oubtedly going forward,
that I determined to take the slight risk of being mistaken, and make
for it forthwith. I therefore gave the coxswain orders to starboard his
helm a bit and feel his way cautiously in over the mud, and the oarsmen
to give way and keep strict silence.

In another minute, or less, we had passed out of the main deep-water
channel, and were gliding through the shallow water that covered the
flat mud-banks on either side of the stream, the men dipping their oars
deep at every stroke to get timely warning of our approach to water not
deep enough to float the boat.

"No bottom yet, sir," reported the stroke-oar at frequent intervals; and
at each report the coxswain starboarded an extra half-point or so, until
at length the boat's nose was pointing straight for the mouth of the
creek, and at every stroke of the oars the fiendish uproar of horns,
tom-toms, and shouting--or chanting, whichever it was--seemed to come to
our ears more distinctly, and with more ominous import.

At length the boat entered the creek, or canal, and I at once gave
orders for all hands who had cutlasses to draw them, and for every man
to look carefully to the priming of his pistols. This having been done,
we pulled ahead once more, and now the rapidity with which the mingled
sounds that were guiding us increased in volume told us that we were
quickly approaching the scene of action. And presently, as though to
dissipate any doubt that might still be lurking in our minds, we
distinctly heard, at frequent intervals, the piercing scream of a man in
mortal agony!

"Do you hear that, Grenvile?" whispered the general through his set
teeth. "Why, man, those cries make one's blood run cold to listen to
them! How much farther do you mean to go before landing?"

"I shall go on until we bring the sounds abeam of us," I whispered back.
"We are moving very much faster here than we should ashore, especially
when it comes to creeping through those mangrove tree roots; so I will
get as close to the place as I can before landing. Oars!"

For at that moment we swept round a rather sharp bend in the stream, and
I caught a glimpse, at no great distance ahead, of what I thought looked
very much like the stern of a canoe projecting from among the trees on
our port. I held up my hand for silence. We were so near to the scene
of action now, that, had we raised a shout, we should instantly have
attracted attention and, maybe, have temporaril