however, as the hours passed, there seemed no sign, and place
after place was recognised in passing. The morning was glorious, and to
the great satisfaction of all, game was seen to be sufficiently
plentiful to set famine at defiance. But, of course, no shot was fired,
the efforts of all being devoted to reaching the hills, where the first
halt would be made for rest and food.

The comparative coolness of the air as they ascended, the lovely scenery
of the higher ground, and the feeling of hopefulness that danger was
escaped, at all events for the present, made the long tramp pleasant;
and the ladies laughingly disclaimed all feelings of fatigue, when Mr
Braine called a halt beneath a huge tree high up on the slope they had
ascended, and from which they had their first glimpse of the river they
had left.

They had just seated themselves about the baskets, and were laughingly
sharing out the shrunken remains of the provisions hastily gathered,
when the doctor said, "How long do you think it will be before the Rajah
gives up the pursuit?" when Tim, who had been getting his breakfast
ready, as he merrily whispered to the boys, and withdrawn to take it in
smoke some distance apart, suddenly jogged his master's elbow.

"What is it, Tim? Oh yes; you are not forgotten. This is our--"

"Sure, we're none of us forgotten," whispered Tim, pointing.

And there, to the horror of the party, in a bend of the river, and
apparently close to the spot where they had landed, lay two large prahus
in the broad sunshine.

Every eye was fixed upon them as they glided straight in their direction
along one of the bends of the winding river.

"Well, he means to capture us," said Mr Braine, quietly, as the prahus
disappeared behind the trees; "but he will have to land his men, and
even if they came on at once, it must be hours before they reached here.
So breakfast, dinner, or whatever it is, and then another start."

The sight of the prahus did not act as an appetiser, but the meal was
eaten, great care being exercised that no traces of their stay were
scattered about, and then once more the word was "Forward!" and the
tramp for safety recommenced in silence.

As they went on, Frank pointed to where Murray had shot his various
specimens and found the pieces of tin ore; and they went on higher till
a comparatively open spot was reached before crossing, where, as they
were now so high, Frank stopped to reconnoitre, gazing down with sha