could have said better. This
way, gen'lemen, please!"

He turned sharply round and led them toward the side of the opening in
the forest which had been the scene of his search.

"What are you going to do, Naylor?" asked Brazier.

"What every man does first, sir, when night comes on in the wilds: light
a fire to keep off the wild beasts."

A thrill of dread passed through Rob at this, for he had been too intent
upon the discovery they had made to think anything of their danger. But
now he glanced uneasily round, and saw the eyes of wild beasts glaring
at them from the dense forest in all directions, till he was ready to
laugh at his folly, for the gleaming eyes were fire-flies.

Meanwhile Shaddy led them straight to the spot he had notified as being
the one likely to be selected by a halting party for their fire, and
here, with the help of the others, sufficient dead wood was collected to
start a very small blaze, by whose light they proceeded to collect more
and more from the edge of the forest beyond where the river had risen.
But it was slow and arduous work for weary people, and they were
constantly finding wood that was too small or else that which was too
heavy to stir. Still they persevered, and at last so good a fire was
burning that there was no fear of an attack by any prowling beast, and
as its flames rose higher their task grew less difficult, and by joining
hands a good pile of dead limbs was laid ready for keeping up the blaze.

"Something cheery 'bout a fire!" said Shaddy when it was decided that
they had enough wood to last the night. "Next thing ought to be supper,
gentlemen."

"And we have nothing," said Rob despairingly.

"On'y water," said Shaddy, "plenty of that."

"_Qui dort dine_, Rob," said Brazier quietly.

"Speak to me, sir?" said Shaddy.

"No, but I will, my man," replied Brazier. "The French say that he who
sleeps dines."

"That's true, sir," said Shaddy, "on'y it's disappointing when you wake.
I've lain down to go to sleep lots of times like this, tired out and
hungry, and dropped asleep directly; and as soon as I've been asleep
I've begun to dream about eating all kinds of good things. It's very
nice in the dreaming, but it don't keep up your courage."

"There is nothing that we could possibly get to eat, is there, Shaddy,"
said Rob,--"no berries nor fruit?"

"Couldn't find 'em to-night, sir. In the morning I daresay I can get
some berries; might manage a fish, too,