Mr. Mainwaring shook his head.
“There’s nothing for it but to turn back and get a new link forged,” he said. “Too bad!”
“It is indeed,” agreed Rob. “Shall I make a link out of steel wire? I guess that would be strong enough to carry us down with the stream if we go slowly.”
“Yes, do so,” was the reply. “Merritt, will you sound the return whistle for Bob Hopkins and Fred?”
Merritt pulled the cord connecting with the compressed air whistle and tugged it lustily. Then he paused and blew again, keeping this up for some time. No reply had come; but as yet they felt no anxiety. It was likely that the boys would take some time in returning, and the possibility of their being out of ear-shot of the whistle did not occur to any of the party.
But when an hour had passed and then another dragged its slow length away without bringing any signs of the absentees, anxiety gave place to alarm and alarm to genuine fear that harm might have overtaken them. They looked blankly at each other. For a time no one spoke.
Suddenly, from a great distance as it seemed, there came the sound of a rifle shot.
Had they but known it, the sound was caused by Tubby’s shot at the band of monkeys. Although ignorant of its cause, it made the dismayed little party’s spirits pick up a bit to hear at least some sound of the two young hunters, even though they knew that they must be some distance off.
“Raynor,” ordered Mr. Mainwaring, “I don’t know whether that shot was merely a signal that they are coming, or a signal of distress. In any event I am going ashore. Rob, you may come with me if you like. Bring your rifle. Merritt, you keep guard with Mr. Raynor.”
The engineer merely nodded in answer to his chief’s orders. Merritt looked rather disappointed. He would have liked to accompany the searchers, but as he knew that was impossible he put the best face possible on the matter and helped Rob and Mr. Mainwaring to get ashore by means of the plank.