Now, gentlemen," he added, "suppose we
go on."

"I say, bosun," said Billy, rubbing one ear until it was quite red,
"what have I been a-doing of?"

"Getting your tongue in a knot, my lad. Come on."

He led the way and Billy Widgeon followed, talking to himself and
evidently thoroughly puzzled as to the meaning of the major's attack.

But now the attention of all was attracted by the little trickling
stream which made its way from beneath some low growth, and lost itself
directly in the sand; but though the way was blocked up it was evident
that here was a road into the island, for the dense wall of verdure took
somewhat the form of an arch; and as soon as a way had been forced
through, Bruff dashed on ahead, splashing about and barking excitedly.

"That's not the way to get sport, is it?" said Morgan. "Hadn't we
better call the dog back?"

"Yes, call him," said the major.

Mark called, but the dog had evidently gone beyond hearing, so they
followed, finding themselves in an opening about sixty feet wide as soon
as they had passed the arch, and with the sky above them, while they
were walking in the gravelly zigzagging and winding bed of a little
river, with a wall of mighty trees to right and left.

It was evident that at times there was a tremendous current here, and
that the whole place was flooded after the heavy rains, for the
first-mate pointed out, some five feet from the ground, a patch of dry
grass and broken twigs, matted together just as they had been washed
down the river and left there from the last flood, while now the stream
was reduced to a trickling rivulet, with a pool here and a pool there,
some of which were deep and, from the swirling motion of the water,
evidently contained big fish.

There was plenty of room for walking at the sides of the gravelly
stream, and after progressing some little distance inland, at the bottom
of what was like a channel, whose walls were huge tree-trunks towering
to a great height, the party began to look out for birds.

"Phew! it's hot work," said Morgan, wiping his face, for the heat in
that airless chasm was terrific. "I don't think we shall get many
birds."

"I'm not going to try," said Gregory, "for it's neck-breaking work
staring up in the tops of these trees."

"We'll find some ducks soon," said the major, "or some ground pigeons.
You leave it to me. But where's that dog?"

There was no answer, for evidently no one knew. One thing was certain