e wonders
on every hand, till I begin now to feel sorrow and delight at how little
I know and how much there is yet to learn."

"Yes, uncle; go on," cried the boy, eagerly.

"You said I was not to lecture you."

"But I like it when you talk that way."

"Ah, Ned, Ned! there's no fear of one's getting to the end," said
Murray, half sadly; "life is far too short for that, but the life of
even the most humble naturalist is an unceasing education. He is always
learning--always finding out how beautiful are the works of the Creator.
They are endless, Ned, my boy. The grand works of creation are spread
out before us, and the thirst for knowledge increases, and the draughts
we drink from the great fount of nature are more delicious each time we
raise the cup."

Ned's chin was now upon his thumbs, his elbows on the table once more,
and his eyes sparkled with intense delight as he gazed on the animated
countenance of the man before him; for that face was lit up, the broad
forehead looked noble, and his voice was now deep and low, and now rang
out loudly, as if he were some great teacher declaiming to his pupil on
the subject nearest to his heart. Till it suddenly dawned upon him
that, instead of quenching, he was increasing the thirst of the boy
gazing excitedly in his eyes, and he stopped short in the lamest way,
just as he was rising up to the highest pitch of his eloquence.

"Yes, uncle, yes!" cried Ned. "Go on--go on."

"Eh? No; that's all, my boy; that's all."

"But that isn't all!" cried Ned excitedly, rising now. "That's only the
beginning of what I want to learn. I want to road in those books,
uncle. I want to drink from that glorious fountain whose draughts are
sweeter every time. I want to--I want to--I want to--Oh uncle, oh
uncle, go on! do take me with you, there's a dear old chap."

The boy stretched out his hand, which was slowly taken and pressed as
Johnstone Murray said in a subdued tone: "God grant that I may be doing
rightly for you, Ned. You've beaten me finely with my own weapons, my
boy."

"And you'll take me?"

"Yes, Ned, I give in. You shall be my companion now."

"Hurrah!"

Ned sprang on to his chair, then on to the table, and waved his hand
above his head. A month later he was on his way in one of the French
boats to Singapore, from whence, after making a few final preparations,
they went up in a small trading-steamer to the little settlement of
Dindong, on the Salan River. H