silently and swiftly the two swimmers continued their course through the shadowy aisles of the forest. twilight, almost darkness, was above and around them; for the trees meeting overhead caused an obscurity sombre as night itself. no ray of sunlight ever danced upon the surface of that dismal lagoon.

they would have lost their way, had not the noises guided them. should these be discontinued, their exertions might be all in vain.

they thought of this as they proceeded, and reflected also on the course to be adopted when they reached the rendezvous of the gorillas. supposing there could be no footing found, how were they to use either gun or sumpitan?

the question passed between them in a whisper as they swam side by side. neither knew how to answer it.

saloo only expressed a hope that they might get upon the limb of a tree near enough to send a bullet or arrow into the body of the mias, and terminate his career.

there seemed no other chance, and they swam on, keeping it before their minds.

about the direction, they had no difficulty whatever. although the surface of the water was of inky blackness, from the shadowing trees above, and the huge trunks standing out of it now and then forced them into an occasional deviation, they advanced without any great difficulty.

they swam around the tree trunks, and, guided by the voices of the gorillas, easily regained their course. the noises were no longer sharp screams or hoarse coughs, but a kind of jabbering jargon, as if the apes were engaged in a family confabulation.

the swimmers at length arrived so near, that they no longer felt any fear about finding the way to the place where the reunion of the quadrumana was being held; and which could not be more than a hundred yards distant.

silently gliding through the water, the eyes of both peered intently forward, in an endeavour to pierce the obscurity, and, if possible, discover some low limb of a tree, or projecting buttress, on which they might find a foothold. they had good hope of success, for they had seen many such since starting from the shore. had rest been necessary, they might have obtained it more than once by grasping a branch above, or clinging to one of the great trunks, whose gnarled and knotted sides would have afforded sufficient support.

but they were both strong swimmers, and needed no rest. there was none for the bereaved father—could be none—till he should reach the termination of their strange enterprise, and know what was to be its result.

as they swam onward, now proceeding with increased caution, their eyes scanning the dark surface before them, both all of a sudden and simultaneously came to a stop. it was just as if something underneath the water had laid hold of them by the legs, checking them at the same instant of time.

and something had impeded their farther progress, but not from behind. in front was the obstruction, which proved to be a bank of earth, that, though under the water, rose within a few inches of its surface. the breast of each swimmer had struck against it, the shock raising them into a half-erect attitude, from which they had no need to return to the horizontal. on the contrary, they now rose upon their feet, which they felt to be resting on a firm hard bottom.

standing in pleased surprise, they could better survey the prospect before them; and after a minute spent in gazing through the gloom, they saw that dry land was close to the spot where they had been so abruptly arrested.

it appeared only a low-lying islet, scarce rising above the level of the lagoon, and of limited extent—only a few rods in superficial area. it was thickly covered with trees; but, unlike those standing in the water, which were tall and with single stems, those upon the islet were supported by many trunks, proclaiming them to be some species of the indian fig or banyan.

one near the centre, from its greater width and more numerous supporting pillars, seemed the patriarch of the tribe; and to this their eyes were especially directed. for out of its leafy shadows came the strange sounds which had hitherto guided them.

among its branches, without any doubt, the red gorilla had his home; and there he would be found in the bosom of his family.

grasping his gun, and whispering to saloo to follow him, captain redwood started towards the tree so clearly indicated as the goal of their expedition.