d there was nothing wonderful about
it. The incidents of it escaped the minds of the hearers at once, for
their thoughts were turned to Meinheer Van Somering, lying there in the
forest, struck down with the all-prevailing fever, no doubt.

"Of course we shall go up-stream and take him back to the coast," said
Dick, promptly. "But first we must find out something about the enemy.
It would never do to be caught in a trap. Tell me about the Ashantis,"
he went on, addressing the native. "Where are their camps?"

"There are two on the river," was the answer. "From the first I stole
the boat, and the second, which is lower down, discovered me as the dawn
came."

"Then they would certainly discover us," said Jack, when Dick had
explained matters to him. "We should find ourselves in a regular hive,
and that would not be very pleasant. Mind, Dick, I don't want to
discourage this idea of rescue; still, we must think of the men. Could
we run up in the launch without being seen and followed?"

A vigorous shake of Dick's head was the answer. "We should be
discovered as sure as eggs. Then they would put a fleet of boats on the
river and follow. Their guns would attract the attention of their
comrades higher up, and, well--I couldn't expect such good fortune again
as befell Johnnie and myself on a former occasion. Frankly, to run the
launch up under, such circumstances would be madness."

There was silence for some minutes amongst the group gathered about the
cabin, the throb of the miniature engine alone breaking the silence of
the river. A difficult question had to be settled, and the longer the
two young Englishmen stared at the strange missive written, or scratched
rather, upon the dirty strip of linen, the greater did the difficulty
become. It was clear to both that, however big the stake, however
important the life to be rescued, they had no right to risk the safety
of the whole of the launch's crew, and there would be risk if they went.
More than that, the attempt to ascend, with the certain information
that there were two camps on the banks of the river, would be madness,
and deserving of the utmost censure.

"Ask him if he thinks we could rush through, and how far it is,"
suggested Jack, suddenly.

"It would mean death. There are thousands of the enemy," was the
answer. "As to the place, it is not very far. I stole the boat last
night and by dawn I reached this part. For some hours the stream
carried