THE RIVER IN FLOOD 



Close by us was a hill full of loadstone. I was lying 

 on my camp-bed watching the flashes, both ends of 

 the tent being open for the sake of air. Clarke had his 

 head away from the lightning. Suddenly, apparently 

 from about twenty yards away, there was a blinding 

 flash, followed instantly by a deafening crash. Then, 

 without the slightest warning, my side of the tent was 

 blown down by a fierce gust of wind. Immediately 

 I threw up my hands and feet in an attempt to support 

 the canvas, at the same time shouting to Clarke that 

 the whole tent was coming down. 



He shouted back : " I think it will hold." 



" Yes," I answered, " it will so long as I 'm doing 

 this." 



He looked round, saw me lying there with hands 

 and feet in the air and began to roar with laughter; 

 but a moment later his expression changed, for the 

 boys ran in shouting in Malay that the flood was on us. 

 When he interpreted this for me I took it coolly, 

 remarking that we could easily walk up on to the bank. 



His answer was more than disconcerting. 



" There is no bank," he said. " We are on an 

 island." 



At once orders were given to take to the boats, into 

 which luggage and provisions were bundled anyhow. 

 The storm was still at its height, and the rain coming 

 down in sheets ; on the other hand, the lightning was 

 of service in enabling us to find our way to the bank, 



25 



