r, sir; but don't be huffy because I say what I am going
to say."

"No. Speak out."

"Then just wait, sir, till you think we are as near as we shall get, and
then chance it."

Archie made no reply as he reached over the side, and, unconscious of
the fact that the stream had turned the boat completely round so that
she was dropping down now bow foremost instead of stern, he suddenly
uttered the word "Now!" and his command was followed by a faint splash
and the rattle of the rope passing over the bows, till there was a
check, and then they were conscious that the sampan was swinging round
again, and Archie uttered a low, groan-like sigh.

"What's the matter, sir? Didn't I do it right?"

"Right, my lad? Yes, you were right enough, but I was all wrong. The
boat has been gliding along stem first, and I have been confused and
looking at the farther shore, seeing nothing but the faint twinkle of
the fire-flies."

"Yes, sir; that's right enough."

"No, no; it's wrong enough, my lad. I'm quite lost. I don't know where
we are. You will have to haul up the grapnel again."

"But what for, sir? She's swung round now right enough, head to
stream--and look--look!" he whispered. "I can see trees quite plain.
We must be close inshore."

"Close inshore; Pete!"

"Yes, sir. Can't that be the Doctor's garden?"

"Hist!" whispered Archie; and there was a sound as if his companion had
given his mouth a pat, for from pretty close at hand there was the low
babble of voices.

"Hear that, sir?" whispered Peter again. "Our chaps?"

"No--Malays."

CHAPTER FORTY.

"WHAT ABOUT VICTUALS?"

For a few minutes it seemed as if the success that had attended them was
to be completely dashed, though it had become evident that, by a
wonderful stroke of good fortune, they had dropped the grapnel of the
boat so that they were swinging nearly opposite to the part of the
river-bank which had been their goal. For then Fate, which had been
filling their breasts with hope, seemed to have withdrawn from them
behind a darker cloud than ever.

The voices were so near that they dared not whisper or stir, only wait
in the full expectation of being seen and welcomed with a shower of
spears; but by degrees the talking ceased, and the silence was so
profound that it became evident that the enemy, whatever had been their
object in coming there, had silently crept away.

"Do you really think they have gone, sir?" whispered Peter.

"I