," said Archie softly.

"No, sir; and the brute needn't have done that. I was quite wet enough
before. I suppose you are a bit damp?"

"Don't, Pete--don't!" whispered Archie. "This is no time for trying to
be funny."

"All right, sir. I thought it was, for I'm in precious low spirits.
Think we can manage to stop opposite the Doctor's garden?"

"We must, Pete; but I can make out nothing. I suppose we are a long way
above the landing-place."

"Oh yes, sir; and perhaps it's all for the best as we can't see, for if
we could, whoever's ashore would see us; and that would mean spears, for
none of our chaps would be about here."

"Look here, Pete, we must both watch; but you get right in the bows with
the grapnel in your hand, ready to drop it over silently when I say
_Now_!"

"Right, sir; but we must have ever so far to go yet, eh?"

"I am not sure, Pete."

"No, sir; but you will have to chance it."

Archie uttered an angry ejaculation, and then clutched sharply at the
side of the boat, which shivered from end to end and nearly capsized as
it glided up the slanting rope of a larger vessel with which it had come
violently in contact. But it righted itself quickly, and scraped along
the side, with the lads crouching lower as they listened to the angry,
muttering of voices and the scuffling of people moving. But the next
minute the river had borne them clear, and the muttering died away.

"That must have been a naga, Pete, from the size of it, and having men
on board."

"Suppose so, sir. I thought it meant a swim for us. But, I say, it
must have spoilt somebody's beauty snooze. But look there, sir! That
must mean gardens."

"What, Pete?"

"Can't you see them glow-worm things sparkling?"

"Yes."

"Well, sir, ain't you going to say _Now_?"

"No, Pete. We cannot have passed the big landing-place yet. If we
have, only just. Yes, that must be it, and this must be the spot. Oh!
if we could only see a spark of light from the Residency we should know
where we are."

"Yes, sir; but it's no use to look out for lights. Still, we must be
getting somewhere near, sir, and I'm ready when you are. I must leave
it to you, for you know more about boating on the river than I do. It
only seems to me that it can't be long before we shall be opposite the
Doctor's beautiful garden and the little steps at the bottom, where you
used to land."

"Yes, Pete, I must guess, for I can see nothing."

"Nor me neithe