Before evening came, emerging from a light wood, great was the delight at seeing a beautiful river before them. It was a broad stream, and they divined that it must be the West River, which, they had so longed to reach.
CHAPTER XII
THE RETURN TRIP. THE ORANG-OUTAN
Here they were on the banks of a broad stream, tired and hungry. The experiences which they had gone through made the task of seeking suitable shelter an easy one. An entire month of preparation had been wasted. Aside from the lights which were seen on the fourth day on the western shore, they had no more knowledge than when they started. It seemed to be very discouraging.
But they were going home. This was the most comforting thought and it made up for a great deal of the disappointments. There was real grief at the loss of the boat. True, it could be recovered, but all this meant time and hard work. It should be said, however, that at no time had either of the boys ever found fault with the tasks that were allotted to them.
In this fact the Professor found much comfort. It was a strong factor, as he knew, in the lives of the boys. It required the highest sort of courage to bear misfortune without complaining.
The camp for the night was soon made, and after a hearty meal all retired for the night. Early in the morning the boys were at work, as soon as the morning meal was finished, constructing a raft of sufficient size to carry them across, and when the timbers had been securely lashed and all their luggage placed aboard, the poles and primitive paddles gave them a trying half hour to make the trip.
The stream was rather wide at this point, and it was believed to be near the sea, and the suggestion was made to follow the stream down for an hour, to ascertain whether the ocean would appear in view, and if not, to take up the trail for the east.
In less than a half hour the sea was in sight. The course was then directed east, but after traveling the entire forenoon through the most difficult paths, it was decided to change the course to the south.