this, but without their assistance we had
little hope of discovering it. However, we were unwilling to wait, and
accordingly prepared to cross the river; Tim volunteering to go first,
in order to ascertain the depth. We watched him anxiously. He sank
deeper and deeper, till the water reached his armpits, and we began to
fear that we should be unable to carry Marian over without wetting her.
Still Tim went bravely on, feeling his way with a long stick which he
carried, till once more he began to get higher and higher out of the
water, and soon reached the opposite bank in safety. Unable, however,
to divest myself of the idea that there might be sharks, or even
alligators, in the river, I, imitating Tim's example, cut a long pole,
which would enable me to defend my companions while they were crossing.
Uncle Paul and Arthur then took up Marian and placed her on their
shoulders, putting their arms round each other's necks to support her.
Tim then waded back to meet them; while I went behind, beating the water
furiously with my stick, so that no alligator or shark would have
ventured near us. My uncle and Arthur, being both of good height, were
able to keep Marian out of the water, and we happily got across without
any accident. She then insisted on being put down, declaring that she
was not tired, and could walk as well as any of us.

Nearly the whole day had been spent on the journey, and we were anxious
to find a place where we could rest. Had it not been for the somewhat
exposed position, we would gladly have stopped on the banks of the
river; but Uncle Paul thought it wiser to continue on till the natives
should overtake us.

Evening was approaching, and it would soon be dark, when, looking back
along the forest glade through which we had come, we saw a person
running towards us; we quickly made him out to be Camo, one of the
native guides. He signed to us not to stop, and as he ran much faster
than we could, he soon overtook us.

"Hasten on," he exclaimed; "we are not far from the place to which I
wish to lead you. Already your flight has been discovered, and the
alguazils are searching for us."

"If they come, I will be after giving them a taste of my shillelagh,"
exclaimed Tim, flourishing the thick stick he carried.

"It will be far better to hide ourselves than to oppose them," observed
the guide, in his peculiar dialect, which I cannot attempt to imitate.

He went ahead, while Uncle Paul and Arthur