We had better try and discover if this is the case, without being ourselves seen; therefore have all the oars, except four, laid in, and let the men muffle those with their stockings, and be most careful to dip them into the water without making a splash.
Let absolute silence be preserved in the boat.

I will lead the way as before, and if I hold up my hand stop rowing instantly." "Aye, aye, sir!" the mate replied.
The same precautions were taken by the cutter, and the boats proceeded noiselessly.

Presently the stream narrowed again, until it seemed that they were approaching its termination, and the boat stopped rowing.
"I fancy we have come to the end of it, Mr.Morrison," the lieutenant said in a low voice.
"I am afraid so too, sir; there is no room for the oars, and we shall either have to punt the boats, or to drag them by the bushes." The lieutenant was about to give the order to turn when Harry said, suddenly, "There is a current, sir.

I have had my eye upon that root, and we have drifted backwards a couple of feet since we lost way, so there must be a stretch of water above us." The lieutenant watched the root of the tree to which Harry had pointed, for a minute in silence, then he said, "You are right, my lad, there is a current, and, as you say, there must be a stretch of water above us.
Lay in your oars, lads; stand up, and pull her along by the boughs and bushes, but don't make the slightest sound." Twenty yards farther the creek widened, and the oars were again got out.
"Take your place in the bow, Mr.Parkhurst, and hold up your hand the instant you see anything unusual, and do you, men, be ready to hold her up the instant I give the order." They proceeded for a quarter of a mile, the gig following close behind.
Suddenly, at a bend in the stream, a glare of light was seen ahead.
Harry held up his hand, and passed the word down in a whisper that just ahead the creek widened into a broad sheet of water.

The lieutenant stopped the gig by holding up his hand, passed the order for the men to lay in their oars noiselessly, and told the coxswain to keep in well under the bushes on the left hand side; then he made his way forward, and joined Harry, telling the men to pull the boat forward by means of the branches overhead which were well within reach, but to avoid breaking even a twig.
In a minute or two the bow of the boat arrived at the end of the screen of bushes, and a low exclamation broke from the lieutenant and Harry simultaneously; they were looking out on to an almost circular pool some two hundred yards in diameter.