interfere? This is a magnificent orchid, different
from any that I have ever seen. I thought you understood that I have
come on purpose to collect these."

"Oh yes, I understand, sir; but you're captain, and have got to order.
We'll get 'em for you. My four chaps'll climb the trees better, and be
handier with the axe; and as they'll have scarcely anything to do, we'll
set 'em to work at that sort of thing."

"They will have the rowing to do."

"Precious little, sir, now. The rowing's done. All we've got to do is
to float along the stream."

"Ah, well, I'll finish this time, and they shall do it another."

"Better come down now, sir," whispered Shaddy. "You see they're a dull,
stupid lot, who look up to white people as their natural masters; and,
without being a brute to 'em, the more you stands off and treats 'em as
if they were servants the more they look up to you. If you don't, and
they see you doing work that they're paid to do, they'll look down on
you, think you're afraid of 'em, and grow saucy."

"Ah!" ejaculated Brazier, giving a start, and nearly losing his hold of
the branch.

"What's the matter, sir?"

For answer Brazier cut frantically with his axe at something invisible
to those below, but evidently without avail, till he struck a small
bough so violently that they saw the object dropping down, and Rob had
only time to leap aside to avoid a small snake, of a vivid green with
red markings, which fell just where he had been standing, and then began
to twine in and out rapidly, and quite unhurt, ending by making its
escape into the dense forest, where it was impossible to follow.

"Did you kill it?" cried Brazier from up in the tree.

"No," said Rob; "it's gone!"

"Ah," said Shaddy, thoughtfully, "I never thought to warn you against
them. That's a poisonous one, I think, and they climb up the trees and
among the flowers to get the young birds and eggs and beetles and
things. Better always rattle a stick in amongst the leaves, sir, before
you get handling them. Try again, now, with the handle of the hatchet."

Brazier obeyed, and snatched his hand back directly, as he held on with
his left, after violently striking the branch close to the plant he
tried to secure.

"There's another here," he said.

"Better come away, sir!" cried Rob.

"No; I must have this bunch. I have nearly cut the boughs clear from
it, and a stroke or two then will divide the stem, and it will drop
clear on to