the
natives too much, and keep your party well together if you land, so as
to be able to get back to the boats. Kalong may be a very honest
fellow, but it is as well not to rely too much on him. If you hear of
any Englishmen being in the village or neighbourhood, get Kalong to open
up a communication with them, and send a written note to ask who they
are."

"Aye, aye, sir!" answered Uncle Jack; "you may depend upon my
discretion."

I naturally felt very eager, for I had persuaded myself that we should
certainly find my father, notwithstanding Ned's doubts. I do not think
my uncle was quite so sanguine, still he was very willing to undertake
the expedition. We had on board a small light canoe, which we had
brought from Singapore, large enough to carry two or three people, but
easily paddled by one. At the last moment it was determined to carry
this canoe with us, as she could tow astern, and might be of great use
in sending ahead to act as a scout.

As soon as everything was ready we shoved off, our shipmates remaining
on board, giving us three hearty cheers as we pulled away. We found
that the river made several bends, so that in a short time we were out
of sight of the brig.

As we passed close, sometimes to one bank, sometimes to the other, we
could hear the cooing of pigeons, the shrill call of peahens, and the
notes of many song birds; above which rose the chattering of troops of
monkeys, while parrots and other gaily-coloured birds flew from bough to
bough. The monkeys occasionally showed themselves, leaping along the
branches, often running out to those above our heads and uttering hoarse
cries, as if ordering us away from their domains, grinning fiercely at
us, hooting and chattering, and shaking the boughs in their indignation.

We had got up some distance, and calculated that it would be dark in the
course of a short time, when, having entered another reach, we saw
before us on the right hand shore an opening in which were several huts,
of a construction common in that country, being erected on tall posts
with a ladder leading to them.

Kalong said that he was not aware of any village being there, and that
it had probably not long been established. As we could see only three
huts, and as there were not likely to be many inhabitants, he and Ned
offered to go on shore and obtain information, while we remained in the
boats with our arms ready for use, should the natives show any signs of
hostility.