water was shallow enough, drag it along. At other times we had to swim
by its side, or push it before us; and even thus we had often difficulty
in getting along. We believe that we were not discovered by the
natives; at all events, they did not follow us. Twice we caught sight
of them when we were in the water, and we could not account for their
not having seen us. We found the channel extended for several miles,
seldom being wider than it is here, and often much narrower. At its
termination it widens into a succession of lakes; but for a long way we
could not find firm ground. At length, after pushing up a stream, we
reached a bank where the forest was much less dense than we had hitherto
found it; and going on still further, we arrived at an open space of
small size, exactly such as the captain was in search of. We here
landed our stores; and he and Peter having begun to put up a hut, and to
mark such trees as he considered would serve for a vessel, he sent Sambo
and me back on the raft to the end of the narrow passage. I there left
Sambo, to take care of the raft, and to catch fish and kill some birds
for food, while I swam on here with the aid of my floats. Considering
the difficulties we met with in getting through the passage on the raft,
the captain advises that you should all make your way along it by
swimming. We saw no alligators, which are the only creatures to be
dreaded, and the captain is certain that they have all gone further into
the interior; at all events, that none inhabit the passage. I am now
well acquainted with the way; and if we pass the Indian encampment
during the hours of darkness, we shall run no risk of being discovered.
Should you decline coming on in the way I mention, the captain advises
that you should go back on the log, and try to find the entrance of a
much wider and deeper channel, which he is sure exists some way to the
northward; and it is by this channel that the captain hopes to carry his
vessel, when built, into the waters of the Orinoco."

We all listened eagerly to Maco's account; of which I merely give a
brief translation, for, of course, the language he used would be quite
unintelligible to my readers.

Uncle Paul was very doubtful about the plan proposed, and my father was
very unwilling to expose Marian to so much risk. She herself, however,
declared that she was quite willing to undertake the expedition. Both
Kallolo and Maco very strongly urged that we shou