d then I began to search the river for
signs of the returning ship, for I calculated that by this time she must
have arrived at her destination and discovered the destruction of the
factory; so it was a question what the skipper of her would do upon
making the discovery. That she was not in the Camma Lagoon was pretty
evident, for almost the whole expanse of that sheet of water was in full
view from my look-out, and I could scarcely have failed to see her, had
she been there; I therefore carefully inspected the course of the river
more toward Olomba, and presently I caught a glimpse of her upper canvas
sliding along past the belt of mangroves and bush that bordered the
river. She was beating down against the sea-breeze, with a strong
current under her lee bow hawsing her up to windward, and was making
very rapid progress.

Then I allowed my glances to return to the boats, and wondered whether
those in them could see the ship. I came to the conclusion that they
could not, being by this time too far over toward the other side of the
lagoon, and consequently too close in to the mangroves to be able to see
over them. I now most ardently wished that I had thought of arranging
to display a signal warning them of the approach of the ship, for it
would be a piece of information very useful for them to possess under
the existing circumstances; but I had not, so there was no use in
worrying about it. And even as I came to this conclusion the gig, still
leading, disappeared within the narrow channel giving access to the
river, and was quickly followed by the other boats, until the whole had
vanished.

And now I could but guess what was happening in the channel, and watch
the movements of the ship. By the time that the last of the boats had
disappeared, and I was free to again direct my attention to the larger
craft, she had worked down the river as far as the entrance of the creek
giving access to Olomba; and when she next hove about I soon saw, by the
length of time that she was holding on the same tack, that she was
making a long "leg" down the main channel of the river. But she still
had some ten miles of river to traverse before she would reach the spot
at which it had been arranged that the boats should lie in ambush for
her; and, fast as she was travelling, I estimated that it would take her
at least an hour to cover that distance. I therefore drew out my watch,
noted the time, and then set myself patiently to await