"Things are coming to a crisis, Harry," Dick Balderson said, in a tone of delight, as they left the captain's cabin.

"We now know what we all along suspected--the rajah is a rascal, and we have not only found out where his prahus are hidden, but have them corked up in a bottle." "Nothing could be better, Dick, and I expect we shall have some pretty hot work.

Of course the Serpent cannot get up that creek, though she can place herself at the entrance and prevent their getting away; but there still remains the work of capturing or driving them down the creek, and that is likely to be a very tough job." The next morning the second lieutenant, the mate, and Harry Parkhurst were sent for to the captain's cabin.

The first lieutenant was there.
They were each asked their opinion as to whether the prahus could force their way through the creek by which they had ascended.
"It is a most important point," the captain said: "and indeed, everything might depend upon it." "I am sure, sir," Mr.Hopkins said, "that they could not go straight down it.

They might cut their way through, but it would be a work of considerable time, for with their masts they would have to clear away the branches to a considerable height.