t up
slowly and insidiously higher and higher even as we watched.

"Yes," said the doctor, rising to his feet and gazing calmly round, as
if to see whether there was any loophole left for escape; "yes, the
water is rising fast; there can be no doubt of that."

Just then Gyp, who had been fierce and angry, snapping and barking
furiously at the savages each time they charged, suddenly threw up his
head and uttered a dismal howl.

"Here, you hold your noise," cried Jack Penny. "You don't hear us
holler, do you? Lie down!"

The dog howled softly and crouched at his master's feet, while Jack
began to take off his clothes in a very slow and leisurely way. First
he pulled off his boots, then his stockings, which he tucked
methodically, along with his garters, inside his boots. This done he
took off his jacket, folded it carefully, and his shirt followed, to be
smoothed and folded and laid upon the jacket.

And now, for the first time I thoroughly realised how excessively thin
poor Jack Penny was, and the reason why he so often had a pain in his
back.

It seemed a strange time: after passing through such a series of
dangers, after escaping by so little from being swept away, and while in
terrible danger from the swiftly-rising waters, but I could not help
it--Jack's aspect as he sat there coolly, very coolly, clothed in his
trousers alone, was so ludicrous that I burst out laughing, when Jimmy
joined in, and began to dance with delight.

"What are you larfin at?" said Jack, half vexed at my mirth.

"At you," I said. "Why, what are you going to do?"

"Do!" he said. "Why, swim for it. You don't suppose I'm going to try
in my clothes?"

My mirth died out as swiftly as it came, for the doctor laid his hand
upon my arm and pressed it silently, to call my attention to our black
followers, who were laying their bows and arrows regularly in company
with their waddies, each man looking very stern and grave.

They showed no fear, they raised no wild cry; they only seemed to be
preparing for what was inevitable; and as I saw Ti-hi bend over and
touch the water easily with his hand, and then rise up and look round at
his companions, saying a few words in their tongue, the chill of horror
came back once more, for I knew that the group of savages felt that
their time had come, and that they were sitting there patiently waiting
for the end.

CHAPTER TWENTY THREE.

WE AWAIT OUR FATE.

I glanced from the blacks to