n got out.

"Take your place in the bow, Mr. Parkhurst, and hold up your hand the
instant you see anything unusual, and do you, men, be ready to hold her
up the instant I give the order."

They proceeded for a quarter of a mile, the gig following close behind.
Suddenly, at a bend in the stream, a glare of light was seen ahead.
Harry held up his hand, and passed the word down in a whisper that just
ahead the creek widened into a broad sheet of water. The lieutenant
stopped the gig by holding up his hand, passed the order for the men
to lay in their oars noiselessly, and told the coxswain to keep in well
under the bushes on the left hand side; then he made his way forward,
and joined Harry, telling the men to pull the boat forward by means
of the branches overhead which were well within reach, but to avoid
breaking even a twig.

In a minute or two the bow of the boat arrived at the end of the screen
of bushes, and a low exclamation broke from the lieutenant and Harry
simultaneously; they were looking out on to an almost circular pool some
two hundred yards in diameter. In the center were moored six prahus.
Two of them lay broadside on to the creek, the other four were in a line
behind these, and it seemed that their broadsides were directed to the
opposite side of the pool, for the other two boats were in the way of
their firing at the creek. They were long, low vessels, rowing some
twenty oars on each side. Each carried a number of small brass guns, and
they were evidently full of men, for numbers could be seen on deck, and
boats were passing to and fro between them and a small village at the
edge of the pool. Having taken in all the details of the scene, the
lieutenant passed the word for the mate to leave his own boat and join
him. When he did so, he whispered to him: "I thought it was as well that
you should have a view of these fellows' position too, Morrison, as it
would be of use to you if you have to take a boat in to attack them."

Two minutes later the boats were drawn back again to the open water in
their rear, and rowed as noiselessly as before down the creek, no word
being spoken until they were half a mile away from the pool.

"That is a snug hiding place, Mr. Morrison," the lieutenant said.

"It is indeed, sir. Who would have thought the scoundrels were so close
to us, or that they lay up this narrow creek, which I have passed half a
dozen times and never thought worth examining? I should not have drea