-up of the imagination, in the deep sleep which had
overcome the young adventurer as he leaned against the side of the boat.

CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN.

A SUDDEN CHECK.

Days and days passed of sailing on and on over waters which grew more
and more shallow. Brilliantly-coloured birds were shot and skinned: and
an ample supply of fine turkey-like fellows made the men's eyes sparkle
as they thought of the rich roasts Dan would make at the evening's
camping-place to supplement the toothsome fish that were hauled in,
flashing gold, silver, blue, and scarlet from their scales, whenever a
line was thrown out astern.

Sometimes a shot was obtained at some fierce animal or loathsome
reptile, whose pursuit and capture lent excitement to the trip and fully
repaid the men for their labour at the oars when the wind went down.

The change from the brig to the boat seemed to give Sir Humphrey new
life, and at the end of a fortnight he was thoroughly himself again, and
ready to take his turn at an oar so as to rest the men, to fish, or to
land on one or the other bank of the river in search of game for the
cook or specimens for their boxes of skins.

"It's glorious," cried Brace, more than once.

"Would be," said Briscoe, "if we could catch sight of the golden city."

"You'll only see it as I did," cried Brace--"in a dream; but you can
read about it when we get back home, in some book of imaginary travels."

"Perhaps," said Briscoe drily; "but I have more faith than you have, my
fine fellow. Just wait and see."

That afternoon a wide reach of the river was entered where the water
shallowed so rapidly that all of a sudden a grating sound arose from
under the foremost boat, and then came a shout from the captain to
Lynton.

"Look out there," he roared. "Shove your helm down."

The second mate obeyed the order instantly; but the warning came too
late, for there was a sudden check and Brace nearly went overboard, and
in fact would have taken a header if Briscoe had not made a snatch at
his arm.

Both boats were fast aground and refused obstinately to yield to the
poling and punting toiled at by the men to get them over the sandy shoal
in which they were fixed.

"Never mind, my lads," cried the captain at last: "it's getting late,
and there's a capital camping-place ashore. Wade, some of you, and
lighten the boats so as to run 'em in. You, Dan, and a couple more see
to your fire. There don't seem to be any of those f