Out on the river they could hear the noise of paddles, and of men calling to each other.
Near them on the bank something moved, and above the swishing of the current they heard the low whine of an animal.
Mr.Hume pricked his ears at the sound, and crept into the well, where the boys sat anxiously watching.
"Put on your coats," he muttered.
Again there came the whine, then the sound of an animal scrambling, and next the patter of feet.
"A dog," whispered Venning.
"I advise keeping on," said Compton.
"And I," replied Mr.Hume, "advise that we have something to eat.
Will you serve us, Venning ?" They ate hungrily, for through the day they had been too much excited to think of food.

And as they feasted their eyes were on the move, and their ears on the stretch.

Their manoeuvre had apparently succeeded, for the canoes were all beating up towards the fires under the belief that the Okapi had kept on, and there was no suspicious movement by the people on the shore.

So they remained where they were, keeping themselves in position by holding on to the branches.

To the boys it was a weird scene, with the blood-red glow on the waters and the sense of vastness and of wildness.