up here in these parts you
never know what may happen next. Something may come just when you think
you are safe, and it's best to be always ready."

So that and the following meal were eaten in the boat, which just before
dark was at the Spaniard's suggestion run up into a calm reach where the
forest had become very distant, while the river seemed to have widened
out to double its former size.

Here he proposed that they should anchor for the night and wait for the
morning before continuing their journey.

This was disappointing to the lads, who looked longingly at the shore,
while Rodd suggested that there were several places that looked level,
and where it would be easy to rig up a tent where they might sleep.

The Spaniard laughed, and with a grim smile said--

"You wanted a guide for coming up here, young man. If we did what you
say we shouldn't all be ready to go on again in the morning."

"What, because of the wild beasts?" said Rodd eagerly.

The Spaniard nodded.

"He is quite right, Rodd," said the doctor. "And I suppose we might
catch fever here?" he continued.

"Bad," said the Spaniard laconically. "Keep to the boat."

The night came down dark and beautiful; the great purple velvet arch
that spread from side to side of the river was gloriously spangled with
stars, for in the day's ascent the little party seemed to have left the
river mists behind, and as they sat together the doctor and his young
companions revelled in the loveliness of the scene, while they listened
to the strange sounds from forest and river which constantly smote upon
their ears and now seemed wondrously near.

"It seems very different," whispered Rodd to Morny, for something preyed
upon his spirits and stayed him from speaking aloud.

"Yes," said Morny, in the same subdued tone; "it is very different from
being aboard the vessels. I shan't go to sleep to-night; shall you?"

"No. Who could go to sleep? Why, as soon as one lay down I should
expect to see the great slimy snout of a crocodile thrust over the
boat's gunwale, and then--"

"I say," said Morny, "don't!"

But nothing worse than sounds troubled the party that night, as not long
after this conversation the two lads obeyed the doctor's suggestion that
they should creep under the awning, whose canvas sides were tightly
belayed to the gunwale; and though both declared that they would never
close their eyes, they and the watches into which the little crew was
div