e for
people dying of starvation in any part of India, though sad to say it
is only recently that thousands were swept away by famine. Fruit is
abundant and little meat is necessary in hot countries. Before the
morning meal was partaken of Jack Everson asked Dr. Marlowe to explain
the cause of the low moaning noise that had been in his ears for moat
of the night. The elder listened for a minute and replied:

"What I expected! We are very near the head of navigation; that sound
comes from falls or rapids, above which we cannot go with this boat."

This announcement precipitated a discussion as to what was the best
course to follow. The physician left no doubt of his sentiments.

"The devils will be prowling up this stream within a few hours; I
should not be surprised if they are near us this moment; the boat is of
no further use to us."

The three, Anderson, Turner and Wharton, did not agree with him. The
craft had served them so well that they were unwilling to abandon it.
They seemed to believe that it offered a much safer means of defense
than they could find anywhere on land.

"But you cannot stay forever on it," protested the doctor impatiently.

"We do not expect to," replied Anderson; "we may decide to descend to
the Ganges again, and continue down the river."

"Whither?"

"To Cawnpore or some point nearer."

The doctor was aghast.

"You mean to leap straight into the hornet's nest; those are the
places, of all others, that must be avoided."

"It may be as you say, but I am hopeful that the English garrisons have
been able to hold out against the mutineers."

"It is a woeful mistake, my friend; if you persist in it we must part
company."

CHAPTER XIV.

THE SOUND OF FIRING.

Jack Everson was hardly less impatient than the doctor over the
obstinacy of their lately made friends. He reminded them that the
physician had spent a score of years in that part of the world, with
which he was so familiar that his judgment ought to outweigh theirs,
but the argument was useless. They had decided to stick to the boat
that had served them so well and could not be dissuaded. Their plan,
as they had intimated, now that they found they could go little further
up stream, was to descend to the Ganges, with a view of working their
way down to some of the cities, where they hoped to find the English
had succeeded in holding out against the mutineers.

Could this be done, and could such a haven be rea