hrows up the earth and shoots the worms, while if you hold it well up
it only shoots the stars.--Water boils."

Breakfast followed--a delightful _alfresco_ meal, with the silver river
gliding by, birds twittering, piping, screaming, and cooing all around,
and monkeys chattering and screeching excitedly at having their
sanctuary invaded; but they were quite tame enough to drop down from the
trees and pick up a piece of biscuit, banana, or orange when thrown far
enough. But this was not till they felt satisfied that they were not
being watched, when the coveted treasure was seized and borne off with a
chattering cry of triumph, the actions of the odd little creatures
taking up a good deal of Rob's time which might have been devoted to his
breakfast.

The travellers had brought plenty of fruit and provisions with them, and
an ample supply of _mate_--the leaves that take the place of tea amongst
the South American tribes, whose example is largely followed by the
half-breeds and those of Spanish descent; and after watching how the
preparation was made Rob found himself quite ready to partake of that
which proved on tasting to be both palatable and refreshing.

Then, somewhat unwillingly--for both Brazier and the lads were disposed
to stay on shore to collect some of the natural objects so plentiful
around them--they re-entered the boat; it was pulled into mid-stream,
with the monkeys flocking down from the trees about the fire to pick up
any scraps of food left, notably a couple of decayed bananas, and then
running quite to the edge of the water to chatter menacingly at the
departing boat.

The sail was soon after hoisted, and for the whole of that day and the
next the little party ascended the river, making their halts on the
right bank, but sleeping well out in the stream, held by a rope mooring
the boat's head to a tree, and a little anchor dropped in the stream.

Progress was fairly swift, and there was so much to see along the banks
that the time glided by rapidly; but at every cry of exultation on the
discovery of some fresh bird, flower, or insect, Shaddy only smiled
good-humouredly, and used the same expression:--

"Yes; but just you wait a bit."

The third day had passed, and the conversation in the boat threatened a
revolution against the will of Shaddy, whose aim seemed to be to get
them up higher, while they were passing endless opportunities for making
collections of objects of natural history such as th