to the north,
but in order to reach its banks from the place where they had landed,
they had to cut through a strip of woods bordering it.

It was tedious work getting through. The trees were close together and
had to be dodged, and great leaves of plants as large as their bodies
seemed to be everywhere, while vines of the toughest fiber frequently
shut off their passage and had to be pushed aside or cut with knives.
More than once one of the party tripped over unseen obstacles and
measured his length in the soft, rank ground-vegetation.

But it was only a little way to the river, and soon they stood upon its
grassy bank. It was a pretty stream, not very deep, and seemed quite
clear when John held the lantern down to it. They filled their pails,
and then, risking all dangers of snakes and crocodiles, disrobed for a
plunge.

First one and then the other jumped in. How refreshing the cool waters
felt to their hot, sticky bodies! They would have liked to do some
diving, but were afraid of sunken logs, and contented themselves by
splashing about, swimming a little, and making the woods ring with
their laughter and shouts.

Then they came out and put on their clothes. Picking up guns once
more, and the pails now filled with water, they started back, John
still leading. But they had not gone far when somewhere in advance of
them they thought they heard the sound of a breaking limb. So sudden
was the sound on the still night air, that all stopped very quickly,
their hearts beating fast.

They listened, but the sound was not repeated. They started on again,
thinking the limb must have been a dead one and had fallen from some
tree of its own weight. But scarcely had they taken a dozen steps when
they heard another sharp cracking of wood, this time very close in
front of them.

Their intuition told them now that they were near to some night prowler
of the animal kingdom, and perhaps one of considerable size, judging
from the crash. Hardly realizing what they were doing, they set down
their pails, and cocked their rifles, facing, with alertness and
uneasiness, the direction whence the sounds had come.

Now they heard some rustling, as of leaves, directly ahead. It came
slowly and cautiously closer. Just as it seemed about to burst out
upon their view it stopped. There was no more noise. All was silent;
not even the note of a night-bird or the gentle chirp of an insect
could be heard. For the first time th