"I'm afraid Garth won't be fit to see us off," said Gerald. "He has still to keep to his bed."
"It's a marvel he's alive," remarked his elder comrade. "But we must make the best use of our time, for there are plenty of preparations before we set out."
"How do you propose to go?" asked Hugh.
"By water, if we can get hold of some sort of craft. It's infinitely better than by horseback, and camels are not procurable here. Besides, if we encountered marshes and swamps, horses would be completely out of it."
"I hope we will be able to go by boat; it would be fine," replied Hugh enthusiastically.
"It would, unless——"
"Unless what?"
"We encountered rapids and waterfalls. You see, we are at a great height above the sea level, and it will be rather extraordinary if the river runs at an even rate throughout the whole of its course without making a dive of a few hundred feet. But we must face that possibility when the time comes."
That same night, as the Englishmen were about to retire, a captain of Sir John's bodyguard handed Reeves a letter. Opening it, the recipient read, to his great astonishment and indignation, that Sir John Cahars had given the greatest attention to his request, but, on the grounds that their presence was necessary for the defence of the State, and also that he had too great a regard for the three strangers, he was compelled to order them to remain within the city of Charleton.
"Well, I'm hanged!" exclaimed Reeves; then turning to the captain, Raoul Gare, he asked whether he was aware of the nature of the contents of the communication.