hey struck inland, and the major's words, the result of old experience,
proved to be true, for as they reached the belt of jungle, which came
within some fifty yards of the shore, it was to find their course stayed
by a dense wall of verdure that was literally impassable, the great
trees being woven together with creepers, notable among which there was
the rattan cane, which wound in and out and climbed up and down in a way
that was almost marvellous.

"This is pleasant," said the major.

"Oh, we can get through, sir," said Mark. "Let me go first."

"Do," said the major, with a smile at Gregory, and as the lad pressed
forward, "_Experientia docet_," he whispered. "I've been in a jungle
before now."

"You can't get through here without an axe to cut your way," said Mark
at the end of five minutes, as he stood perspiring and panting, gazing
half angrily at the dense thicket.

"Thank you for the information, my lad," said the major smiling; "we
knew that before."

"But the island can't be all like this?" said Gregory.

"Oh, yes, it can, my dear sir," said the major. "Islands can be
anything out here in the tropics, especially near the Ayquator. Now
look here: if we want to get inland--as we do, we must find the mouth of
the first river and follow the sides of the stream."

"Sure, sor," said Billy Widgeon, "we passed that same about a hundred
yards back, and the bosun and I knelt down and had a dhrink."

The major turned upon little Billy, who had spoken with a broad Irish
accent, and stared at him, sticking his glass in one eye so as to have a
better look.

"Look here, sir," he said; "you're not an Irishman, and that's a bad
imitation of the brogue. Do you hear? You are not an Irishman, I say?"

"Sorra a bit, sor."

"Then is it making fun of me you are?" cried the major, suddenly growing
broad in turn.

"No, sir, not I," said Billy, looking as serious as a judge and
scratching his head the while.

"Then why did you talk like that?"

"I dunno, sor."

"You don't know, you scoundrel?"

"No, sir. I once lived in Ireland for a whole year, and we used to talk
like that; and I suppose it was hearing you say Ayquator, sir, turned on
the tap."

Gregory turned away so as to ask the second-mate a question just then,
and they both looked very red in the face as the major coughed, blew out
his cheeks, and ended by clearing his throat and speaking as a
drill-sergeant does.

"You'd better be careful, sir.