Come on." He led the way and Billy Widgeon followed, talking to himself and evidently thoroughly puzzled as to the meaning of the major's attack.
But now the attention of all was attracted by the little trickling stream which made its way from beneath some low growth, and lost itself directly in the sand; but though the way was blocked up it was evident that here was a road into the island, for the dense wall of verdure took somewhat the form of an arch; and as soon as a way had been forced through, Bruff dashed on ahead, splashing about and barking excitedly.
"That's not the way to get sport, is it ?" said Morgan.

"Hadn't we better call the dog back ?" "Yes, call him," said the major.
Mark called, but the dog had evidently gone beyond hearing, so they followed, finding themselves in an opening about sixty feet wide as soon as they had passed the arch, and with the sky above them, while they were walking in the gravelly zigzagging and winding bed of a little river, with a wall of mighty trees to right and left.
It was evident that at times there was a tremendous current here, and that the whole place was flooded after the heavy rains, for the first-mate pointed out, some five feet from the ground, a patch of dry grass and broken twigs, matted together just as they had been washed down the river and left there from the last flood, while now the stream was reduced to a trickling rivulet, with a pool here and a pool there, some of which were deep and, from the swirling motion of the water, evidently contained big fish.
There was plenty of room for walking at the sides of the gravelly stream, and after progressing some little distance inland, at the bottom of what was like a channel, whose walls were huge tree-trunks towering to a great height, the party began to look out for birds.
"Phew! it's hot work," said Morgan, wiping his face, for the heat in that airless chasm was terrific.

"I don't think we shall get many birds." "I'm not going to try," said Gregory, "for it's neck-breaking work staring up in the tops of these trees." "We'll find some ducks soon," said the major, "or some ground pigeons.
You leave it to me.

But where's that dog ?" There was no answer, for evidently no one knew.

One thing was certain, however, Bruff had ceased barking, and therefore was not likely to disturb any game that might be on the way.
But though they progressed nearly a mile inland not a bird was visible.
There was the loud whizzing whirr of innumerable cicadas, and once or twice they heard a piping cry, after that all was stifling heat and silence.
Their progress was very slow, for after finding there was not much chance of getting a shot the various members of the party began to inspect the objects around them.