ace to other trees--but what sort of trees they were it
was scarcely light enough to make out very distinctly, except in the
case of the particular tree in front of which the Dyaks were encamped,
the roots of which were strongly illuminated by their camp fire. We say
_roots_ advisedly, for this singular and gigantic tree started its
branches from a complexity of aerial roots which themselves formed a
pyramid some sixty feet high, before the branches proper of the tree
began.

If our voyagers had used oars the sharp ears of the pirates would have
instantly detected them. As it was, the softly moving paddles and the
sharp cutwater of the canoe made no noise whatever. The instant that Van
der Kemp, from his position in the bow, observed the camp, he dipped his
paddle deep, and noiselessly backed water. There was no need to give any
signal to his servant. Such a thorough understanding existed between
them that the mere action of the hermit was sufficient to induce the
negro to support him by a similar movement on the opposite side, and the
canoe glided as quickly backward as it had previously advanced. When
under the deep shadow of the bank Moses thrust the canoe close in, and
his master, laying hold of the bushes, held fast and made a sign to him
to land and reconnoitre.

Creeping forward to an opening in the bushes close at hand, Moses peeped
through. Then he turned and made facial signals of a kind so complicated
that he could not be understood, as nothing was visible save the
flashing of his teeth and eyes. Van der Kemp therefore recalled him by a
sign, and, stepping ashore, whispered Nigel to land.

[Illustration: DISCOVER A PIRATES' BIVOUAC.--PAGE 164.]

Another minute and the three travellers stood on the bank with their
heads close together.

"Wait here for me," said the hermit, in the lowest possible whisper. "I
will go and see who they are."

"Strange," said Nigel, when he was gone; "strange that in so short a
time your master should twice have to stalk strangers in this way.
History repeats itself, they say. It appears to do so rather fast in
these regions! Does he not run a very great risk of being discovered?"

"Not de smallest," replied the negro, with as much emphasis as was
possible in a whisper. "Massa hab ride wid de Vaquieros ob Ameriky an'
hunt wid de Injuns on de Rockies. No more fear ob deir ketchin' him dan
ob ketchin' a streak o' lightnin'. He come back bery soon wid all de
news."

Moses wa