, and when they find it gone they will come hunting along the
water-side till they find it, and like as not tell the enemy where we
are."

"You are right, Pete. Then we will find a snug place, and lie in
waiting till it's dark again; and we shall know by then pretty well
where we are, and take our measures for a fresh start."

"That's right, sir. Glad I was able to do some good--and, I say, it's
getting close to morning."

"How do you know?"

"By them things as we have heard howling out in the jungle over and over
again."

"I've heard nothing," said Archie.

"I have, sir; and they're getting quiet now. I heard a tiger once, and
crocs over and over again, but I wouldn't say anything."

"I had too much else to think of, Pete," said Archie, as he toiled hard
at his pole, causing an eddy more than once, as if some river-dweller
had been disturbed.

It was not long after when the notes of the birds began to proclaim the
coming day, and the surroundings began to appear so plainly that at the
first favourable opportunity the boat was run in beneath the shelter of
the overhanging trees and made fast; while, as the day broadened and
they peered out across the river, Archie found they were so high up that
no object on the farther bank was familiar; and he said so.

"Well, sir, I must leave that to you," said Peter. "I ain't done much
boating, and have never been so high as this before. Well, from what
you say, I suppose we shall be safe till night, and then we are going to
get across and land them cartridges somehow or another where they are
wanted. We've got a lot of hours to wait, though, first."

"Yes," said Archie, with a weary sigh.

"Well, then, sir, what about victuals?"

CHAPTER FORTY ONE.

"IF THE POWDER AIN'T DAMP."

Morning came with a rush, the rays of the sun seeming to do battle with
the mist that floated over the surface of the river. The golden arrows
of light cut and broke up the one dense, grey, heavy cloud into portions
which floated slowly along, separating more and more, the dull grey
growing rapidly silvery, then golden, and the gold becoming suffused
with soft light. So beautiful was the scene that, while Archie gazed
thoughtfully at its beauty, even commonplace, powder-besmirched Peter
sat with his lips apart, staring hard, and then, forgetting himself and
their risky position, with its need for concealment, he clapped his
hands softly.

"Just look at it, Mister Archie!" he