In Antonia, the capital of the country Guariella, lives a nine-year-old girl named Davia. She had red hair and blue eyes and freckles, and she was told she looked a lot like her mother's brother, David, who she was named after.

Davia's father worked in the Royal Grape Vinyard, and though just anyone with a garden would not be rich, Royal Gardeners were usually fairly well off, since King Antonio XXXVI's brother Edward paid for the best fertilizer and only took only a little of the bounty.

Davia's family was rather large for the times, six children, and Davia had Aunt Marian and Uncle Andy next door in the Royal Large Banana Garden, with eight cousins, Andrew, Maribel, Mary Ann, Anna, Anne Marie, Annabel, Maria, and Annielia. She also had two aunts, though she didn't know them half as well, Ella and Sandra, who were married to soldiers Giorgio and Mario of the Royal Army, and work in the Royal Kitchen with two little children each. Even so, she still was always lonely for someone new. Her Uncle David was a photographer in the jungles far to the north, and her Aunt Anna had moved to the south and gotten married, and that was the last they heard of her.

Davia enjoyed going fishing with her older brother, Nattam, making cloth with her sisters Ellia and Sandria, and watching little Mary Jo and Martin, the baby, and Hobo, the dog, was plenty of fun, but her favorite time was spent alone, in her garden, Black Eyed Susans And Roses Of Davia's, or BESAROD.

Davia had only met Uncle David once when she was a baby, and she wanted to meet him again. She wished he would come visit. She wished even more that she could go back with him. She knew Nattam did too, even if he never said anything.

One day a letter in the mail came. This was unusual, since mail was not yet used for bills, advertisements, or magazines. Davia ran into the house. It was addressed to their family from Uncle David, and Uncle Andy's family too. Ellia was sent over to get everyone. She was soon back with not only Uncle Andy's family, but also Aunt Ella and Aunt Sandra also.

After everyone had gathered into the living room, with seven people on the couch, three on the armchair, and ten on the floor, Davia's father opened the envelope, unfolded it, and read:

Dear Family,

I have competed my task of photographing every wild animal species in the jungle. I have been given a short vacation, and there's no place I would rather spend it than In Antonia, with you.

Davia's heart leapt for joy. Her Uncle David was coming!

Father resumed:

After my vacation is over, I am going down the Capital River to the dock that is just before the branch joins onto the Rocky Raging River. I'll need a little more experience before I try that. Don't try to respond, I might get there before this letter does.

Yours Truly,
David Larban

P. S. I hope you don't mind if I bring Trailer, my Dalmation

We were silent for a moment. Then there was a knock at the door. Andrew, the closest, answered it. At the door there was a tall man with blondish hair blue eyes and freckles, and a strangely spotted dog at his side.

Everyone gasped. Uncle David (of course it was Uncle David) came in, and was soon smothered by hugs and exclamations of joy.

Davia's eyes shined. Here was Uncle David, right here! She tried to get through to him, but the crowd was too thick. Soon the people backed up to give others, namely, the children, room. When Davia finally got a glimpse of him, he was covered from head to toe with kids.

The only ones that didn't hit it of were Hobo and Trailer. Hobo, the bigger dog, chased Trailer, a trespassing dog, into the creek. Assuming he had made his point, he strutted back to the house.

Davia's mother told Davia to go get some water from the pump. She did so, and when she got back Uncle David was clothed in a clean suit, and had obviously washed.

Soon it was dinnertime, and what a feast it was! The first course was fruit salad, or, to be exact, banana and grape salad. The second course was fish stew, the only non-fruit course. The third was a large salmon, basted in grape juice. The fourth was raisin bread with sugar frosting. The fifth, dessert, was grape pie or banana cream pie, whichever you might prefer.

Somewhere between raisin bread and dessert, Uncle David said that the trip down Capitol River was probably the safest trip he would ever make. No response from the parents. Davia and Nattam exchanged glances.

Uncle David tried again.

"This is the perfect time of year for boating. Why, with these lovely weather conditions a child could do it."

Davia could almost feel the vibrations going from Uncle David to her mother. After he said "A child could do it" she almost out and said "Are you sure?" but she didn't.

"And I have enough supplies for five people."

Sensible Uncle David! Thought Davia. He wasn't asking for everyone, just the oldest four, Nattam, herself, Andrew, and Maribel. They have to say yes!

But no one said anything for the rest of the meal.

When it was time for the children to go to bed, The older children took the younger children to the right house and bed, then the older children, including Andrew and Maribel, went into the bedroom, closed the door, and listened.

Soon the sounds they had expected came. The argument. Uncle David wanted the four children to go with him when he left, the day after the next. Uncle Andy, Aunt Marian, and Davia's father and mother were concerned for the children's safety. Hours later, Davia and the other older children went to bed, satisfied that when the boat left, they would be on it.

The next day was one of preparation. Davia knew nothing about boating so she needed to learn. The supplies needed to be tied on to the boat. Trailer, who was eager and ready to go, was chased back off the boat, much to Hobo's dismay. Soon they were ready. Of course, by that time it was time to go to bed.

They woke up before dawn that morning, and got on the boat. Then Davia took a "quick" nap. By the time she woke up it was noon, and she was starved, as she hadn't had any breakfast. She ate well.

Then she looked at the shore, where Trailer was having a good run.

"Why isn't Trailer on the boat?" she asked.

"He would tip it over. Besides, he'd get seasick," was the reply from Uncle David.

Davia watched as the spotted dog streaked down the shore, never seeming to tire. Just going, going, going...

She jerked up her head, wondering what day it was. She saw the early mist and dew. She looked for the others. They were in the little house on the boat. Davia yawned. They could sleep all they wanted, but she wouldn't sleep the trip though. Not her. No, she wouldn't...

No, don't doze off again, make breakfast. Now, where is that bacon?

The day went on, and the boat was going faster and faster. Uncle David thought that they might reach the dock a day early. But when they went to bed there was no sign of it. During the night they skimmed along, with the wind behind them. Past the shore, past the trees, and past the dock, on to the Raging Rocky River.

Uncle David was the first to wake up. His cry of dismay woke everyone else up.

"What is it Uncle David?" asked Maribel.

"We've passed the dock! We've gone miles past it," Uncle David replied.

Davia looked on the shore. Trailer wasn't trailing the boat anymore. Either bank was hundreds of feet of sheer, rocky cliff.

The boat suddenly pitched. Davia was thrown off her feet. She grabbed the rail and Andrew's hand. Pots and pans slid towards the edge. Then the boat leaned to the other side, and everything slid back in place. They skimmed easily over the water.

"W-W-Were those rapids?" asked Maribel, shakily.

Uncle David laughed.

"No, those were just little ones."

Maribel looked quite sick at this.

"We'll reach them tomorrow," said Uncle David.

"But I can't even see them yet!" exclaimed Nattam.

"I know, but at the rate we're going, we'll certainly get there soon."

Davia and Maribel went into the house to keep out of the way. Maribel slept, but Davia had slept so much the day before she couldn't have if she wanted to. But, of course, she didn't want to.

She watched as Andrew and Nattam helped to keep the boat steady in the rough water. Then she prepared a small dinner for them all.

That evening, Andrew walked over to Davia to complement the grape cream soup that they had eaten. Davia was surprised, as Andrew had rarely talked to her before.

Later that night, the girls got into bed inside the house, while the boys made their beds outside, in case they reached the rapids during the night.

At about four o'clock in the morning, Nattam rushed into the little hut, shouting for them to hold on. Just as he left, the boat pitched, and Davia grabbed Maribel and braced her feet on one wall and her back on the other. She held her position for hours, until dawn.

They had passed the rapids. Now all they could do was wait until they passed through the wooded area that they'd entered, into the Flooding Zone.

"Why isn't it called the R F Z?" Maribel wondered out loud.

"Because it's not in Antonia," answered Andrew.

"Oh."

They went along in silence. Davia and Maribel got out the leftover grape cream soup, and they ate in silence.

The edge of the river on either side was far away, and thorn covered. If they tried to land at the speed they were going, a hole would be slashed in the boat.

"If we continue at this speed, we should be out of the woods in four days," said Uncle David.

"Then where will we be?" Maribel asked.

"In the Flooding Zone," replied Andrew.

For dinner that night they each had a banana slice with grape jelly and a little bread. They were eating the amount that Uncle David figured would make the supplies last for five days, in case they slowed down.

The next day, Davia wondered where Trailer was. It was four days since he had been running on the shore. That made her think.

"Uncle David, what day is it?"

"Well, let me think. We left on a Monday, to come back on Thursday..."

He calculated in his mind, and then remembered.

"Sunday! I forgot all about it. What'll we do?"

They were at a loss about what to do to celebrate Sunday. Uncle David had a Bible, and they read from the Parables and the Gospels. Then there was nothing else.

They floated down the river through another night. The next day, Monday, the darkness seemed lighter, and the trees less thick. They ate almost all the rest of their food that day, because they were right on schedule.

They reached the end of the woods the next day. When they came out into open water, Davia blinked in the bright sunlight. Then she wondered if what she saw was a mirage. She saw houses that looked like they were floating on the water. If she had looked underneath she would have seen that the houses were on stilts.

They floated down what was apparently the Main Street. When they were close enough, Uncle David grabbed the roof of a house and pulled the whole boat around to the front door. He knocked loudly. A woman opened the door.

"David! You came to visit!"

Everyone but Uncle David looked up in surprise.

"Anna, you still live down here? Where's your husband?"

Aunt Anna! She was no more than sixteen, and she had been living down here with her husband for nearly two years.

"He's out fishing with the other men. But come in! You must be starving."

They went in and ate. They explained that they could not stay, but they must get back to Antonia as soon as possible.

She gave them a new boat filled with food and water, and they set off.

They rowed to the sloping side of the mountain and unloaded all the food. Then they let the boat go, floating in a strong currant back to the village of houses on the water.

Davia started the hike back north full of energy, but as they went she could barley keep her eyes open. Finally they stopped and rested. They spent the night under a tree.

When Davia woke up, she felt rested. They continued to walk. Soon they came to a cliff that went down into a dark vally.

"Keep away from that," Anrdrew warned, when Maribel got too close.

Soon I was night again. Uncle David couldn't sleep, and neither could Davia. When she asked why, he said that he felt something was going to happen. Davia finally slept, wondering what it could be, what terrible thing could happen that would keep Uncle David up long into the the night.

Davia was woken up by a bloodcurdling shriek. She jumped to her feet with a start and looked to see where it had come from.

"Help!"

The cry came from the direction of the cliff that went down to the dark valley. She looked, but saw no one. Only then did she realize that she was alone.

The cry came again: "Help!"

Throwing all caution aside, Davia dashed to the edge of the cliff and looked over. She saw Uncle David, Andrew and Nattam about thirty feet down on an overhanging rock looking down, but no Maribel.

"Help!"

The cry was getting desparate. Davia recognized Maribel's voice.

Davia called down: "What happened?"

The reply was not an answer. Uncle David shouted to her: "Get some rope!"

This she immediatly did, and she lowered it to the group on the rock. Nattam grabbed it and lowered it to Maribel, who Davia could now see, cluching the rocks lower down. She was dangling dangerously, and, since the rock was overhanging, she could not get a foothold. She obviously did not want to endanger herself by letting go with one hand to try and get a hold on the rope. She finally let go with her left hand and grabbed the rope, but the rock her right hand was clutching jerked, and she grabbed with her left hand to save herself. She was holding on with her left hand alone now, and she felt it getting weary. She was trying to grab the rope with her right hand, and soon she had a hold on it. She held on tight, andsoon they had her safely on the overhanging rock.

All this time a storm had been gathering, unnoticed by anyone. Now, every cloud in the sky seemed to burst. This created quite a problem, as they had no shelter.

Maribel suggested quietly, "There's a cave under the rock you were on."

"What?" All the others peered toward the edge of the cliff.

"When I fell I saw a hole in the wall. Then I started climbing up but I got tired from yelling."

Uncle David walked to the edge.

"How come I can't see it?"

"Because it's underneath," Maribel replied.

"You mean if someone were to climb down there on a rope, they would have to be swung into the cave?"

"I guess they would."

"Maybe we should send someone down to see if it's inhabited by wild beasts or bats, or there's a hole in the floor or something," Nattam suggested.

"Maybe we should bring the rest of our things down her first. If this rain continues we'll need our supplies. They're probably soaking wet, and if the water gets much higher they might just float away. At least there's some shelter here. If the cave doesn't work, we can just stay where we are."

While Nattam and Andrew climbed up the rope with Uncle David to get the things, Davia and Maribel sat down, wondering what to do. Finally, the tent and some bags of food were being tossed down, which Davia caught.

When everybody was down, a creaking was heard. The rock they were standing on began to tremble violently. It jerked, very slightly, but it had moved down an inch.

"Hurry!" shouted Uncle David, "Before the rock breaks off!"

Everyone then realized the danger they were in. Davia ran to the rope and slid to the end. Then Uncle David grabbed his end of the rope and swung it, back and forth, under the the rock and out. When Davia jumped off and landed safely in the cave, Maribel went to the rope. She seemed to take forever. The rock jerked down inch by inch. Finally Davia caught her and put her down in the cave. Only after this did the people on and under the rock wonder about what to do about the supplies, the food.

"We'll just have to leave it," he said as Nattam swung strait from the rock to the cave.

Then Andrew saw that the top of the cave was in view. It was barely six inches wide, but that didn't matter. He picked up the tent and pushed it through the hole. Uncle David saw the hole and passed down two bags of food. Soon, with all the supplies down, and the rock at a downward slant from the cliff, Andrew and Uncle David slipped into the cave.

When their eyes got used to the dark, what they thought they saw amazed them. They were not sure that what they saw was what was there, so they searched for a candle and lit the one they found. Yes, it was there. A tunnel that streched as far as they could see. They saw Davia, Maribel and Nattam sitting far ahead of them, obviously waiting.

When Andrew and Uncle David caught up with them they were out of breath. They decided that they should see how far the tunnel went. They walked on and on. The tunnel seemed to grow lighter as they went. Then they heard barking. Very loud barking. Out of nowhere jumped a spotted dog.

"Trailer!" Uncle David shouted.

The dog, or what they could see of him in the dark, was fat and sleek.

"Someone's been feeding him. He hasn't been in this tunnel for a long time." Uncle David seemed sure when he said this.

"There must be an opening ahead!" Maribel shouted.

They started to run. As they went, the tunnel seemed less black ahead. They turned a corner, and there was a hole! It was a small hole, but it was big enough for Maribel, at least. Trailer jumped through the hole and then looked back down. Uncle David was now pushing Maribel through the hole. She made it through, and then she laid down, exhausted, on the grass. Then Davia came through. They looked at each other in the sunlight and saw how bedraggled they were.

Maribel was the first to speak.

"If I look worse than you, I must look like a rat."

Davia giggled.

"You look worse than I feel."

Just then Nattam came up.

"How do you feel?" he asked, showing concern.

"Wonderful!"

Now Andrew was up.

"If it had been night we would've missed that hole, sure as anything."

"But it was day, so that doesn't matter, does it?"

Andrew could not argue with Maribel's optimism.

Now all they could do was hope that the hole was big enough for Uncle David to squeeze through.

He first passed up the food and the tent. Then he pulled himself up to the hole. His arms reached out, and his head came through. Then he pulled and squeezed. He was through! Everyone then looked around. They had been so glad to get out of the tunnel that they had forgotten to see where they were.

They were, in fact, on the bank of a river. Not just any river, though. This was the river that ran through one side of Antonia. They were almost in there own backyard. They spotted the house and ran towards it.

Just then, as they all stood outside of the hole, they saw Davia's father, just at the same time as he saw them. As he ran calling to his wife that they were back, they knew everything was all right. They were home again.