They rowed some ten miles down at a leisurely pace, and then the
boat's grapnel was dropped at a bend of the stream, where the water
was unusually deep, and several baskets of fish had been taken at
various times. A spare rod was brought out from under the seat,
and Mr. Ferguson and Dick began to fish, one on each side of the
boat, while the men lay on their oars, and a look of satisfaction
came over their faces as the lieutenant told them that they could
smoke. Hitherto, Dick had been in ignorance as to the object of
the expedition. He had been much surprised when the order had been
given for the boat to row down the river, and it was therefore
evident that it was not the intention of the first officer to again
explore the creek.

Several fish were caught, but as soon as it became dark the lieutenant
said, "You can throw them overboard again, Mr. Balderson; we don't
want any extra weight in the boat, and these fish must weigh thirty
pounds at least. Now what do you suppose we are going to do?"

"I have no idea, sir. I thought that we might be going up the creek
that Lieutenant Hopkins explored the other day, to have another
look at the prahus; but as we came down the river instead of going
up, of course it is not that."

"No; we are going to explore the creek, but from the other end."

"That will be first rate, sir, but I am afraid that we shan't find
water enough for the Serpent."

"No, I fear that there is little chance of that; still we may obtain