t seemed so. The party now consisted of six, and Harry
had doubts of the sufficiency of the floating timbers to sustain them,
but this fear was dispelled as the noble yaks slowly drew the wagon
forward, and it was found that it floated.

By repeated urging the stream was soon crossed, and when the wagon had
been denuded of the logs, they were in as good condition as before to go
on. As on the previous occasion, they pushed out from the river, as fast
as the darkness would permit, and soon came to gently ascending land,
and finally the underbrush appeared, when the Professor called a halt.

"This will take us far enough from the view of the savages, and we must
make camp and get some rest for the morrow may be a trying day."

As nearly as could be determined it was two o'clock in the morning and
the watches were appointed so that two would be on guard, for an hour at
each watch. The morning came too soon for all of them. It had been a
strenuous time for all and a particularly joyous one for the two boys.

An early start was not necessary. They were about a quarter of a mile
from the river, and as the light broke were surprised to find that the
camp was selected at a peculiarly secluded spot. Their first subject of
conversation was concerning the natives. They were nowhere in sight,
but shortly afterwards John pointed to the right, and there plainly seen
were the entire tribe waiting along the shore of a tributary which
flowed into the stream from the west.

[Illustration: _Fig. 6._]

"It is now plain to me why they were fooled," and the Professor laughed
at the situation. They evidently knew that sooner or later the wagon
must make its appearance and attempt to ford the stream, and that would
be their opportunity.

"They are certainly smart in some things, and particularly with regard
to the character of the streams. That tributary is very deep and they
counted on that giving us trouble."

"Why do you know it is a deep and not a shallow stream?"

"The conformation of the shores indicate that. It can generally be
determined in this way: If the sides of the ground near the shore are
steep, it is pretty sure to make a contracted channel, and that means
depth. On the other hand, if the beach is sloping the stream may be
wide, but is always shallow at that point. See the steep sides running
close down to the mouth?"

[Illustration: _Fig. 7. Shallow Stream._]

The savages did not wait long for the supposed appearan