Not until shortly after dusk that night was Mr. Hampton heard from. Then a hail from the right bank of the river near the head of the island was heard by the boys who had taken up their position about a fire, for the night had become . Calls sounded back and across the water. Finally, assured of each other’s safety, both parties for the night, prepared to attempt the work of rescue as soon as dawn should bring sufficient light.  
Bob as the strongest swimmer of the three boys was eager to make the crossing. But two obvious enough reasons were adduced to make him abandon the idea. In the first place, the boys did not possess rope. That Mr. Hampton had, and it would have to be carried to the island by a member of his party. In the second place, even though the current in the right hand channel was less swift than the other side of the island, yet a swimmer setting out for shore from the tip of the island would be hard put to it to escape being carried down stream into the rapids. On the other hand, a swimmer taking to the water from the river bank at a point above the island, could count upon making the crossing in safety. Moreover, he would have the rope from shore and, if he became endangered, his comrades could pull him to safety.
 
So it was that one of the two Kikuyus who had crossed the river at the old camp site the previous day again was selected. And as soon as daylight came, he set out.
 
The boys with Matse and their bearers watched from the island. They had been up since before dawn. On the other shore they could see the Kikuyus in a group, while Mr. Hampton directed operations and Niellsen could be seen at his motion picture camera, prepared to photograph any dramatic incidents as they occurred.
 
The Kikuyu, a rangy fellow more than six feet in height, swam strongly until well into the current. Then he let himself drift in order to estimate its strength. Satisfied that if he headed directly for the island, he would be borne beyond it and into the rapids below, he then could be seen to head straight across stream.
 
Even then, however, the swift current carried him along at such a rate as to make it unlikely he would reach the island.
 
Bob shook his head, voicing the thought in all their minds.
 
“He’ll have to swim up stream or he’ll never make it.”
 
Evidently, the swimmer was of the same opinion. For the next moment the watchers on both the river bank and the island could see him alter his course and assume a direction calculated to carry him across the river on a long upstream except for the effect upon his progress of the current.
 
The boys watched his head, black and round, the sunlit water, and with commendation the steady rise and fall of his arms in an overhead stroke that gave powerful to his body.
 
“I believe he’ll make it all right,” said Bob, after a moment.
 
Closer and closer drew the swimmer. And now the boys saw a long thin line of rope trailing through the water behind him. It was tied about his waist and was being paid out by other Negroes who were following down stream along the right bank. A narrow shelf of land, free of underbrush, lay between the river and the behind, affording them sufficient footing.
 
The Kikuyus on the island shouted frequent encouragement to the swimmer, who once or twice waved an arm in token of acknowledgment. He betrayed no , although the effort he was putting into his task was great. Finally, he won through the strongest portion of the current and found himself in more quiet water, after which it was only a matter of moments until willing hands had him safe .
 
Then began the work of pulling in the line about his waist, to the other end of which Mr. Hampton had tied three ends of cable, figuring that nothing less than three heavy ropes would provide a ferry to ensure safety in the transport of a raft from the island.
 
The question of whether the original raft could be towed around the end of the island from its anchorage on the side opposite to that of the ferry was quickly in the negative. of the route convinced the boys that even if it could be poled and by ropes into position against the rush of the current, yet the rocks the river at the upstream tip of the island could not be negotiated.
 
It was decided, therefore, that a new raft would have to be built. Mr. Hampton was of this, and went into camp on the river bank. There was nothing he could do to help. With t............