Bony, and
that it had made him very cross with me about nothing at all."

Uncle Paul made a sound like the beginning of a speech that would not
come, and the silence seemed deeper than ever, nothing being heard but
the soft lapping of the water under the vessel's counter, as she glided
slowly through the sea.

But Rodd felt the warm arm under which his hand nestled press it closer
and closer to the old man's side, and that he was urged along the deck
to keep pace with his elder slowly up and down, up and down, from stem
to stern, for some minutes before that speech came--one which was quite
different from that which Rodd fully expected to hear, for it was in
Uncle Paul's natural tones once more, as he said very thoughtfully and
in quite a confidential manner--

"Yes, very gentlemanly, Pickle, my boy; quite the nobleman, I might say,
and I am not at all surprised that you helped that poor lad to escape.
A little effeminate, but certainly a very nice lad. But I have been
thinking about them ever since I came on board this afternoon, and I
can't quite make out that Count. What's he doing here, my boy? On some
mission, and connected with some jealousy and a stop being put to his
cruise. I am not quite sure, Pickle."

"Rodney, uncle," said the boy mischievously.

"Pickle, you dog! Be quiet. I am talking sense. But I think I have
worked it out. He betrayed himself. He's a naturalist, boy. He
betrayed it in his looks and words as soon as he learned what I was
about. Didn't you notice how eager he was to know about our pursuits?"

"Yes, uncle; I noticed that directly."

"Ah, I thought so. A naturalist--a born naturalist, Pickle, and in
spite of his being a Frenchman I shall begin to feel a brotherly respect
for a follower of the only pursuit worthy of a gentleman. Well, we had
a very short sleep last night, so we have got a long one due to our
credit to-night, and on the strength of that Captain Chubb has arranged
to have supper quite early. This has been a queer day, Pickle, a very
queer day, and I am not at all displeased, for I am beginning to think
that we have got a very good time before us."

"What time, uncle?"

"Ashore, my boy. What do you say to having a couple of the sailors with
guns to keep us company while the rest are new-bottoming that brig?
Walks in the primeval forest, Rodd, wonderful botanical rambles,
shooting birds of glorious plumage, most likely coming across the great
man-ape, th