“No,” said Brace decisively; “I’m going to stay up here and listen.”
Sir Humphrey and Briscoe elected to do the same, and for another hour they listened, and watched the display made by the fireflies; while every now and then, as the muddy water trickled and seemed to whisper against the sides of the brig, the listeners were startled by some strange splash close by, which sounded to them as if the river swarmed with huge creatures which kept on swimming around and beneath the vessel, partly attracted by curiosity as to the new visitor to their habitat, partly resenting its presence by splashing and beating the surface as they rose or dived.
“It’s all very interesting,” said Briscoe at last, “and I could stop here all night watching and listening; but we must have sleep, or we shall be no good to-morrow, so I’ll say good night, gentlemen. If anything happens, my gun and rifle are both loaded, and I’ll come on deck directly.”
“That’s right,” said Brace sharply. “But what can happen?”
“Who can say?” replied the American. “We know we’re in a wild country, perhaps the very first of all people who have come so far into the forest, and we don’t know what enemies may come. I’m pretty sure of two: stinging insects and fever; but there’s no telling what may come out of the dark jungles. We’re pretty safe from wild beasts, but for aught we know we may have been watched by savages ever since the morning. Savages generally have canoes, bows, spears, and clubs. I don’t say it’s likely, but some of them might come creeping aboard in the night, and if I was captain I should arm the watch. Ugh! what’s that?” he cried, in a horrified tone.
“Barrel of my rifle, Mr Briscoe,” said Lynton quietly, from out of the darkness.
“Why did you do that?” said the American sharply.
“Only to show you that the watch is armed, sir; and if there is anything unpleasant in the night we shan’t be long in letting you know.”
Another hour passed before Sir Humphrey and his brother went below, and then their first act was to thrust cartridges into their guns and rifles, and to lay them with their ammunition-belts ready to hand; but even after that precaution sleep was slow in coming to Brace’s pillow, for he lay listening to the rush, gurgle, and splash of the river till the strange sounds grew confused and died out, all but a peculiar rustling that seemed to be made by a huge serpent creeping among the branches of the trees: and this puzzled the listener, for it was impossible that trees and a huge reptile could be out in the middle of the great muddy river.
Then it seemed that the anchor which held them fast out in mid-stream must have dragged and the brig have been carried by an eddy close in shore, to run aground, so that the masts were tangled with the overhanging boughs.