danger, the two boats glided down and down from river
to river till after many days the adventurers came within hearing of the
falls.

They ran the boats safely aground just above where the river made its
plunge, and then came a long and toilsome task.

But the boats were safely unladen--for the men worked with a will--run
ashore, and up and down the two slopes, to be re-launched and all the
stores and treasure replaced by dark one night.

The next morning at daybreak a start was made for the brig, which was
found a mile lower down, where it had been swept by the flood, but was
safely re-anchored.

In due time the men were cheering loudly again, for the treasure was
safe on board.

"Now," said Briscoe, "one day's rest, and then we'll start with three
boats, skipper, and stouter tackle so as to handle some of those big
images better. We ought to take three or four planks."

"Then you want to get some more?" said the captain, smiling.

"More?" said Briscoe, staring; "why, man, it would be a sin to leave
that treasure wasting there. What do you say, gentlemen?"

"Well," said Sir Humphrey, "I can't help feeling as you do, Briscoe.
What do you say, Brace?"

"I don't want any more gold," was the reply; "but I should like to get
those curiosities to England. It would be such a shame to leave them up
there."

"And so say we," said Dellow and Lynton eagerly.

"But what about the men?" said Brace; "would they go?"

"Would a dozen ducks swim, sir?" said the captain scornfully. "Ask
'em."

The men were asked, and their answer was a tremendous cheer.

"Of course, sir," one of them cried. "We must clear out the lot."

"Very well," said the captain. "I shall stay on board here with two men
as guards, and you shall start with three boats to-morrow morning."

There was another tremendous cheer at this, and then Dellow threw a wet
blanket over all.

"I dunno," he said slowly: "I don't think it will be to-morrow, for
there's some weather about. Look at that lightning playing away to the
west'ard."

The first mate was right, for that night there was a frightful storm to
announce the breaking-up of the season.

The next day the river was in flood, and in spite of all the captain's
skill the brig was torn from her moorings and borne rapidly down stream.

The days passed, and the weather grew worse and worse. Efforts were
made to moor or anchor over and over again, but the river rapidly became
like one vast l