ering the entrance, and might possibly have lost a considerable
amount of valuable time in the search for it. Even as it was, so
intense was the darkness that, although the creek was only some two
hundred yards wide, we found it impossible to keep the boats in the
centre of the channel, and for a little while were constantly running
foul of each other or the banks. Luckily for us, we were no sooner in
the creek than its eastern bank afforded us a shelter from the direct
violence of the wind, the bush and trees growing so thickly right down
to the water's edge that close inshore we were completely becalmed; and,
thus sheltered, our sense of hearing helped us somewhat despite the deep
roar of the gale overhead, while we quickly caught the knack of steering
along the outer edge of the narrow belt of calm, in this way avoiding to
a great extent the difficulties and petty mishaps that had at first so
seriously hampered our movements.

In this way, and exposed all the while to the pelting of the heavy
tropical downpour, which quickly drenched us to the skin in spite of the
protection of our oil-skins, we slowly groped our way along the creek
with muffled oars for rather more than an hour, when we unexpectedly
found ourselves at the entrance of a fairly spacious lagoon, in the
centre of which we speedily made out not one, but _four_ craft moored
right athwart the channel, completely barring our further passage. From
their disposition it looked very much as though they had been moored
with springs upon their cables--for their broadsides were presented fair
at us--and, if so, it argued at least a suspicion on their part of a
possible visit from an enemy, with doubtless a corresponding amount of
precaution against the chance of being surprised.

Scarcely had we made this discovery when the gig, which was leading,
found her further progress unexpectedly interrupted by a boom composed
of tree-trunks, secured together with chains, stretching right across
the water-way. As she struck it a loud cry was heard proceeding from
the river bank on our starboard hand, immediately followed by a
musket-shot. The next moment a spark of light appeared in the same
quarter, quickly increasing in size and intensity until in less than a
minute a large fire, evidently caused by the ignition of a very
considerable quantity of highly combustible material, was blazing
fiercely in the shelter of a thick clump of overhanging bush, that
seemed to alm