"

CHAPTER V.

AGAIN ON THE ISLAND.

Over such ground it was impossible to hurry, but in three-quarters of an
hour they reached the edge of the wood.

"I have been thinking that we had better take to the water for a bit,"
Stephen said. "They are sure to think that you have made for the coast,
and they will not be long in finding our footmarks. Though I don't know
much about the Malays, I expect they can follow a track like all other
savages. The only thing to settle is whether we shall swim across the
river and go along in that direction, or keep on this side. We have not
seen anything of alligators, and I don't think the sharks ever cross the
bars and come into fresh water."

"All right, sir! If you think it is best to cross, I am ready," Wilcox
said. "A dip will do us good, for the heat in that wood is enough to roast
an ox; besides, it will wash the mud off us. But we must look about for a
log to put the gun and our pistols and the ammunition on, we must not risk
wetting that."

There were many pieces of drift-wood by the edge of the water, and
choosing one of them they fastened the weapons and cartridges on the top,
and then, entering the water and pushing it before them, swam over to the
opposite side. Then taking the arms again they let the log drift down the
river, and keeping in the water ankle-deep they followed the stream down
to the sea, and continued their course along the sand washed by the surf.

"How long a start do you think we shall get, Wilcox?" Stephen asked.

"I should say that two hours is as much as we can hope for."

"Well, we shall be a good long way off by that time. I feel a new man
after that swim."

"So do I," Joyce said, speaking more briskly than he had hitherto done.

"Well, we had better set off at a trot," the sailor said. "I expect those
beggars can run a good deal faster than we can. The great thing is for us
to get so far away before it gets dark that they won't be able to see our
figures. If it is eight bells before they fairly set off after us, they
will only have a little better than two hours and a half. They are sure to
be thrown out for a bit at the mouth of the river. They will see our
footsteps at the water side, but won't know whether we have crossed or
have kept along on that side. Very likely some of them will go one way and
some the other, still they are sure to have a talk and a delay. They