in the morning, even if they hadn't
carried me off bodily, and really, considering the size of their wings
and the strength of their proboscises, I thought that more than
probable. Now after all I have gone through, I only hope that the enemy
will hold out and give us something to do."

As Captain Hemming was unwilling to displace Murray, he directed the
sorely-tried commander to take charge of the heavier boats, while he and
the lieutenant proceeded on ahead with the lighter ones, to endeavour,
before commencing hostilities, to try and settle matters by pacific
measures. The order was now given to move ahead.

"Faith, it's easy enough to say that same," exclaimed Adair, "but it's
much harder to do it. However, give way, my lads; we shall see the
noses of the Dons before long, if they stop to show them, and if not, we
shall chance to get sight of their coat-tails."

A hearty laugh from his boat's crew, as they bent lustily to their oars,
followed this sally.

As the crews of the heavier boats laboured with all their strength they
made good way, and for some time kept the two light gigs in sight. They
now entered a reach of a mile and a half in length, at the head of
which, according to the consul's description, the fort would be found.

The captain and Murray pulled on for some distance, though the mist
which still hung over the river hid them from sight of the fort. Not a
breath of air stirred the leaves of the forest; the monkeys, as before,
chattered among the branches, and bright-coloured macaws flew screaming
overhead. At length, far in the distance, on the summit of a bold point
projecting into the river, the stockade they might have to attack came
into sight.

The rays of the rising sun shining on the fort brought it into bold
relief against the dark woods, and above the deep shadows cast across
the stream.

No flag waved over it, and no sign of life appeared, not a canoe floated
on the water, no sound was heard. Captain Hemming thought that had he
not wished first to try pacific measures, he might have managed to
surprise its garrison without resistance, but, like many another gallant
man, he had no wish to fight if it could be avoided, and he only hoped
to induce the Nicaraguans to yield without being compelled to resort to
force.

The gigs proceeded but slowly as the current here ran even faster than
in any part of the river. Still no notice was taken of the boats, and
Murray, who shared his