ree.

"Anybody hurt?" cried Brazier from inside the cabin; "I thought the
place was going to be swept away after I had dived in here."

"No, sir; we're all right," cried Rob. "I nearly lost my cap, though,
and--Oh! where's Joe?"

"Eh?" cried Shaddy, looking forward. "Why, he was--gone!"

All faced round to look back just in time to catch an indistinct glimpse
of their companion apparently clinging to a bough overhanging the
stream; but the next moment the intervening branches hid him from their
sight, and a look of horror filled every face.

"Did--did you see him, Shaddy?" panted Rob.

"Thought I did, sir, but couldn't be sure," growled Shaddy, and then
furiously to his men, "Row--row with all your might!"

The men obeyed, making their oars bend as they tugged away with such
effect that they advanced a few yards. But that was all. The current
was too sharp, and they lost ground again. Then, in spite of all their
efforts, the most they could do was to hold their own for a minute
before having to give way, pull in shore, and seize the overhanging
boughs to which Shaddy and Brazier now clung to keep the boat from
drifting.

"Better land, sir," cried Shaddy. "We can't reach him this way."

"Reach him?" cried Rob piteously, and then to himself, "Oh! Joe, Joe,
why didn't you shake hands?"

CHAPTER NINETEEN.

A FRESH PERIL.

Shaddy's advice was easier to give than to execute. For though by
holding on to the boughs they were able to anchor the boat, it proved to
be a difficult task to force it in among the submerged stems to the spot
where the clear space of elevated ground offered a satisfactory
landing-place.

Thanks to the skill of the boatmen, however, a landing was at last
achieved, and as soon as Brazier leaped ashore he was followed by Rob
and Shaddy, the latter giving his men a few sharp orders before joining
the others, who were trying to force their way back along the bank
toward where they had last seen their companion.

This was difficult, but possible for a short distance, and they pressed
on hopefully, for, consequent upon the sudden turn of the river here
forming a loop, they had only to cross this sharp bend on foot, not a
quarter of the distance it would have been to row round.

But before they had gone fifty yards the high-and-dry land ended, and
Rob, who was, thanks to his activity, first, was about to wade in and
continue his way among the submerged roots.

But Shaddy roared