"I don't see why that should not succeed, sir. Of course the most
difficult part of the operation is dragging the guns. These native
paths are only broad enough for men in single file."

"Yes, that is the difficulty. We could not employ axes to cut down
the trees, and to saw them down would be an interminable work. I
think, Mr. Ferguson, we should have to carry them."

"I doubt if we could carry a twenty-four pounder, sir; but we might
carry an eighteen. They have bamboos of almost any length here,
and if we were to lash an eighteen pounder between two of them,
I should say that ten men each side ought to able to carry them,
while as many more might take the gun carriage."

"We will get some bamboos today, Mr. Ferguson, and try the experiment
of how many men will be required to carry a gun; but now I think
of it, I fancy that it will be still easier to lay the guns down
on a sledge shaped piece of timber--these paths are smooth enough
where the natives tread, and the men could haul the guns along with
ropes."

"That would be better and easier, sir. The difficulty with the
carriages will be greatest, but they might be taken to pieces as
far as possible and slung on bamboos."

"I think that we shall be able to manage all that," the captain said
cheerfully. "The first thing is to find the path. There is almost
sure to be one from the village the Malay spoke of as close to
the mouth of the creek, and the pool, and if we send the boats up
as soon as we arrive at the creek, to row with muffled oars until