heir eyes in the direction I indicated. There was
now not only one negro looking at us, but several black faces, encircled
with white hair, appeared among the branches. Instead of flying from
our supposed enemies, they both burst into fits of laughter.

"Those Spaniards? Why, they are monkeys," exclaimed Ned. "Ha, ha, ha!
Now, if I could bring one of them down, he might serve us for dinner
to-morrow."

I could not help joining in his laughter, though I had no fancy for
eating a monkey. He threw up a piece of stick with all his force. It
missed its aim, and served to send the whole troop scampering away,
uttering mournful howls, to a distance, where they for some time kept up
a concert, which effectually banished sleep.

When the monkeys had ceased howling, Pedro began his watch, and I tried
to obtain some rest. Ned Gale, with his sailor habits, very quickly was
lost in the land of dreams; but I was not so fortunate. I saw that
Pedro was reading, and I did not wish to interrupt him. He every now
and then shut his book and looked about him. He appeared to me to be on
the watch in expectation of some threatened danger. At last I gave up
the attempt to sleep as hopeless. There was something in the air of the
place, I believe, which affected me. My young companion had been
sitting for some minutes lost in meditation.

"What are you thinking about, Pedro?" I asked.

"Of my father and mother," he answered, with a sigh.

"Why, I thought you never knew them," I observed.

"I have often dreamed of them though," he said. "Do you know, Senor
David, that I sometimes fancy I may some day discover them. Had I the
means of becoming educated as you are, and of obtaining a fortune, I
would employ it in searching for them."

"If we succeed in getting to England, I am sure my friends, in gratitude
to you, will put you in the way of making your fortune," I replied.
"But I own I cannot see how this will enable you to find your parents,
without any clue to guide you."

"God, if He thinks fit, will point out the way," he answered. "I put my
trust in Him."

I could say no more. This idea had, I found, become the absorbing one
of his mind.

"If my parents live, He too will show me the means through which I may
discover them," I thought.

I had never yet been thoroughly convinced of their loss. I was
perfectly helpless I knew, and I felt forcibly that on Him alone could I
place my trust. The feeling brought comf