Hunger pangs were coming again. One of the workmen had the fortune to catch two beautiful fish, so out came the cooking pots. By the time the fish were scaled, cooked, and eaten, it was past 1 p.m. But at last with full stomachs and good humor, the water caravan moved away from shore and floated out into the current of the beautiful Kuluene. The long-awaited hour had come. They were off! The four canoes loaded with men and stores and one intrepid woman glided smoothly out into the river, travelling with the current. On both sides of the waterway forest giants stretched their branches toward the sky. Flowering trees dropped showers of perfumed petals into the water, and in some places formed an elf-land arch of green lace. Macaws and parrots called from the depths of the jungle, and the whistles of wild monkeys shrilled through forest corridors. The first small rapid soon loomed ahead and was passed safely; but a second one lay just ahead. The white spray leaped into the air, falling, leaping again. The leading canoe took the canal to the right of the leaping rapid while the second canoe sped on and was piloted through the canal to the left. Harold, Harry, Tom, and Tommy were in the third canoe with several workmen. For some unknown reason the man placed at the back to steer, headed the canoe straight to the middle. The rushing current seized them in its hungry grip and swept them into a vortex of swirling whirlpools, where they cavorted
70
Made with FlippingBook - Online Brochure Maker