said the doctor, "for I am thankful that all that kind
of trouble is at an end, and that France and England are at peace; and
besides, you are free to come and go where you please. Well, as your
son and my nephew have become such inseparable friends, and my time is
my own, I will ask no questions, but sail where you sail, and pick up
what I can to complete my specimens while you continue your research;
and believe me, I wish you every success."

"Ah," said the Count, with a sigh of satisfaction; and with all a
Frenchman's effusiveness he laid his hands on the doctor's shoulders and
said, with some little show of emotion, "I thank you. You are making me
as great a friend as my son is to your nephew."

Watch was mounted on both vessels at night as if they were in the
presence of a dangerous enemy; but there in the great solitude of that
forest through which the river ran, there was nothing human to disturb
the night.

Savage nature was as busy as ever during the dark hours through which
the creatures of land and water fled for their lives or pursued their
prey. Otherwise everything was wondrously still, and those upon
schooner or brig who might have felt doubtful about the Spanish craft
saw or heard nothing save the low murmur of voices in conversation and
the occasional opening or shutting of a dull lantern, whose use was
explained by the sudden glow cast upon the face of some swarthy sailor
as he lit a fresh cigarette, after which a couple of faint points of
glowing light rising and falling might have been seen passing to and fro
upon the Spaniard's deck.

Then as daylight came again there was the busy sound of the saw,
chipping of the adze, the creak of auger, and the loud echoing rap of
the mallet, as some tree-nail was driven home.

On the previous evening the conversation that had gone on between the
doctor and the Count had hardly ended before the Spaniard's boat, rowed
by a couple of men, came as near as they could get to the brig, and one
of the bare-legged men, after giving a sharp look round into the shallow
water, as if in search of danger from one of the hideous reptiles on the
look-out for prey, stepped over into the mud, and came up, bearing a
basket of large, freshly-caught fish, which he placed in the hands of a
couple of the sailors, and then stood waiting.

"Ah!" cried the doctor. "The fish the Spanish captain promised me. Our
thanks to your master, and I will not forget what he wanted."

T