"Look here, sir," he said: "I don't see that we need go on flying through the water like this. We're out of danger, and it seems to me that we've only got to keep a sharp look-out to see when the current changes and keep clear of it." "Yes," said Brace; "I think we might slacken sail a little now. We seem to have got right out of the surface current leading to the falls." "We'd no right to go sailing up so close to where the water comes over the rocks. That's where we were wrong in the first place," remarked the second mate. "Yes," said Briscoe; "but it was a wonderfully interesting experience." "That's what you call it, sir," said Lynton rather gruffly, "and I suppose you're right; but it's rather too expensive a game for me. It was experience though, and like a lesson, for I feel now as if I could navigate these waters without getting into trouble again. How do you feel about going right across now and landing?" "I think we ought to," said Briscoe. "Why can't we go close in and then sail up as near as it seems safe before landing? After that we might shoulder our guns and see if we can climb up level with the top of the falls." "Yes, let's try that," said Brace. "It would be most interesting." Lynton steered the boat close in to the shore and kept her sailing along at only a few yards' distance until they arrived at a spot which looked favourable for landing. Brace and Briscoe gave a sharp look round and then the little party landed, and, after leaving the boat-keepers with orders to fire by way of alarm if they saw any sign of Indians, Brace led off to climb a long rocky slope, which proved to be perfectly practicable for a boat to be drawn up on rollers, and soon after they were standing gazing to their right at the top of the falls, while away to their left in a smooth gliding reach there were the upper waters of the river winding away through beautiful park-like woodlands as far as the eye could see. "Splendid!" cried Lynton. "I should just like a mile of this to rig up my house and retire from business. I say, what's he looking for?" This was to draw Brace's attention to Briscoe, who had gone forward to descend to a little sandy nook by the water-side, where he was raking about with a stick. "Looking for something, I suppose--to see if he can find precious stones among the pebbles perhaps. Maybe he's finding fresh-water shells. Any oysters there, Mr Briscoe?" "Haven't found any yet," shouted Briscoe, laughing. But Brace noticed that he stooped down once or twice and scooped up a handful of sand, to wash it about in the water and examine it very carefully before tossing it away, and then, shouldering his gun, he returned to Brace's side. "What a lovely place this is!" he said. "Hadn't we better get back and report progress to your brother?" "Yes, I think so," said Brace; "but what did you find?" "Pst! Keep quiet. I don't want the men to know."