d not leave the river again until we had
thoroughly explored it; and if they knew the river at all they would
also know that the factory on the Camma Lagoon could scarcely be
overlooked by us. No; in my own mind I feel convinced that the factory
which we destroyed to-day was not the one in which those fellows are
interested; there is another one somewhere in the river; and I will not
leave until I have discovered and destroyed it. But that only brings me
back to the point from which I started, and once more raises the
question, Why did they cast us away within a few miles of this other
factory which I am persuaded exists? Is it that the place is so
strongly fortified that they are confident of our inability to take it?
Or is there something else at the back of it all, of which we have not
yet got an inkling?"

Purchase shook his head hopelessly. "Upon my word, sir," he answered,
"it is quite impossible for me to say. When you come to put the matter
like that it becomes as inexplicable as a Chinese puzzle. What is your
own opinion?"

"I haven't been able to form one at all," answered the skipper. "But
the matter is puzzling enough to convince me that it would be folly on
our part to assume that the casting away of the ship is the beginning
and ending of the adventure; therefore we will neglect no precautions,
Mr Purchase, lest we find ourselves landed in an even worse predicament
than our present one. Our first and most important precaution must be
to maintain a strict watch throughout the night. It need not be a very
strong watch, but it must be a vigilant one; therefore each watch will
be kept under the supervision of an officer who will be responsible for
the vigilance of the men under him. Moreover, all hands must see that
their muskets and pistols are loaded and ready for instant action; for
it would not be a very difficult matter to surprise this camp of ours
sometime during the small hours. Just come outside with me and let us
take a look round."

The result of the above conversation and the "look round" was an
arrangement that the night was to be divided into five watches of two
hours each, beginning at eight o'clock in the evening and ending at six
o'clock in the morning; each watch to consist of twelve men, fully
armed, who were to act as sentries, half of them being detailed to watch
the river in the neighbourhood of the boats, while the other half kept
watch and ward over the land approach to ou