“Not in the least; but if we do come upon traces of any old civilisation during our voyage we shall not pass it by without examining it as far as we can. What’s the matter?”
Brace had suddenly gripped his companion’s arm whilst he was speaking, and in response to Briscoe’s question he thrust his right hand over the side of the brig and pointed up the river.
Briscoe shaded his eyes and gazed in the indicated direction for some moments.
“I see nothing,” he whispered at last.
“Look again, a little way out from the point.”
There was another pause in the darkness, and then the American spoke.
“Your eyes are better than mine. Yes, I see it now. What do you make of it?”
“Three canoes following one another and coming slowly with the stream.”
“Full of men?” said Briscoe.
“It is too dark to see.”