ere they made a fortnight's stay to
engage a boat and men, and learn a little more of the land they were to
explore, and at last the morning came when they parted from the
hospitable merchant to whom Murray had had introductions; and the bamboo
wharf had faded quite from sight, when Ned Murray again cried excitedly:

"Hurrah! Off at last!"

CHAPTER THREE.

UP THE RIVER.

It was early morning yet, and the mists hung low, but the torrid sun
rapidly dissipated each opalescent gauzy vapour, and before long the sky
was of that vivid blue which reflected in the surface of the river
changed its muddy hue, and gave it a beauty it really did not possess.
Nothing can be more dull and monotonous than the fringe of mangroves
which line the tidal waters of river and creek in the tropics, and after
sitting watching the dingy foliage and interlacing roots for some time,
in the hope of seeing some living creature, Ned Murray began to scan the
river in search of something more attractive; but for a time there was
the glistening water reaching on and on before them, now fairly
straight, now winding and winding, so that at times they were completely
shut in by the mangroves, and the Malays appeared to be rowing in a
lake.

"Not much of scenery this, Ned," said Murray, after a long silence.

"That's what I was thinking, uncle. But I say, is it going to be all
like this?"

"I should hope not. Oh no! these trees only grow where they can feel
the sea-water, I believe. As we get higher up, where the river begins
to be fresh, we shall see a change."

"But it's all so still. No fish, no birds, and no chance of seeing the
animals for those trees."

"Patience, my lad, patience."

"But hadn't we better get out the guns and cartridges, or the
fishing-tackle?"

"Nothing to shoot as yet, nothing to catch, I should say; but we'll have
out a gun soon. Any fish to be caught here with a line, Hamet?"

The nearest of the Malay boatmen smiled, ceased rowing, and said in
fairly good English, but with a peculiar accent: "Few; not many.
Shrimps when the water is low."

"Oh! but we can't fish for shrimps without a net," said Ned,
contemptuously; "and that's stupid sport. I did fish with a net once
down in Devonshire, but I did not want to do it again. Why, I should
have thought a river like this would have been full of something."

"Hah!" said the Malay, pointing, and Ned followed the direction
indicated by the man's long brown fi