They came upon them at a bend of the dark river beyond which point the mangroves gave place to other trees—­but what sort of trees they were it was scarcely light enough to make out very distinctly, except in the case of the particular tree in front of which the Dyaks were encamped, the roots of which were strongly illuminated by their camp fire.  We say roots advisedly, for this singular and gigantic tree started its branches from a complexity of aerial roots which themselves formed a pyramid some sixty feet high, before the branches proper of the tree began.

If our voyagers had used oars the sharp ears of the pirates would have instantly detected them.  As it was, the softly moving paddles and the sharp cutwater of the canoe made no noise whatever.  The instant that Van der Kemp, from his position in the bow, observed the camp, he dipped his paddle deep, and noiselessly backed water.  There was no need to give any signal to his servant.  Such a thorough understanding existed between them that the mere action of the hermit was sufficient to induce the negro to support him by a similar movement on the opposite side, and the canoe glided as quickly backward as it had previously advanced.  When under the deep shadow of the bank Moses thrust the canoe close in, and his master, laying hold of the bushes, held fast and made a sign to him to land and reconnoitre.

Creeping forward to an opening in the bushes close at hand, Moses peeped through.  Then he turned and made facial signals of a kind so complicated that he could not be understood, as nothing was visible save the flashing of his teeth and eyes.  Van der Kemp therefore recalled him by a sign, and, stepping ashore, whispered Nigel to land.

[Illustration:  DISCOVER A PIRATES’ BIVOUAC.—­PAGE 164.]

Another minute and the three travellers stood on the bank with their heads close together.

“Wait here for me,” said the hermit, in the lowest possible whisper.  “I will go and see who they are.”

“Strange,” said Nigel, when he was gone; “strange that in so short a time your master should twice have to stalk strangers in this way.  History repeats itself, they say.  It appears to do so rather fast in these regions!  Does he not run a very great risk of being discovered?”

“Not de smallest,” replied the negro, with as much emphasis as was possible in a whisper.  “Massa hab ride wid de Vaquieros ob Ameriky an’ hunt wid de Injuns on de Rockies.  No more fear ob deir ketchin’ him dan ob ketchin’ a streak o’ lightnin’.  He come back bery soon wid all de news.”

Moses was a true prophet.  Within half-an-hour Van der Kemp returned as noiselessly as he had gone.  He did not keep them long in uncertainty.

“I have heard enough,” he whispered, “to assure me that a plot, of which I had already heard a rumour, has nearly been laid.  We fell in with the chief plotters on the islet the other night; the band here is in connection with them and awaits their arrival before carrying out their dark designs.  There is nothing very mysterious about it.  One tribe plotting to attack another—­that is all; but as a friend of mine dwells just now with the tribe to be secretly attacked, it behoves me to do what I can to save him.  I am perplexed, however.  It would seem sometimes as if we were left in perplexity for wise purposes which are beyond our knowledge.”