we have got to be up and doing, sir."

"You are right, Wilcox," Steve said, as he rose to his feet. "In the first
place, could you count the heads?"

"No; there was a pile of them in each boat; there may have been three,
there may have been four in each."

"Well, one thing is certain, Wilcox; we must find out if any of them are
still alive, and if so we must try and get them out of the Malays' hands."

"I am ready to try, sir. When a chap sees such a thing as that he don't
seem to care much for his life; and at least if we are caught we can
polish off a few of the villains before we go under, so I am game to do
anything you may order."

"It is not for me to order, Wilcox; I am only a young apprentice, and you
are an experienced sailor; and now that we are alone and in danger
together, it is for you to lead."

"Well, if that is the way you look at it, sir, I am willing to do all I
can; and if we find there is any of our mates alive we will get them out
if it is possible, never fear."

"Do you think those canoes are going to put to sea?" Steve asked.

"Not they; they have just gone down to the mouth of the river to see
whether that boat came from a ship lying off the shore or whether it was
alone. There, do you hear those yells? They have got out of the canoes,
and found the place where we camped last night. We walked about there a
good bit, and it ain't likely they will be able to find out whether there
was seven or nine of us. Besides, I don't think they will look much, for
they would take it for certain we should all go up the river together; and
so we should have done if it had not been that you and I were left behind
to look out for a sail."

In half an hour the two canoes came back again. They both kept well over
to the opposite side of the river to avoid the full force of the current,
and the sailor and Stephen attempted to count the heads in their sterns.
They could not make out the number, but were inclined to agree that the
two dark masses were about the same size.

"I think there can only be three in each boat," Steven said. "In that case
one man may have been made prisoner; at any rate, Wilcox, we will go on
and see."

As soon as the canoes had gone round the bend of the river, they proceeded
on their way. The ground presently became exceedingly swampy, and they
could see by the pieces of dead wood and litter caught among the bushes,
that in times of flood the river must overflow its banks and ex