in deep water, and
striking steadily but rapidly, silently but surely, towards the centre
of the lagoon.

Henry and Murtagh remained on the shore looking after them. The
ship-carpenter was but an indifferent swimmer, and the youth was not
strong enough to have swam half a mile. It was doubtful if either could
have reached the spot where the apes seemed to have made their
rendezvous. And if so, they would have been too exhausted to have
rendered any service in case of a sudden conflict.

The brave Irishman, devoted to his old skipper, and Henry, anxious to
share his father's fate, would have made the attempt; but Captain
Redwood restrained them, directing both to await his return.

They stood close to the water's edge, following the swimmers with their
eyes, and with prayers for their success, scarcely uttered in words, but
fervently felt; Murtagh, according to the custom of his country and
creed, sealing the petition by making the sign of the cross.

CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR.

SWIMMING IN SHADOW.

Silently and swiftly the two swimmers continued their course through the
shadowy aisles of the forest. Twilight, almost darkness, was above and
around them; for the trees meeting overhead caused an obscurity sombre
as night itself. No ray of sunlight ever danced upon the surface of
that dismal lagoon.

They would have lost their way, had not the noises guided them. Should
these be discontinued, their exertions might be all in vain.

They thought of this as they proceeded, and reflected also on the course
to be adopted when they reached the rendezvous of the gorillas.
Supposing there could be no footing found, how were they to use either
gun or sumpitan?

The question passed between them in a whisper as they swam side by side.
Neither knew how to answer it.

Saloo only expressed a hope that they might get upon the limb of a tree
near enough to send a bullet or arrow into the body of the mias, and
terminate his career.

There seemed no other chance, and they swam on, keeping it before their
minds.

About the direction, they had no difficulty whatever. Although the
surface of the water was of inky blackness, from the shadowing trees
above, and the huge trunks standing out of it now and then forced them
into an occasional deviation, they advanced without any great
difficulty.

They swam around the tree trunks, and, guided by the voices of the
gorillas, easily regained their course. The noises were no longe