so great that again and again they were nearly
aground upon some shoal, or brushed the overhanging trees with their
bows.

Of one thing the lieutenant felt certain--that they had not been led
into this narrow river without some plans being made for keeping them
there. Therefore every man was on the alert for an ambush, or something
that should stop their further progress towards the mouth of the
sluggish stream.

It was terribly slow work, and Lieutenant Johnson stamped with
impatience as he saw how poorly they progressed, speaking snappishly to
Bob Roberts when the latter ventured upon some observation.

This went on three or four times, when, feeling hurt by a sharp remark
on the lieutenant's part, Bob exclaimed,--

"You needn't be so hard upon me, captain; it was not my fault."

Lieutenant Johnson turned upon him angrily, and was about to say
something severe, but Bob's injured look disarmed him, and he held out
his hand.

"I'm hipped, Roberts," he said, and hardly know what I say. "Steady,
there; steady!"

This to the man at the wheel as they were rounding a point; but the
order had a contrary effect to what was intended; it flurried and
unsteadied the sailor, who took a pull too much at the spokes, and
before anything could be done to check the steamer's speed, her sharp
bows had cut deeply into the muddy bank of the river, and she was
aground.

"Was anything ever so unlucky?" cried the lieutenant; and then he gave
order after order. Guns were swun