of scratching among the
branches, at length succeeded in making the cable fast to a tree. The
balza then swung round, and floated at the end of the cable, half of it
being buried under the long hanging branches.

They spent their night on board, for it was no use attempting to get on
shore through the underwood; and even if they had, they could not have
encamped very comfortably in a thicket. On the other hand, the balza
did not afford the best accommodation for sleeping. The little "toldo,"
or cabin, was not large enough to swing a hammock in. It would only
contain a few persons seated close together; and it had been built more
for the purpose of keeping the sun off during the hot hours of the day
than for sleeping in. The rest of the balza was occupied with the
freight; and this was so arranged with sloping sides, thatched with the
bussu-leaves, that there was no level place where one could repose upon
it. The night, therefore, was passed without very much sleep having
been obtained by any one of the party. Of course, the moment the first
streaks of day began to appear along the Eastern sky, they were all
awake and ready to leave their disagreeable anchorage.

As they were making preparations to untie the cable, they noticed that
just below where the balza lay, a horizontal limb stretched far out over
the river. It was the lowermost limb of a large zamang-tree, that stood
on the bank close to the edge of the water. It was not near the
surface, but a good many feet above. Still it was not certain that it
was high enough for the roof of the toldo to clear it. That was an
important question; for although the current was not very rapid just
there, it was sufficiently so to carry the balza under this branch
before they could push it out into the stream. Once the cable was let
go, they must inevitably pass under the limb of the zamang; and if that
caught the toldo, it would sweep off the frail roof like so much
spider's-web. This would be a serious damage; and one to be avoided, if
possible.

Don Pablo and Guapo went to the end of the balza nearest the branch, and
stood for some time surveying it. It was about eight or ten yards
distant; but in the grey dawn they could not judge correctly of its
height, and they waited till it grew a little clearer. At length they
came to the conclusion that the branch was high enough. The long
pendulous leaves--characteristic of this great _mimosa_--and the
drooping bra