Shaddy did not stir.
“Do you hear, man? Stop! I want to collect some of those epiphytic plants.”
By this time they were nearly a hundred yards past, and Shaddy looked at the enthusiastic collector with a comical expression on his face.
“Always glad to obey orders, sir,” he said drily; “but how can I stop the boat now? Look at the water.”
“But you should have caught hold of one of the boughs, man.”
“When we were fifty yards away, sir?”
“Then pull back to the tree.”
Shaddy smiled again.
“It ain’t to be done, sir, no, not if I’d eight oars going instead of four. There’s no making head against the river now it’s running like this.”
“Then we’ve made a mistake in coming to-day,” cried Brazier anxiously.