f you think of a plan?"

"I have a proposal to make," said Hendrik. "Let one of us take to the
water and look down stream for a landing-place. If he succeeds in
reaching the bank in safety, he could come up again, and by swinging out
one of those long climbing plants we see hanging to the trees, there
would be some chance of the other two catching it. By that means we may
get off."

"That's not a bad idea," rejoined Arend; "but which of us is to run the
risk of the swim. For my part, I'm quite willing to incur it."

"There is certainly great danger," said Hendrik; "but there is also
danger of starvation if we stay here."

"Quite true," rejoined Arend. "But for my part, I would rather feed a
crocodile than die of hunger myself. So I'm willing to risk the swim.
If you don't see me on the bank in three or four hours you may conclude
that either the crocodiles have eaten me, or that I've been shattered
among the rocks."

The others would not listen to Arend's self-sacrificing proposal; and
for a time, it was debated among them, as to who should run the risk,
each protesting what under other circumstances he would scarce have
done,--that he was a better swimmer than either of the other two.

As each insisted on taking the peril upon himself,--and none of them
would yield the point, a proposal was made to cast lots.

This was done; and Hendrik, the suggester of the plan, was the one
chosen by fate to carry it into execution.

"I am glad of it," said he, after the thing had been decided. "It is
but just that I should be permitted to carry out my own proposal. So
here goes!"

Hastily undressing himself, he shook hands with Arend and Willem,
dropped into the flood, and was away with the rapidity of an arrow.

Anxiously the others gazed after him; but in less than three minutes, he
was no longer under their eyes, the rough rapid current having carried
him clean out of sight.

Two hours passed, which were spent by Arend and Groot Willem in, a state
of anxious suspense. Two hours more and it became terrible.

"Night is fast approaching," remarked Arend. "If Hendrik does not
return before night, I shall swim after him."

"Yes, we may as well, while we have the strength to do it," answered
Willem. "If you go, so will I. We shall start together. How long do
you think we should wait?"

"Not much longer. Certainly within a mile, he ought to have found a
place where he could land. That distance he must soo