e. Tropical
showers washed the mud left by the flood from leaf and twig, and the
lower boughs, which had been stripped of leaves by the rushing waters,
put forth new ones, so that in a very few days' time not many traces of
the flood were visible, save where banks had crumbled in and great gaps
of broken earth stood out.

Fully equipped once more, Brazier, as he regained his strength, went on
adding to his collection of choice plants, which had come back to him
intact; and as they dropped on and on down the river, finding clearings
at pretty frequent intervals, greater and greater grew the natural
stores of botanical treasures, so that the collector was more than
satisfied with Shaddy's guiding.

"But what I want to know is how we are to get back," Rob said over and
over again. "We shall never be able to pull the boat up again."

Shaddy chuckled.

"Might have another big storm and a flood, Mr Rob," he said, "and get
back as Mr Jovanni did."

"But you don't mean to go back that way?"

"Right, sir! I don't. But you go on with your fishing and shooting,
and let Mr Brazier do his vegetables up in his baskets. Leave the rest
to me."

The task was left to him, and they went on down the river day after day
till one evening they rounded a bend, and, in obedience to their
leader's orders, the boat was rowed into a narrow stream which joined
that which they had left, the junction being plainly marked by the
distinct colour of the waters.

"Going up this, Naylor?" asked Brazier wonderingly.

"Yes, sir. It's the place I've been making for, and I'm thinking you'll
find something quite fresh along here, for it leads up into higher
ground on and on into the mountains, where the trees and flowers are
quite different."

"Of course--yes," said Brazier eagerly. "Let's go up it."

"But there's one thing to be said, sir."

"What's that?"

"We shall have to be careful."

"Is the river dangerous?"

"Tidy, sir; but we can get over that. It's the Indians."

"Indians?"

"Yes, sir; some of them may be along the side, but if we are on the
watch and take care, being well armed and a fairly strong party, I think
they are not likely to interfere with us much."

Rob pricked up his ears at this as they began gliding up the stream,
noting the difference directly, for it was far less powerful, the men
having no difficulty at all in forcing the boat along, save here and
there where they encountered a rapid, up which they t