t be either a little inlet of the
sea itself, or the outflow of a stream. If the latter, then were they
fortunate indeed.

Saloo, the most active of the party, hastened toward it; the others
following him only with their eyes.

They watched him with eager gaze, trembling between hope and fear--
Captain Redwood more apprehensive than the rest. He knew that in this
part of the Bornean coast months often pass without a single shower of
rain; and if no stream or spring should be found they would still be in
danger of perishing by thirst.

They saw Saloo bend by the edge of the inlet, scoop up some water in his
palms, and apply it to his lips, as if tasting it. Only for an instant,
when back to them came the joyful cry,--

"_Ayer! ayer manis! sungi_!" (Water! sweet water! A river!)

Scarce more pleasantly, that morning at day-break, had fallen on their
ears the cry of "Land!" than now fell the announcement of the Malay
sailor, making known the proximity of water. Captain Redwood, who was
acquainted with the Malay language, translated the welcome words. Sweet
water, Saloo had described it. Emphatically might it be so termed.

All hastened, or rather rushed, toward the stream, fell prostrate on
their faces by its edge, and drank to a surfeit. It gave them new life;
and, indeed, it had given them their lives already, though they knew it
not. It was the outflow of its current into the ocean that caused the
break in the coral reef through which their boat had been enabled to
pass. Otherwise they might have found no opening, and perished in
attempting to traverse the surging surf. The madrepores will not build
their subaqueous coral walls where rivers run into the ocean; hence the
open spaces here and there happily left, that form deep transverse
channels admitting the largest ships.

No longer suffering from thirst, its kindred appetite now returned with
undivided agony, and the next thought was for something to eat.

They again turned their eyes toward the forest, and up the bank of the
stream that came flowing from it. But Saloo had seen something in the
sea, near the spot where the pinnace had been left; and, calling upon
Murtagh to get ready some dry wood and kindle a fire, he ran back toward
the boat.

Murtagh, the rest accompanying him, walked to the edge of the woods
where the stream issued from the leafy wilderness.

Just beyond the strip of sand the forest abruptly ended, the trees
standing thick