ht of doing so, and I gave you my word that I
wouldn't desert."

He made no reply, but ordered Mr Griffiths to call over the names of
the men. Four were found missing.

"Take a boat and six men, well armed, and see you bring the rascals
back, alive or dead!" he exclaimed, turning to the mate.

In a couple of minutes the boat was in the water and the men were ready,
and Mr Griffiths pulled away.

He was absent for some hours. At last we saw his boat coming back, but
without the runaways. On reaching the deck Mr Griffiths reported that
he had gone up the river and examined the coast on either side of it,
but could find no traces of the boat or men.

As soon as Captain Hawkins had abandoned all hopes of recovering the
runaways he ordered Mr Griffiths to go again on shore to try and pick
up some fresh hands in their place, and I was sent to look after the
boat. On either side of the river as we pulled up it we saw numbers of
alligators sunning themselves on the sandy banks. As we got near them
they plunged into the water, and at first I thought they were about to
attack the boat.

As we got higher up, the river narrowed and the trees bent over our
heads. In the branches we could see numbers of monkeys leaping from
bough to bough and chattering at us. At last, after going six miles, we
reached a landing-place, near which was an orange-grove coming close
down to the water. Mr Griffiths, taking two men with him, ordered the
rest of us to remain in the boat, and on no account to quit her.
Scarcely, however, was he out of sight than the men declared that they
must have some oranges. When I reminded them of the orders I had
received they laughed at me, and one of them, springing ashore, ran off
to the grove. He soon again appeared, with a handkerchief in his hands
full of oranges, and sucking one as he came along. He was followed by
an old gentleman, whom I at once guessed to be the owner of the
orange-grove, and who came on till he reached the boat. He then stopped
and said something in his native language, which none of us understood.
When he found this he made signs to us that we had no business to take
his oranges without leave. I tried to explain by pointing to the men's
mouths that they were very thirsty, and that I couldn't prevent the
sailor from taking the fruit. Whether it was from my manner or looks I
can't say, but the old gentleman appeared to be pleased, and going back
to an orange-tree picked o