In consequence of the ever-increasing width of the river, I found it a difficult matter to keep in the channel where the current was, so I gave up the steering paddle to Yamba, who seemed instinctively to know what course to take.
On and on we went, until at length the whole country as far as the eye could reach was one vast sea, extending virtually to the horizon; its sluggish surface only broken by the tops of the submerged trees.One day we sighted a number of little islets some distance ahead, and then we felt we must be nearing the mouth of the river.The last day or two had been full of anxiety and inconvenience for us, for we had been simply drifting aimlessly on, without being able to land and stretch our cramped limbs or indulge in a comfortable sleep.Thus the sight of the islands was a great relief to us, and my ever-faithful and considerate companion remarked that as we had nothing to fear now, and I was weary with my vigil of the previous night, I had better try and get a little sleep.Accordingly I lay down on the catamaran, and had barely extended my limbs when I fell fast asleep.I awoke two or three hours later, at mid-day, and was surprised to find that our catamaran was not moving.I raised myself up, only to find that we had apparently drifted among the tops of a ring of trees rising from a submerged island."Halloa!" I said to Yamba, "are we stuck?" "No," she replied quietly, "but look round."You may judge of my horror and amazement when I saw outside the curious ring of tree-tops, scores of huge alligators peering at us with horrid stolidity through the branches, some of them snapping their capacious jaws with a viciousness that left no doubt as to its meaning.Yamba explained to me that she had been obliged to take refuge in this peculiar but convenient shelter, because the alligators seemed to be swarming in vast numbers in that part of the river.She had easily forced a way for the catamaran through the branches, and once past, had drawn them together again.The ferocious monsters could certainly have forced their way into the inclosure after us, but they didn't seem to realise that such a thing was possible, apparently being quite content to remain outside.Judge, then, our position for yourself--with a scanty food supply, on a frail platform of logs, floating among the tree-tops, and literally besieged by crowds of loathsome alligators!
Nor did we know how long our imprisonment was likely to last.Our poor dog, too, was terribly frightened, and sat whining and trembling in a most pitiable way in spite of reassuring words and caresses from Yamba and myself.I confess that I was very much alarmed, for the monsters would occasionally emit a most peculiar and terrifying sound--not unlike the roar of a lion.Hour after hour we sat there on the swaying catamaran, praying fervently that the hideous reptiles might leave us, and let us continue our journey in peace.As darkness began to descend upon the vast waste of waters, it occurred to me to make a bold dash through the serried ranks of our besiegers, but Yamba restrained me, telling me it meant certain death to attempt to run the gantlet under such fearsome circumstances.
Night came on.How can I describe its horrors? Even as I write, Iseem to hear the ceaseless roars of those horrible creatures, and the weird but gentle lappings of the limitless waste that extended as far as the eye could reach.Often I was tempted to give up in despair, feeling that there was no hope whatever for us.Towards morning, however, the alligators apparently got on the scent of some floating carcasses brought down by the floods, and one and all left us.Some little time after the last ugly head had gone under, the catamaran was sweeping swiftly and noiselessly down the stream again.
We made straight for a little island some distance ahead of us, and found it uninhabited.Black and white birds, not quite so large as pigeons, were very plentiful, as also were eggs.Soon my Yamba had a nice meal ready for me, and then we lay down for a much-needed rest.After this we steered for a large island some nine or ten miles distant, and as we approached we could see that this one WASinhabited, from the smoke-signals the natives sent up the moment they caught sight of us.
