k, to whom bush work was a
novelty, stared back at his friend in amazement. For he had seen
nothing, and there had been no sound to arouse his suspicion. Indeed,
all about the little party looked quiet and peaceful. Overhead towered
enormous cotton trees, running to the height of two hundred and fifty
feet, while beneath their overspreading branches were yams and plantain
trees, huge ferns and every variety of forest growth, many of these
latter being giants in themselves, but dwarfed by the ponderous girth
and height of the cotton trees. At the feet of these wonders of the
African forest clustered vines and trailing creepers. Orchids and
lovely lichens clung to the boughs, while huge masses of buff, violet,
pink and brilliant yellow convolvuli hung suspended in festoons,
brightening the gloom which pervaded this underworld of the jungle. Not
a native could be seen. Indeed, the bush was so dense that Dick and his
party could not see beyond a few feet, and every yard they advanced had
to be won by diligent cutting with sword or cutlass. Yet our hero was
suspicious.

"There, listen!" he said again, in a low whisper. "Listen to the
birds."

"I hear them. But what of that? There are heaps in these woods, no
doubt," was Jack's reply. "That does not say that the enemy are near.
Wait, though. That was a cheer. Our men must be somewhere in the
neighbourhood."

At that moment a distant cheer had come to their ears through the
barrier of boughs, and at the sound both sat up suddenly and listened.
Then Dick began to crawl forward again.

"We can go on," he said quietly. "The calls of the birds were not real,
of that I feel sure. They were made by the enemy, purposely to let each
man know that he was near his fellows. It's a good idea. Halt again!"

This time he beckoned the bluejackets to come close up to him, and for a
little while they were clustered together at the foot of a cotton tree.

"We are getting near the enemy," said Dick, "and if we are rushed it
will be very easy to get separated. We will keep in couples, and no man
is to be more than three or four feet from his comrade. Once we are in
touch with the enemy we will whistle, so as to tell each other where we
are. Then there will be no getting lost, and we shall not run the
danger of firing at one another. Remember, before pulling a trigger,
give a whistle and wait a moment."

Once more he turned his face to the interior of the jungle and c