same number of rifle-shots were heard.

It was a night of general watching on board the steamer, no man seeking
shelter, though about seven bells the rain began to pour down with all
the violence of a storm in the tropics, accompanied by thunder and
lightning of the heaviest and most vivid description.

For about four hours this kept on, guns being fired in the intervals,
when the thunder ceased for a few moments; but no answering shots had
been heard for some time.

One thing was very evident--the party engaged were entrenched somewhere,
and defending themselves, for their answering shots had been no nearer;
in fact, all felt that travelling through the dense jungle was
impossible until daylight set in.

The night was about half gone when the storm ceased as suddenly as it
had come on; the clouds were dispersed, and the moon shone out clearly,
showing them that the sluggish river was sluggish no longer, but running
fast, and threatening to fill up to the top of its high banks, the water
coming down evidently from the mountains.

This revived the hopes of all on board, and not without reason, for the
steamer was gradually shifting her position; and hardly had a boat been
lowered, and a hawser made fast to one of the big trees ashore, before
she lifted more and more; and in a few moments more, to the delight of
all, they felt the branches sweeping the rigging, and the steamer moving
free and clear.

The men, forgetting discipline, and the need perhaps for silence, gave
an involuntary cheer; which ceased on the instant as, from somewhere
lower down the stream, there came a faint, "Ship ahoy!"

"Ahoy!" was answered.

And after a brief colloquy a boat was lowered down, with half-a-dozen
marines as well as the crew, Bob Roberts taking command, and cautiously
steering her towards where the man who hailed seemed to be.

The boat was allowed to descend the stream stern foremost, the men
dipping their oars occasionally to keep her head right, and to prevent
her being swept down too swiftly.

The next minute, at the word, they gave away, and the cutter was run in
beneath the branches to where one of the crew stood in the moonlight,
with a soldier by his side.

"Why, it's Parker!" cried Bob, catching the man's hand.

"Parker it is, Mr Roberts, sir," said the man faintly. "I thought we
should never have done it, what with the storm and the thick cane.
We've about cut our way here."

"And the captain and Major Sanda