"I expect," Ned said, "they find that the wood is too big to be watched,
and some of them are going on to get some help from the next garrison, or,
perhaps, to rouse up a village and press them in the work. Trot on, girls;
the jungle is so thick here you could hardly squeeze yourself in. We have
plenty of time; they won't be here for five minutes yet."




CHAPTER IV.

BROKEN DOWN.


They ran at the top of their speed, but the sound of the horses' feet grew
louder.

"There is a path leading to the river," Ned said; "let us turn down there;
we can hide under the jungle on the bank."

Breathlessly they ran down to the river.

"Hurrah! here is a boat, jump in;" and in another minute they had pushed
off from the bank, just as they heard a body of cavalry--for that they
were troops they knew by the jingling of their accouterments--pass at a
gallop. The stream was strong; and the boys found that with the rude oars
they could make no way whatever.

"We had better land again, and get further from the river," Ned said. "We