"The sooner the better," said Beecher. "Off with you."
In little more than an hour everything was on board the naga, which was pushed off from the landing-stage, the officers and their servants being under the light palm-leaf awning, and the crew sending the long light boat through the water at a pretty good rate, for the tide was with them, and in a very short time a bend in the river had hidden boats, native huts and houses, and the last traces of the little military camp.
CHAPTER II
There was a certain amount of monotony about the banks of the muddy winding river, but to Beecher, whose high spirits seemed to effervesce within his veins and through his nerves, all was bright and beautiful, and he laughed to himself as he noted now that the Malays seemed quite transformed, and they toiled away to force the boat through the water, chattering till one of them started a low sweet minor air, keeping time to the beat of the oars, and the rest joining in.
"Come, old chap," cried Beecher; "rouse up and load; we may get a shot at something soon."
"All right; you shoot then," answered Hollins, with a yawn. "I'll wait till it isn't so hot."
"It will be dark then, and you will not get a chance."
"All right. Don't want one. You shoot, and I'll look on."
"Ugh! what a lazy beggar you are!"