ut you're quite right, and I will
try and believe."

"Bravo, Mr Rob, sir! Three cheers for that! Never fear, we'll find
him alive yet; weak and done up, but keeping himself going. He has
found bits of fruit and nuts, and when he couldn't find them there's
something in the tops of tender grasses. Cheer up, sir! Now then,
let's give a big shout here."

Shaddy set the example, and at the tremendous yell he sent forth there
was a rush of wings from one of the trees a short distance away, where
all had been perfectly still the moment before; and as a flock of birds
hidden by the leaves dashed off, quite a little shower of fruit was
dropped by them among the leaves.

"There, sir--that was food," cried Shaddy; "and a gentleman who knows
all about such things, as Mr Brazier does, would find them and keep
himself going. Now it's your turn. Shout, sir."

Rob uttered as loud a cry as he could, and then twice over imitated the
Australian "cooee," following it up with a shrill piercing note from a
little silver whistle; but the only response was the cry of an _ara_,
one of the great scarlet and blue long-tailed macaws, whose harsh shriek
came softened from the distance.

"Not right yet, Mr Rob, sir," said Shaddy, quietly; "but we're not
going to despair, boy. I aren't a religious man your way, but after my
fashion I trust in God and take the rough with the smooth. What is to
be will be, so don't let's kick against it. We've got our duty to do,
my lad, and that's to keep on trying. Now then, what do you say to a
bit of a snack?"

"No, no--not yet, Shaddy; let's go on."

"Right, my lad."

They started again, and pressed on through the breathless heat of the
woods, but without finding further sign of any one having passed that
way; and at last Shaddy stopped short on the banks of a running stream,
which impeded farther progress, and whose waters offered refreshing
draughts to those who were getting in sore need.

"We're off his track, Mr Rob. He's not likely to have crossed a river
like this; but welcome it is, for it shows us the way back just when I
was getting a bit muddled."

"How does it?" said Rob, wonderingly.

"Because it must flow into the big river somewhere below our camp."

"Then you have seen no traces of him lately?"

"Nothing, my lad, since we left that open patch where the birds flew out
of the trees."

"Then we must go back at once, Shaddy."

"Not until we've trimmed the lamps again, my