And there, to the horror of the party, in a bend of the river, and apparently close to the spot where they had landed, lay two large prahus in the broad sunshine.
Every eye was fixed upon them as they glided straight in their direction along one of the bends of the winding river.
“Well, he means to capture us,” said Mr Braine, quietly, as the prahus disappeared behind the trees; “but he will have to land his men, and even if they came on at once, it must be hours before they reached here. So breakfast, dinner, or whatever it is, and then another start.”
The sight of the prahus did not act as an appetiser, but the meal was eaten, great care being exercised that no traces of their stay were scattered about, and then once more the word was “Forward!” and the tramp for safety recommenced in silence.
As they went on, Frank pointed to where Murray had shot his various specimens and found the pieces of tin ore; and they went on higher till a comparatively open spot was reached before crossing, where, as they were now so high, Frank stopped to reconnoitre, gazing down with shaded eyes into the plain and along the park-like slope they had ascended.
“I can’t see any sign of the prahus, Frank,” said Ned. “There’s nothing on the river. Oh!”
“What’s the matter?”
“Something flashed half a mile away there. Look down to the left of that great tree. That’s the one where we stopped to eat.”
“Spears. I see,” whispered Frank. “Here, Hamet.”
The man stepped to his side.