sted that I should climb a
particularly lofty tree which she indicated, and keep a look-out for
them, while she went off into the forest to seek the wherewithal to
furnish a breakfast. She was very quiet and subdued in her manner, and
I greatly feared that she was feeling deeply mortified and hurt because
I had pointed out the impossibility of her remaining with me after our
arrival at the coast--should we be so fortunate as to get there.

As Ama, taking her bow and arrows, tripped lightly away toward the
forest, I proceeded to shin up the tree, and presently, after some
labour, found myself among its topmost branches, which towered high
above those of all the other trees in the neighbourhood, and--it being
by this time broad daylight--obtained a magnificent view of the
surrounding country, extending for, as I estimated, some forty miles
toward the south and east, while toward the north and west the view was
shut off by high hills, through which the river wound its way. To my
surprise I found that our camping-place was much nearer the river than I
had supposed, and I was thus able to obtain a clear and unobstructed
view of its surface for many miles north and south, except a width of a
few yards on its eastern side, which was shut off by the mangroves and
low scrub which grew along its margin. I most carefully searched the
shining bosom of the stream for signs of our expected pursuers, but saw
none; nor had they hove in sight when, about half an hour later, Ama
returned with some seven or eight wood-pigeons which she had brought
down with her arrows. She did not call to me, or announce her return in
any way, but set to work to mow a circle of about ten feet in diameter
in the long grass; and then, having produced fire by rubbing two pieces
of wood together, she proceeded very carefully to burn off the short
grass left inside the circle, setting fire to it, allowing it to burn
for a few seconds, and then beating it out again with a branch, in order
that the fire might not spread and burn us out, to say nothing of
betraying our presence by the smoke that it would raise.

Then, when she had at length cleared a sufficient space she lighted her
cooking fire, taking care to use only dry wood, and thus make but little
smoke, after which she proceeded to the margin of the river and brought
back a large lump of damp clay, pieces of which she broke off and
completely encased the birds in, and this she did with considerable
c