finding more easily accessible specimens of the orchid, he gave that up,
and a couple of hours after they were gliding swiftly along the stream,
rapt in contemplation of the wonders on either hand, Shaddy being called
upon from time to time to seize hold of some overhanging bough and check
the progress of the boat, so that its occupants might watch the gambols
of the inquisitive monkeys which kept pace with them along the bank by
bounding and swinging from branch to branch.

The birds, too, appeared to be infinite in variety; and Rob was never
weary of watching the tiny humming-birds as they poised themselves
before the trumpet blossoms of some of the pendent vines to probe their
depths for honey, or capture tiny insects with their beaks.

Their journey was prolonged from their inability to find a suitable
place for a halt, and it was easy work for the boatmen, who smiled with
content as they found that only one was required to handle the oars, so
as to keep the boat's head straight.

It was nearly night, when a narrow place was found where by the fall of
a huge tree several others had been torn up by their roots, and lay with
their water-worn branches in the river.

The place offered just room to run the boat between two of the trees,
but it could be easily moored, and there was the clear sky overhead.
Moreover, they had an ample supply of dead wood to make a fire, and by
the time this was blazing merrily and lighting up the wall of trees and
the river night had fallen intensely dark.

The lads were for leaping out directly and climbing about amongst the
fallen trunks which nearly filled the opening, but Shaddy checked them.

"Wait a while, my lads, till the fire's been burning a bit. I don't
quite like our quarters."

"But that fire will scare away any wild beasts that may be near," said
Rob.

"Yes, but the place looks snaky, Mr Rob; and I daresay there's lots o'
them big spiders about."

"What big spiders?"

"Them as bites so bad that you remember it for months. Why, there's one
sort out in these parts as'll run after you and attack you--fierce."

"No, no, Shaddy, not spiders," said Rob, laughing.

"Look ye here, Mr Rob, sir," said Shaddy solemnly, "when I tell you a
story of the good old traveller sort--I mean a bouncer--you'll see the
corners of my lips screwed up. When I'm telling you what's true as
true, you'll see I look solid as mahogany; and that's how I'm looking
now."

"Yes, it's true, R