“Mucho malo,” said Pepe, and he groaned. That was significant, coming from a _mozo_, who thought nothing of rowing forty miles in a day. “Oh, but it’s tough luck,” cried Ken. “Why didn’t I choose the right branch of this pesky river?” “I think you used your head at that,” said Hal. “Most of the water came down on this side. Where did it go?” Hal had hit the vital question, and it cleared Ken’s brain. “Hal, you’re talking sense. Where did that water go? It couldn’t all have sunk into the earth. We’ll find out. We won’t try to go back. We _can’t_ go back.” Pepe shoved off the oozy mud, and, reluctantly, as if he appreciated the dilemma, he turned the boat and rowed along the shore. As soon as Ken had recovered somewhat he decided there must be an outlet which he had missed. This reminded him that at a point not far back he had heard the tinkle and gurgle of unseen water flowing over rocks. He directed Pepe to row slowly along the bank that he thought was the island side. As they glided under the drooping bamboos and silky curtains of moss George began to call out: “Low bridge! Low bridge!” For a boy who was forever voicing ill-omened suggestions as to what might soon happen he was extraordinarily cheerful. There were places where all had to lie flat and others where Pepe had to use his _machete_. This disturbed the _siesta_ of many aquatic birds, most of which flew swiftly away. But there were many of the gray-breasted, blue-backed bitterns that did not take to flight. These croaked dismally, and looked down upon the boys with strange, protruding eyes. “Those darn birds’ll give me the willies,” declared Hal. “George, you just look like them when you croak about what’s coming to us.” “Just wait!” retorted George. “It’ll come, all right. Then I’ll have the fun of seeing you scared silly.” “What! You’ll not do anything of the kind!” cried Hal, hotly. “I’ve been in places where such--such a skinny little sap-head as you--” “Here, you kids stop wrangling,” ordered Ken, who sensed hostilities in the air. “We’ve got trouble enough.” Suddenly Ken signaled Pepe to stop rowing. “Boys, I hear running water. Aha! Here’s a current. See--it’s making right under this bank.” Before them was a high wall of broad-leaved vines, so thick that nothing could be seen through them. Apparently this luxuriant canopy concealed the bank. Pepe poked an oar into it, but found nothing solid. “Pepe, cut a way through. We’ve got to see where this water runs.”