n to tramp here and there
for hours in the beautiful region near the camp, to which they returned
without having seen a sign of those they sought.

It must have been toward morning that Rob, who was keeping watch, heard
distant voices, and hailing, to his great delight heard an answer.

Ten minutes later the guide and his two companions staggered up to the
fire utterly exhausted, for they had finished their supply of food, and
were worn-out with their exhausting tramp.

"Well," said Mr Brazier, after the men had taken a good long rest,
"have you found the river to which we are to take the boat?"

"No, sir. I'm all wrong, and we shall have to go back. There isn't a
stream runs toward the east anywhere near here."

"That there is," cried Joe, "for we found one yesterday."

"Eh? What? Where?" cried Shaddy, springing up, utterly forgetful of
his weariness; and following the two lads, who warned him that the water
was of no use for a boat, the fount was reached, and, after a very brief
examination, Shaddy cried,--

"There, I'm growing old and worn-out. You two lads found directly what
we three men, used to the country, couldn't see."

"But this place is of no use!" cried Rob.

"What?"

"There are only a few inches of water."

"Well, they'll help carry the boat, won't they? and the water flows our
way."

"But you can't get the boat along."

"Eh? Eight of us, and not get that boat half a mile downhill? Wait a
bit, my lad, and you'll see."

The lads did see, for after three or four days' arduous labour expended
in getting the boat up a long slope, she was guided into a great groove
in the mountain side pieces of wood placed beneath her, and from that
hour it was not a question of dragging, but of holding back the vessel,
till the stream was struck far below its source.

Here there was no smooth water to float her, but still, as Shaddy said,
enough to help lift her over the shallows, with here and there a good
stretch of deep channel, along which they floated merrily before there
was any need for fresh toil.

At the end of a couple of days several tiny streams had increased the
body of water, and soon after they had rapids to descend, while at the
end of another day so many had been the additions that the little river
had grown to be of respectable size.

It was all steady descent now till a lake was reached, across which an
outlet was found leading exactly in the right direction, Shaddy
declared. T