"I am sure, sir," Mr. Hopkins said, "that they could not go straight
down it. They might cut their way through, but it would be a work
of considerable time, for with their masts they would have to clear
away the branches to a considerable height. Down near the water
the branches by which we pushed ourselves along were those of the
undergrowth, with many rattans and other creepers varying from the
thickness of one's thumb to that of one's wrist, and these would
take a great deal of chopping before one of their war boats could
be pushed through, but higher up they would probably have much
thicker branches to contend with. It may be that they can lower
their masts; but even if they could do so, I should think that it
would take them over an hour's work, even with the number of hands
they carry, to get a passage through that bit of thick undergrowth,
fifty or sixty yards up the mouth of the creek. There are two or
three other places where some chopping would have to be done, but
that would be comparatively easy work."

The mate and Harry both agreed with the lieutenant.

"Practically, then," the captain said, "the Malays have but one
mode of escape, while we have two of attack. At any rate, if we
send up a boat beforehand, and fasten two or three iron chains from
side to side among the branches, that passage would be securely
sealed.

"Thank you, gentlemen; that is all I have to ask at present. It
is a very difficult nut we have to crack, Mr. Ferguson," he went
on, when he and the first lieutenant were alone. "To attack six
strongly armed prahus with the boats of this ship would be a serious