"Lovely, sir. Now then, we shall have to look out, for we mustn't pa.s.s the Doctor's garden."

_Crack_--_creak_--_sc.r.a.pe_!

The two lads dropped at full length into the water that was washing about the bottom of the boat, and lay motionless till they had sc.r.a.ped past a boat that seemed similar to the one they had boarded. But it was evidently unoccupied, and they raised themselves up into a sitting position again, and strained their eyes to gaze in the direction of the sh.o.r.e they had left, where all was perfectly still. Then Archie felt his companion's hand touch his arm.

"Talk about a lark, Mister Archie!" whispered Peter.

"A lark?"

"Yes, sir. I forgot all about the crocs. They must have been asleep."

_Plash_--_wallow_! came from just ahead, as there was a slight jar as if something had been encountered, and a tiny shower of water flew over them.

"Doesn't seem like it, Pete," said Archie softly.

"No, sir; and the brute needn't have done that. I was quite wet enough before. I suppose you are a bit damp?"

"Don't, Pete--don't!" whispered Archie. "This is no time for trying to be funny."

"All right, sir. I thought it was, for I'm in precious low spirits.

Think we can manage to stop opposite the Doctor's garden?"

"We must, Pete; but I can make out nothing. I suppose we are a long way above the landing-place."

"Oh yes, sir; and perhaps it's all for the best as we can't see, for if we could, whoever's ash.o.r.e would see us; and that would mean spears, for none of our chaps would be about here."

"Look here, Pete, we must both watch; but you get right in the bows with the grapnel in your hand, ready to drop it over silently when I say _Now_!"

"Right, sir; but we must have ever so far to go yet, eh?"

"I am not sure, Pete."

"No, sir; but you will have to chance it."

Archie uttered an angry e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.i.o.n, and then clutched sharply at the side of the boat, which shivered from end to end and nearly capsized as it glided up the slanting rope of a larger vessel with which it had come violently in contact. But it righted itself quickly, and sc.r.a.ped along the side, with the lads crouching lower as they listened to the angry, muttering of voices and the scuffling of people moving. But the next minute the river had borne them clear, and the muttering died away.

"That must have been a naga, Pete, from the size of it, and having men on board."

"Suppose so, sir. I thought it meant a swim for us. But, I say, it must have spoilt somebody's beauty snooze. But look there, sir! That must mean gardens."

"What, Pete?"

"Can't you see them glow-worm things sparkling?"

"Yes."

"Well, sir, ain't you going to say _Now_?"

"No, Pete. We cannot have pa.s.sed the big landing-place yet. If we have, only just. Yes, that must be it, and this must be the spot. Oh!

if we could only see a spark of light from the Residency we should know where we are."

"Yes, sir; but it's no use to look out for lights. Still, we must be getting somewhere near, sir, and I'm ready when you are. I must leave it to you, for you know more about boating on the river than I do. It only seems to me that it can't be long before we shall be opposite the Doctor's beautiful garden and the little steps at the bottom, where you used to land."

"Yes, Pete, I must guess, for I can see nothing."

"Nor me neither, sir; but don't be huffy because I say what I am going to say."

"No. Speak out."

"Then just wait, sir, till you think we are as near as we shall get, and then chance it."

Archie made no reply as he reached over the side, and, unconscious of the fact that the stream had turned the boat completely round so that she was dropping down now bow foremost instead of stern, he suddenly uttered the word "Now!" and his command was followed by a faint splash and the rattle of the rope pa.s.sing over the bows, till there was a check, and then they were conscious that the sampan was swinging round again, and Archie uttered a low, groan-like sigh.

"What's the matter, sir? Didn't I do it right?"

"Right, my lad? Yes, you were right enough, but I was all wrong. The boat has been gliding along stem first, and I have been confused and looking at the farther sh.o.r.e, seeing nothing but the faint twinkle of the fire-flies."

"Yes, sir; that's right enough."

"No, no; it's wrong enough, my lad. I'm quite lost. I don't know where we are. You will have to haul up the grapnel again."

"But what for, sir? She's swung round now right enough, head to stream--and look--look!" he whispered. "I can see trees quite plain.

We must be close insh.o.r.e."

"Close insh.o.r.e; Pete!"

"Yes, sir. Can't that be the Doctor's garden?"

"Hist!" whispered Archie; and there was a sound as if his companion had given his mouth a pat, for from pretty close at hand there was the low babble of voices.

"Hear that, sir?" whispered Peter again. "Our chaps?"

"No--Malays."

CHAPTER FORTY.

"WHAT ABOUT VICTUALS?"

For a few minutes it seemed as if the success that had attended them was to be completely dashed, though it had become evident that, by a wonderful stroke of good fortune, they had dropped the grapnel of the boat so that they were swinging nearly opposite to the part of the river-bank which had been their goal. For then Fate, which had been filling their b.r.e.a.s.t.s with hope, seemed to have withdrawn from them behind a darker cloud than ever.

The voices were so near that they dared not whisper or stir, only wait in the full expectation of being seen and welcomed with a shower of spears; but by degrees the talking ceased, and the silence was so profound that it became evident that the enemy, whatever had been their object in coming there, had silently crept away.

"Do you really think they have gone, sir?" whispered Peter.

"I feel sure of it," was the reply.

"Then don't you think we could get out the poles and work the boat closer in?"