"We must not start without Bolter," said the Resident, sharply, as if the idea had just crossed his mind. "Any news of him?" "No," said Hilton; "we have heard nothing; but are you sure that he has not returned?" "He would not have returned without reporting himself," replied the Resident, who, like Mr Perowne, seemed to have grown older and more hollow of cheek. "I am quite ready to start," said Mr Perowne, in an absent manner. "They tell me, Mr Hilton, you were seized that same night, and carried up the river. Are you sure that my Helen was not taken to the same place?" "I am certain, Mr Perowne," said Hilton, gravely. "The best answer to that is the presence of Mr Chumbley and myself. We should not have come away and left an English lady in such a situation." The Resident cast a keen, inquiring look at Hilton, and Mr Perowne went on feebly: "No, no, of course not; but I thought I'd ask, Mr Hilton. I've had a deal of trouble lately; and my head is very bad." "Let us go across to the doctor's," said Mr Harley. "There is the chance of his being back. I really feel that, urgent as our necessities are, we must not start without him." "We ought to have him," replied Hilton. "We are sure to have some wounded." "And wounds are awful in this climate, if not attended to at once." "Yes," assented the Resident. "Will you come with us, Perowne?" "No," said that gentleman, dreamily. "I shall stay until the expedition starts." Mr Perowne seated himself upon a low stool, and buried his face in his hands, looking so utterly prostrate, that the Resident crossed to his side, bent down over him and whispered: "For heaven's sake, be hopeful! I am straining every nerve to get the expedition off!" "But you are so long--so long!" moaned the wretched man. "Do not you reproach me," said Mr Harley. "Have some pity for my position. I am even now going beyond my tether in what I am doing; and I hardly dare take a party of men up in this jungle without a doctor with us! Perowne, on my honour, I am burning to go to Helen's help; but I am tied down by red tape at every turn. You don't know what such a position as mine really is!" "Go and see if Bolter has come back," said Mr Perowne, coldly. "Yes," said the Resident, to himself, "if not, we must go without him." The Resident turned away, beckoning Hilton to follow; and leaving Chumbley sitting with the stricken father, they went towards the doctor's cottage. VOLUME THREE, CHAPTER FIFTEEN. JEOPARDY. Helen caught the sound of the oars at the same moment as the doctor, and he heard her draw a spasmodic breath as she started up in her dread and seized his arm, clinging to it convulsively. The doctor rose, and shading his eyes, gazed down the stream, but there was no prahu as yet in sight; and he then glanced to left and right for a hiding-place beneath the overhanging trees.