CHAPTER XVIII
A Nightmare Experience
IT did not take the explorers long to pass a group of islands not far upstream, one of the landmarks that Otari had told them about, and as the islands were a number of miles from the village, they felt that they were making a rapid start.
The country was gradually becoming wilder and more beautiful, but with this came an increase in the number of dangerous obstacles that had to be avoided. On the shore the jungle was denser than they had ever seen it before. In many places, to attempt to penetrate its depths would be difficult and perilous, and disaster would come upon anyone who would not blaze a trail.
The variety of fauna was still greater, and many new specimens did the naturalists add to their already large collection. Birds and beasts and reptiles all fell at the report of the explorers’ rifles.
Finally they came to a wide tributary, which forged off from the main stream, making the two rivers form a perfect V. This was the second of Otari’s landmarks, and the explorers felt that another important distance had been covered.
“The current’s rather rough,” said Bob, his eyes following the course of the tributary.
The explorers passed the stream by, not thinking it wise to chance an exploration of it.
The next day their adventurous spirits proved their own undoing. They had been paddling constantly after the morning meal when suddenly they came upon another tributary, this time branching out at right angles from the main stream. There was something about that river that made the explorers want to follow its rough course.
“Probably doesn’t continue far,” was the opinion given by Mr. Holton. “Let’s turn the boats up for a considerable distance. We may come across something totally different.”