th the
monkeys that chattered at us as we passed along. I never saw a man
laugh as he did that day. He almost became hysterical, so much was he
tickled with their antics; and the natives, who have a keen sense of the
ludicrous, seemed quite to sympathise with his spirit, although, of
course, what amused him could not have similarly affected them, seeing
that they were used to monkeys from infancy.

"There's something new!" exclaimed Jack, as we rounded a bend in the
river and came in view of an open flat where it assumed somewhat the
aspect of a pond or small lake. He pointed to a flock of birds standing
on a low rock, which I instantly recognised to be pelicans.

"Surely," said I, "pelicans are not new to you!"

"Certainly not; but if you look a little more attentively, I think you
will find material for your note-book."

Jack was right. I observed a very fine fish-hawk circling over the head
of one of the pelicans. Its head and neck were white, and its body was
of a reddish chocolate colour. Just as we came in sight, the pelican
caught a fine fish, which it stowed away safe in the pouch under its
chin. The sly hawk, which had been watching for this, immediately made
a descent towards its victim, making a considerable noise with its wings
as it came down. Hearing this, the pelican looked hastily up, and
supposing that a terrible and deadly assault was about to be made,
opened its mouth and screamed in terror. This was just what the hawk
wanted. The open bill revealed the fish in the pouch. Down he swooped,
snatched it out, and then soared away with his ill-gotten gains in his
talons.

"Oh, what a thief!" exclaimed Peterkin.

"And the pelican seems to take his loss in a remarkably philosophical
manner," observed Jack.

To my surprise the great stupid bird, instead of flying away, as I had
expected, quietly resumed his fishing as if nothing had happened. No
doubt he was well pleased to find himself still alive, and it is not
improbable that the hawk made several more meals at the expense of his
long-beaked friend after we had passed by.

We soon put him to flight, however, by landing near the spot where he
stood, this being the place where we were to quit our canoes and pass
through the jungle on foot. The hunters now prepared themselves for
action, for the recent tracks of elephants were seen on the bank of the
stream, and the natives said they could not be far off. Jack and
Peterkin were armed w