Suddenly the launch came to a stop with a soft bump. The boys looked rather alarmed. Had they collided with some huge creature that made its home in the tepid waters of the Chagres? They were soon relieved of any anxiety on that score.
“Well, we’re aground at last,” remarked Mr. Mainwaring in a matter-of-fact tone.
“You talk as if you had expected such a thing to happen,” said Rob in some surprise.
“Yes indeed,” rejoined the engineer, “in fact, I’m astonished that it didn’t happen before. The river is full of sand banks, and sometimes it is impossible to see the channel. I see you’ve got the engine stopped already. You had better reverse now and we’ll soon get off again.”
“I should think that it would be quicker to go through the forests,” remarked Rob, when without much trouble they “got going” again.
“It would be almost twice as quick, but nobody knows the paths but the Indians.”
“Indians!” exclaimed Tubby. “Are there Indians here?”
He clutched his rifle with a determined look, for of course the boys had brought their weapons along.
“Yes indeed, plenty of them, but I guess we won’t see any. They are the San Blas tribe and so small as to be almost pigmies.”
“I know, I’ve seen pictures of them,” cried Rob. “They look something like Japs only they’ve got big round heads and long, straight black hair.”