laconically.

"Yes, that's it," cried Rodd, and after a glance at his uncle he tore
down a wild banana leaf, turned it into a natural green dish, heaped
upon it some of the remains of the breakfast, and carried it a short
distance along the bank, where he placed it close to the water's edge,
signed to the blacks, and then joined his companions, who were about to
enter the boat.

Very soon afterwards they were gliding along the stream again, after the
sailors, by Uncle Paul's orders, had carefully extinguished the remains
of the fire.

"We don't want to start a conflagration, my boys," he said.

As the men slowly dipped their oars, for there was not a breath of wind,
the two lads had to make an effort to, as it were, drag their eyes from
the lovely floral scene on either side of the little river, while they
watched the proceedings of the blacks.

"Well, they are a pair of stupids," said Rodd. "What is it--ignorance
or suspicion?"

For the two dark objects remained on the farther bank, one seated with a
paddle, the other upright, spear in hand, holding on by an overhanging
bough to keep their boat from drifting on with the current.

"Suspicion," said Morny quietly.

"Miserable wretches! Do they think I want to poison them?"

"No. I'll tell you," said Morny. "Poor creatures, they have been so
ill-used by the white people with black hearts who come to these shores
that they think the food you have put there is the bait of a trap."

"To catch blackbirds! Why, of course! They think we want to carry them
off for slaves. They're as bad as old Captain Chubb; eh, uncle? He
took us for slavers, Morny, when uncle wanted to engage him. Well, I
forgive them, poor chaps.--Ah, they think it's safe now. They're going
to risk taking the bait."

For all at once the two negroes began to paddle themselves slowly across
the river to where the bright green banana leaf lay glistening upon the
sand, and the last the two lads saw then of those they had tried to
benefit, as the boat glided on with four oars dipping and making the
water flash like silver, was with the canoe drawn up on to the sands,
the two savage-looking blacks squatting on their heels, eagerly
devouring the remains of the breakfast. "Oh, never mind the sun being
hot, uncle," cried Rodd, as they went on and on. "I don't mind if I'm
half roasted. Look, Morny; did you ever see anything so lovely? Look
at the flowers on that great tree. Why, it seems to