"Which means, don't go too far," replied the doctor. "We shall not. It is only to stretch our legs a bit, for the boat is rather cramping."
The intention was good and wise, but the object intended soon proved to be almost an impossibility. The stretch of open land between the river and the jungle looked at a distance much like a fair meadow, and it struck Harry from that point of view.
"Just the place for our cricket," he said to Phra, as, shouldering their guns, they stepped off after the doctor.
"Mind how you come," said the latter, who was brought to a standstill. "The water has been all over here, and the place is full of cracks and holes. Try back a little your way."
"Looks quite right here, sir," cried Harry. "It's as solid as—Oh—Hi!
Phra, catch hold of my gun."
The boy laid his own piece down, caught at the barrel of Harry's, and pulling hard, his companion, who had sunk up to his knees and was steadily going lower, was able to struggle back.
"Oh, here's a mess!" he panted, stamping to get rid of the mud.
"You didn't choose the right direction, Hal," said the doctor, laughing.
"No, sir," said Harry meekly. "Will you go first?"
"Yes, I think I can do better than that, my lad. Let's strike right across here towards where the elephants went out of sight. The ground must be firmer there."