which surrounded them. The night had fallen and there was no moon, but
the sky was full of the glorious stars of the East, and the great
silent river spread itself abroad in the bright starshine till its low
distant banks were lost to sight, and the sampan seemed to be crossing
a vast lake. Far away up the stream a myriad twinkling lights showed
where the shipping lay thickly, and now a huge cargo boat came down
stream, its vast bulk looming high above the smooth flood.

Somewhere on the shore a mandoline tinkled, the faint distant notes
coming sweetly to them across the water. Jack dropped his hand into
the stream and found it warm to the fingers. Then he felt that the
river was full of something floating on its surface, which brushed his
fingers, and circled about his wrist.

"What's this in the water?" said Jack.

Buck dropped his hand down.

"Paddy-husks, the husk of rice," he replied. "There are rice-mills on
the banks up above, and they pitch the husks into the stream. When the
mills are busy, the husks cover the river."

"It is a strong current," said Jack.

"Ay, and a very dangerous one," remarked Dent "There's no mercy in
this river. It'll sweep you away like the under-tow of a strong tide,
and suck you down to feed the crocodiles, if it gets the chance."

For a few moments there was silence, and Jack, who was seated with his
face to his companions, watched the big cargo-boat now passing them,
but a good distance away. Suddenly he sharpened the glance of his keen
eyes and looked more intently. A tiny dark patch shot from the shadow
of the great vessel and held its way straight towards them.

"There's a boat just come from behind that big ship, and it's making
straight for us," said Jack.

"That's queer," said Dent sharply, turning his head to look. "It must
have come down stream in shelter of the cargo-boat. I've been keeping
a watch on the river round us." He said a few words in the native
tongue to the big Shan, and the latter pulled much faster and altered
his course a little.

"If they're only making for the shore they'll go straight on," said
Jim Dent. "If they're after us, they'll change their course."

"They row fast," said Jack.

Jim spoke to the Shan once more, and a few sentences passed between
them.

"It's one of those long creek skiffs, pulled by six men," announced
Jim. "He knows by the shape of it on the water and the sound of the
oars."

"Think they're after us, Jim?" asked Bu