I had no consolation to offer him. Still the increasing light showed me
that there were other islands intervening between the falls and the one
we were on. It was barely possible, however, that the canoe would drift
against one of them. We stood watching them with the deepest anxiety as
the canoe was carried further and further down the current. Already she
appeared to be in the rapids, from her quicker movement; and gliding
faster and faster away, she soon was almost out of sight. It must be
understood that there was a considerable distance between us and the
cloud of vapour which I supposed to mark the situation of the fall. At
length the canoe was hid from us altogether by a tree-covered island;
but whether Leo and his companion had managed to reach it or not we were
left in fearful doubt. It was some time before I could rouse myself.
Poor Natty sat down on the ground with his head resting on his hands,
completely overcome.

"But perhaps, after all, they may not have been lost!" he exclaimed,
starting up, "and they may manage to tow the canoe along the bank of the
river and come back to us. What do you think?"

"I dare not offer an opinion," I answered. "It is possible, just
possible, and we must hope for the best."

Still we waited, looking in the direction we had last seen the two boys,
anxiously hoping that they might reappear; but in vain. At length I
began to feel somewhat faint, and Natty at last exclaimed, "Oh, I am so
hungry!" It recalled us to the necessity of trying to find something on
which we could support life. The island was so small, that had any
birds been on it they would have flown away when we landed. I had,
fortunately, a tinder-box in my pocket, so that we might light a fire if
we could find anything to cook. At length Natty discovered a small
fruit like a plum, growing on a tree covered with dark green leaves. He
called me to it, and on examining it it struck me that it must be the
_moyela_, which David had found near the banks of the river only a day
or two before. This would at all events assist to satisfy the pangs of
hunger, though it might not do to support us. I helped Natty up the
tree, and he threw down to me as many as we thought we should require.
We then sat down on the ground and discussed them, but the recollection
of Leo made us too sad to talk.

"I am very thirsty," said Natty, "and must get a draught of water."

He went to the shore, and was stooping down t