Then for a moment the dwarf would consider, and, lifting his hand, point out which water-way they should choose, and they followed it.
Thus they went on for the most part of that day, till towards evening they reached a place where the particular canal that they were following suddenly divided itself into two, one branch running north and one in a southerly direction.
"Which way, Otter ?" asked Leonard.
"Nay, Baas, I know not.

The water has changed; there was no land here, the cut went straight on." This was a serious matter, for one false step in such a labyrinth meant that they would be lost utterly.

For long they debated which stream to take, and at last decided to try that on the left hand, which Otter thought ran more nearly in the true direction.

They had already started in pursuance of his advice when Soa, who had remained silent hitherto, suggested that they should first go a little way down the right-hand stream on the chance of finding a clue.

Leonard demurred, but as the woman seemed bent upon it, he yielded, and turning the boat they paddled her some three hundred yards in this new direction.