e coast and an experienced
sailor, as indeed are most of the Malays of the archipelago. This
matter, with which all parties were pleased, being settled, we returned
to the "Lily," and sail was made for the part of the coast where Kalong
informed us we should find the mouth of the river. We hove to soon
after sunset that we might not pass the spot during the night.

When Kalong came on deck at daybreak, we once more stood in for the
coast. The wind, however, was light, so that we made but little
progress. He pointed to the southward, indicating that we must steer in
that direction. At length, to our great joy, we saw what was evidently
the mouth of a large river, fringed thickly with mangrove trees.

Ned shook his head. "That's not where the `Amphion' was cast away," he
remarked, as we stood towards it. "Still it may be, notwithstanding,
that our friends are up there. Kalong says that there is water enough
for the brig all the way up to the village, but he thinks it would be
wiser to anchor just within the mouth and let only the boats go up, as
the wind might fail us and we might have a hard job to get out again.
As it is a long pull he also advises that the boats should leave the
brig in the evening, so as to get to the place the next day."

This advice exactly agreed with what the first mate thought best, and
Captain Haiselden, whom he consulted, was of the same opinion. We
accordingly, the wind favouring us, stood on and brought up just inside
the mouth, which formed a beautiful harbour. We lost no time in getting
ready for our expedition. Two boats were lowered, each pulling four
oars, the crews consisting of four Englishmen and four Lascars, besides
Kalong and Ned, the first mate and I going in one and Mr Blyth and the
boatswain in the other. We were all well-armed, and had provisions for
a couple of days. We also carried a number of articles for trading with
the natives, whom we hoped, from Kalong's account, to find friendly.

We had thus left but a small number of men on board, but as the brig was
in a safe place, the captain, trusting to Kalong's report, considered
that there was no risk of her being attacked by pirates. I heard him
tell the first mate, however, when we went into his cabin to wish him
good-bye, that he should have a sharp look-out kept, the guns loaded,
and all hands armed in case of accident; and, he added, "Remember,
Radburn, that you are to run no unnecessary risk; don't trust