FOURTH DAY. 65 



were forced to leave our hiding-place. Our time, too, was 

 pretty nearly exhausted, and we had to think of returning. 



Great drops were falling from the trees, and all the bushes 

 were loaded with water, so one can easily imagine how much 

 more disagreeable was the return journey through the deep 

 mud and wet undergrowth. As fast as we could work 

 through it we hurried along to our " csikeln," which had 

 come a good bit of the way to meet us, and, wet to the skin, 

 stepped into them and began our homeward route. In my 

 craft lay a Sea-Eagle and the young owls, a scanty booty 

 considering the many splendid chances I had been favoured 

 with during the day. 



We went back to our boat by the same way, and after 

 paddling along the first channel, and through the narrow places 

 among the bushes, we got along much faster across the broad 

 sheet of open water. I preferred travelling in my " csikel " 

 rather than in the slow heavy boat, although the wind had 

 raised high waves, and my men advised me not to do so. 



The storm was already over, the heavens had emptied 

 themselves in waterspouts, and a fine rain was falling instead 

 of the heavy torrents. The black clouds also gradually dis- 

 appeared towards the east, the whole sky grew clearer, and 

 the wind fell, while the rain had driven off the swarms of 

 troublesome mosquitoes, and a pure delightfully cool spring 

 air had replaced the heavy fatiguing atmosphere which had 

 hitherto prevailed. 



Thanks to the vigorous strokes of the very adroit Ferencz, 

 we glided over the open water towards the wood far in 

 advance of the other boats, but had then to proceed rather 

 more slowly and carefully through the thick bushes and the 

 wood of 'tall trees. However, by following this morning's 

 route we soon reached the narrow lane of water which 

 opened into the main branch of the river where our steamer 

 lay. 



F 



