ds lower, boy," said his father. "You lads will keep
the boat while we land."

"I am coming too," said Ned.

"No," whispered Mr Braine, angrily. "Take my orders, and keep the way
of retreat open for us."

"I am not going to leave my uncle in that danger without coming to
help," said Ned, stubbornly.

"Then come," said Mr Braine, angrily, but admiring the boy's
determination all the same. "Now then, revolvers only, and they are
only to be used if cunning fails. How many do we muster if it comes to
a fight?"

"Hamet will come, father," said Frank.

"To save master? Yes," said the Malay, quietly.

"Four, Ned five," said Mr Braine. "Oh, if that poor fellow had not
made the mistake. He is brave as--as--"

"An Irishman," said the doctor.

"Yes, as an Irishman or a Scot."

"But I don't think he's so very bad, father," whispered Frank.--"Here, I
say, Tim. There's a fight."

"Foight? Eh!" said Tim, struggling up, and rubbing his eyes.

"Hush! whisper."

"But who said there was going to be a foight?"

"I did."

"Where? Come on!"

"Hush! Don't speak so loud. He's right enough, father."

"Then push the boat carefully out of this wilderness, and in Heaven's
name let's go."

Hamet unfastened a rattan line, and the boat began to glide downward at
once, with bush and leaf scratching and rustling against side and
thatch, till they were clear of the dark vegetable tunnel into which it
had been thrust the previous morning. Then taking a pole, the Malay
punted it along close in-shore, thrusting the metal-shod staff quietly
down till, when they had gone about a hundred yards in the profound
darkness beneath the trees, the point struck on something hard, when
instantly there was a tremendous eddying swirl, the boat rocked, and
Hamet said quietly, "Crocodile."

A couple of minutes later Mr Braine pointed to the spot where he wished
to land, and the boat was cleverly brought in close to the bank, here so
steep that it lay invisible from the shore, the overhanging boughs
hiding it from any one upon the river.

"Now, Frank," whispered his father, "there must be absolute silence.
Not a word must be spoken. You and Mr Greig must keep the boat. You
will be sure to hear us coming, so stand ready to cast off."

"Yes, father."

"Right," said Greig.

"And if matters come to the worst, let the boat drop down the river.
Save the ladies, and try to get help."

"Yes, father," said Frank huskily. "Are you go