rtune favoured them. He caught sight of the dark hulls of the
prahus, but the boat was invisible, and as Frank crept on along the
river-bank listening to the strange sighings and splashings of the
river, he at last made out the great tree beneath which he had rescued
Ned from a horrible death, and a quarter of a mile farther on, through
the wet untrampled shore-growth, where twice over he heard the rushing
and splash of some reptile, he paused by a thick bed of reeds and grass,
with bushes overhanging the river's edge.

Here he stopped till the others joined him--Tim still staggering on with
the doctor's help--and then moved forward again by a tall palm.

He listened, and everything but the splashing of fish and reptiles was
still. There was no dipping of oar or creak of bamboo against wood.

Suddenly a low chirping sound rose from the midst of the party, and was
answered from a dozen yards distant. Then came the rustling of some one
forcing his way through the bushes, and Ned stood among them, silently
grasping hand after hand.

"I was afraid they'd got you, Frank," he said.

"No; it's all right."

"But where's my uncle?"

There was silence, and then Mr Braine explained their position.

"I see," said Ned, firmly; "but we cannot stir from here without him."

"No; we are going to get him out at any cost."

"How?" said Ned.

"Hist! speak lower," whispered Mr Braine. "Drop down in the boat to
the point nearest his house, and there part of us land."

"But you say he is guarded."

"Yes. The case is desperate. But, first of all, let's get on board."

"No," said Ned; "you are going to forsake him. I will not go."

"I give you my word as a gentleman, sir," said Mr Braine, coldly.

Ned said no more, but acting as guide, led the way down to the boat,
where, with Hamet's help, the ladies, arms, and ammunition were placed
on board, and they all followed after, literally rolling Tim in over the
side, to lie perfectly helpless at the bottom.

"Safe so far," said Mr Braine, as they crouched together in the
fore-part, while the ladies were under the thatch awning shivering with
dread.

"Catch hold, Ned. You too, Hamet," whispered Frank, who, remembering
his own sufferings, thrust some food into the fasting pair's hands.

"Now," said Mr Braine, "there is no better plan. About three hundred
yards below the big tree, by that cluster of palms."

"The prahus are near there," said Frank.

"A full hundred yar