CHAPTER IX.
The party landed at the village the next morning, but found it entirely deserted.
"It is most important that we should take a prisoner, Ferguson," the captain said, as he and the first lieutenant paced up and down the quarterdeck; "we must catch the two prahus if we can.

At present we don't know whether they have gone up or down the river, and it would be absolutely useless for us to wait until we get some clew to their whereabouts.

After we have finished with them, we will go up the other branch, and try to find the two we know to be up there.

I should not like to leave our work unfinished." "Certainly not, sir.

I am afraid, though, it is of no use landing to try to get hold of a prisoner.