“No, sir,” came loudly from both boats, and the next minute they glided round the promontory they had passed in coming up, and the rock city disappeared.
A few minutes later and the last of the canoes was seen.
The wind being favourable and the night following lit up by a full moon, the retreat was kept up so as to get well beyond danger.
It was far on into the next day before a halt was made to light a fire and prepare a meal.
The flood had passed away, and with wind and stream in their favour, and a total absence of danger, the two boats glided down and down from river to river till after many days the adventurers came within hearing of the falls.
They ran the boats safely aground just above where the river made its plunge, and then came a long and toilsome task.
But the boats were safely unladen—for the men worked with a will—run ashore, and up and down the two slopes, to be re-launched and all the stores and treasure replaced by dark one night.
The next morning at daybreak a start was made for the brig, which was found a mile lower down, where it had been swept by the flood, but was safely re-anchored.
In due time the men were cheering loudly again, for the treasure was safe on board.
“Now,” said Briscoe, “one day’s rest, and then we’ll start with three boats, skipper, and stouter tackle so as to handle some of those big images better. We ought to take three or four planks.”