they feel
like jumping down?"

"That is a species of paralysis, growing out of a sense of insecurity.
It is purely an unnatural sensation, that temporarily disorganizes the
nervous system. I knew a man who, whenever placed in such a position,
could not speak."

They were now on what might be called the table land of the island. A
broad plateau, with frequent groves, and any quantity of young trees
scattered about everywhere, gave a most pleasing view. During the fourth
day of the journey occasional little streams, flowing to the north, were
crossed, and in the forenoon they had to halt for two hours and camp
during the heaviest rainstorm which had fallen since they came to the
island.

On the fifth day a broad river was sighted, flowing to the north, and
before noon the banks were reached. Its width barred their further
progress, unless a raft could be made large enough to take the team
across. This was considered a hazardous task, and the distance from home
was too great to take the risk. It was a larger stream than South River.

CHAPTER II

THE MYSTERIOUS LIGHTS

The usual rate of travel did not average two and a half miles an hour,
and while the first and second days were vigorous ones, they were not so
much disposed to hurry up now, and were taking the trip more leisurely,
thus giving more time to the examination of trees and plants and
flowers, and to investigating the geological formation of the country.
The new river was not, in all probability, more than seventy miles from
the Cataract home.

Beyond, fully a day's march, was the mountain chain--not a high range,
but an elevation which showed a broken skyline. The mountains below the
South River did not now seem so formidable; and directly to the south
they could see no ranges or hill elevations. To the north the sea might
be ten or fifty miles away. The river flowed past them at the rate of
about two miles an hour.

That evening, while sitting on the bank, Harry had an idea. "We made a
mistake in calling our home river the West River. Let us call this the
West, and rename our stream the Cataract River."

"Very well; as George does not object, the Geographical Society will
please take notice, and make the change."

George was of the impression that to settle the question of the
direction they should take in their future explorations, was the most
important thing to determine.

An entire day was spent in and about the vicinity of the river.