thrown-in bait.

"I don't like sleeping in the middle of the day," said Rob as he took a
fresh hold of his line.

"Wait a bit, my lad, and you'll like getting a snooze on there when you
can get a chance. And so you're a bit disappynted in the country, are
you?"

"Yes, but it's been getting better the last few days."

"Yes," said Shaddy, "ever so much; and as soon as you get used to it
you'll say it's the beautifullest place in the world."

Rob turned to him quickly, his irritation passing away.

"Yes, it is getting beautiful," he said; "the trees all along that side
are very grand."

"Ah," said Shaddy, replacing the great sheath-knife with which he had
been cutting up his tobacco in his belt, "and it's bigger and wilder
when we get higher up. I don't wonder at their calling it the Grand
Chaco."

"The trees are wonderful," said Rob softly as he gazed at the great wall
of verdure.

"And it's wonderfuller inside as you go on and up the little rivers or
creeks. Just you wait a bit, my lad, and you'll see. I can show you
things as'll open your eyes. You won't think the place dull."

"I suppose we are getting up toward quite the middle of South America,
aren't we?"

"Getting that way, my lad, but not yet. Wasn't that a bite?"

"No," replied Rob confidently. "I say, Shaddy, are there really any
good fish in this river? Isn't it too big?"

"Wants a big river to hold big fish in, millions of 'em, big as you are.
Wait, and you'll see."

"But one gets so tired of waiting."

"But we has to wait all the same, and how those 'Talians get up and down
as they do is always a wonder to me. I suppose they like waiting, and
having their snoozes in the hot sun. 'Tis their nature to. Naples is
hot enough, but not like this."

"Have you been to Italy?"

"'Ain't many places I haven't been to, my lad."

"But you've been here a long time."

"Nigh upon twenty year up and down; and when I go to a place I like to
forage and ferret about, being fond of a bit o' sport. That's how it is
I know so much of the country up here. Couldn't help larning it. No
credit to a man then."

"What are you looking at?" said Rob.

"Nothing, but looking out for squalls."

"Change of weather?"

"Nay, not yet. I meant Indian squalls. I didn't know as there were to
be no watch kept, or I wouldn't have slept. It ain't safe, my lad, to
go to sleep close to the shore this side."

"Why! Wild beasts?"

"Nay, wild Indians, as