the boat, which had careened over so that the surface of
the rippling river was within a few inches of the edge; and there they
clung, listening with straining ears, trying to make out whether they
had been heard.

"It's all right, sir," said Peter softly, as they now rested with their
arms over touching the bottom of the boat.

"I don't know," said Archie. "I think the stern's covered in. Is
anybody on board?"

"Like enough, sir; but chance it;" and raising himself with a sudden
movement which made a loud wallowing and sent a shudder of horror
through his companion, Peter drew himself over the rough gunwale, rolled
into the bottom of the boat, in company with a gush of water, and then,
bayonet in hand, crept over the thwarts and under the attap-covered
stern.

"All right, sir," whispered the lad; and he crept to the far side of the
boat, trimming it so that it made Archie's task of joining him easier to
achieve. "Ready, sir?"

"Yes. What about the moorings?"

"I was going to cut the rope, sir," whispered Peter, "but I won't.
Perhaps it's a grapnel, and we shall want it again."

Creeping right to the bows, he began to haul on a roughly made fibre
line, which came in readily as the water rippled more loudly against the
stem, and the line became more and more perpendicular, till something
struck against the frail woodwork of the bows, and, panting with his
exertion, Peter drew a little, clumsily made anchor into the big sampan.

"That's done it," he whispered. "Hear anything, sir?"

"No; but we are floating down."

"Lovely, sir. Now then, we shall have to look out, for we mustn't pass
the Doctor's garden."

_Crack_--_creak_--_scrape_!

The two lads dropped at full length into the water that was washing
about the bottom of the boat, and lay motionless till they had scraped
past a boat that seemed similar to the one they had boarded. But it was
evidently unoccupied, and they raised themselves up into a sitting
position again, and strained their eyes to gaze in the direction of the
shore they had left, where all was perfectly still. Then Archie felt
his companion's hand touch his arm.

"Talk about a lark, Mister Archie!" whispered Peter.

"A lark?"

"Yes, sir. I forgot all about the crocs. They must have been asleep."

_Plash_--_wallow_! came from just ahead, as there was a slight jar as if
something had been encountered, and a tiny shower of water flew over
them.

"Doesn't seem like it, Pete