ll have no dish-washing or other dooties
to do they'll have plenty of time, and I hope they'll enjoy themselves."

"You mean to leave them behind?"

"That's about it, sir. They've gone. It isn't my doing. I didn't
drive them away."

"What, skipper?" cried Briscoe, laughing. "It that wasn't driving, what
was it?"

The captain's face puckered up into a peculiar grin in which the corners
of his eyes participated with those of his mouth.

"Well, it wasn't a bad charge, was it?" he said. "But now then,
business. Let's have all those cooking traps and things aboard again.
Eh? Oh, there's your chap hard at work over them, Mr Briscoe. I
missed him, and thought he'd gone off with the gang."

"What, my Dan?" cried Briscoe. "I say, skipper, did you get a crack in
the fight?"

"Nary crack, sir, as you'd say," replied the captain. "Why?"

"Because your head doesn't seem clear this morning."

"I beg his pardon, then," said the captain, in a gruff voice. "Now
then, all on board as soon as we can, and let's be off before we catch
Mr Briscoe's complaint and want to stop and wash for gold."

The American laughed at the captain's dry remark, and joined in with the
rest, working away till all that had been landed was on board the larger
boat, when Brace turned to the captain.

"This is all very well," he said; "but we were aground last night, and
you were speaking about searching to-day for a channel along which we
could pick our way."

"That's right, sir," said the captain grimly; "but Nature's been on our
side."

"I don't know what you mean," said Brace, staring at him.

"River's a foot deeper than it was last night. There's been a storm
somewhere up there in the mountains."

"I see no sign of it," said Sir Humphrey. "Oh, yes, I do. Look, Brace:
the water is nothing like so clear."

"That's right, sir," said the captain. "These rivers alter a deal
sometimes in twenty-four hours. Have we got everything on board?"

"Ay, ay, sir," cried Lynton.

"Except the rest of the crew, captain," said Sir Humphrey.

"Oh, yes, of course, sir; but we shall ride lighter without them."

"You never mean to leave them to starve in this wilderness, captain?"

"Aren't this a matter of navigation, Sir Humphrey?" asked the captain
sternly, but with a twinkle in the eye.

"Certainly not," said Sir Humphrey. "It is a question of common
humanity."

"About six common men, sir," said the captain. "Well, we shall see.
An