ld do as the captain
advised. Were we to return down the stream on the log, a long time
might be spent; and we should very likely fall in with other savages,
who might be even less peacefully disposed than those in the camp near
us. Their habits we had as yet had no opportunity of ascertaining.
They might possibly be friendly, though, with the uncertainty, it was
prudent to try and avoid them altogether. One thing was certain, they
were not addicted to roaming about, or they could not have failed to
find us; and we might certainly hope to pass by them unobserved. These
arguments at length prevailed with my father and Uncle Paul, and they
agreed to set out. The few things we had with us were done tightly up
and placed on floats, which Kallolo and Maco agreed to push before them.
Marian's gown and our jackets were done up in the same way, so that she
only retained a tight-fitting under-dress, which would not impede her
progress, while we wore our trousers. These arrangements being made, we
fitted on our floats, of which each of us had four; and they were
sufficient to keep our shoulders and arms well out of the water, while
at the same time they did not impede our progress.

We took our last meal on board the log which had carried us so well;
then waiting for some time, till we believed that the natives would have
retired to rest, we stood ready to set out on our dangerous and novel
expedition. In no other climate could we have undertaken it. The water
was here so warm, even at night, that there was no risk of our limbs
becoming cramped by being long immersed in it; nor were we likely to
suffer in any other way. Really, for the sake of protection from the
cold, garments were altogether unnecessary; and it is not surprising
that the dark-skinned natives should consider them an encumbrance, and
generally dispense with them altogether.

"Are you all ready?" asked Uncle Paul.

"Yes!" was the general answer; "all ready."

It was settled that he should take the command, though Maco acted as our
guide. The Indian, slipping off into the water, struck out up the
centre of the channel; our uncle and father followed; Kallolo went next,
carrying Quacko on his head, with Tim, who had charge of Ara on his;
Marian and I, with Arthur to support her in case of need, brought up the
rear. The floats bore us up admirably; and we found swimming a far more
easy mode of progression than we should have found walking over the logs