wakeful. And then there was that splashing and
bellowing in the water, and I thought Mr Rob here would be a bit
puzzled to know what it was. Course I knew he wouldn't be frightened."

"None of your sneering!" said Rob frankly. "I'm not ashamed to say that
I was frightened, and very much frightened, too. It was enough to scare
any one who did not know what it was."

"Right, my lad! enough to scare anybody!" said Shaddy, patting Rob on
the shoulder. "It made me a bit squeery for a moment or two till I knew
what it was. But, I say, when I came softly along to keep you company,
you warn't going to shoot?"

"I'm afraid I was," said Rob. "It sounded just like some horrible great
snake creeping along toward us out of the darkness."

"Then I'm glad I spoke," said Shaddy drily, "Spoiled your trip, lad, if
you'd shot me, for I must have gone overboard, and if I'd come up again
I don't bleeve as you'd have picked me up. Taken ever so long to get
the boat free in the dark, and if you hadn't picked me up I don't see
how you could have got on in the jungle. Look here, now you two gents
have taken to gunning, I wouldn't shoot if I were you without asking a
question or two first."

"But suppose it is a jaguar coming at us?" said Joe.

"Well, if it's a jagger he won't answer, and you had better shoot. Same
with the lions or bears."

"Bears?" said Rob eagerly; "are there bears here?"

"Ay, lad! and plenty of 'em, not your big Uncle Ephrems, like there is
in the Rocky Mountains--grizzlies, you know--but black bears, and pretty
big, and plenty savage enough to satisfy any reasonable hunter, I mean
one who don't expect too much. Wait a bit, and you'll get plenty of
shooting to keep the pot going without reckoning them other things as
Mr Brazier's come out to hunt. What d'yer call 'em, awk'ards or
orchards--which was it?"

"Orchids," said Rob.

"Oh! ah! yes, orchids. What's best size shot for bringing o' them
down?"

"Don't answer him, Rob; it's only his gammon, and he thinks it's witty,"
said Joe.

Shaddy chuckled, and it was evident that his joke amused him.

"There," he said, "it ain't worth while for three on us to be keeping
watch. One's enough, and the others can sleep, so, as I'm here, you two
may as well go and roost."

"No," said Rob promptly; "my time isn't up."

"No, my lad, not by two hours, I should say; but I'll let you off the
rest, for it's a-many years since I was up this part, and I want to