their domains. As soon, however, as the men began to move about they
took fright and scrambled off to a safer distance. Just then loud caws
were heard, and several flights of magnificent-coloured macaws flew
across the stream. Cocoa and other beverages having been served out and
rapidly swallowed, the party embarked, and once more the toils of the
day began. It was harder work than ever. The boats had frequently to
pass right up rapids and among rocks and sandbanks; thus it was only by
the greatest exertion that the heavier boats could be forced along.

Except that the toil was greater and the heat more intense, there was
but little variation from the events of the preceding day. Whenever
they neared the banks troops of monkeys appeared in the branches of the
lofty trees, chattering and shaking their heads, or screaming in anger
at this invasion of their territory; flights of macaws and other birds
of gorgeous plumage flew overhead, generally in pairs; and here and
there, perched on the lower branches, were seen huge white ducks, which
nodded their heads and gabbled as the boats passed slowly by them.
Among the monkeys, of which various species were seen, were several
little Congo apes, who, in their anger, attempted to roar like lions,
affording infinite amusement to the crews.

"I say, Paddy," cried Tom Rogers to Desmond, their boats being at that
time close to each other, "we must catch one of those fellows; he would
make a good playmate to Spider. I suspect that old Scrofton will
declare that he is embryo lion. I wonder how many thousand years it
will take before he will turn into one?"

"Nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine, young gentlemen!" cried the
boatswain, who was in charge of one of the launches with troops, and,
being at the time close astern, overheard the question. "In my opinion,
howsomedever, it doesn't take half that time for a spider-tail to turn
into a powder-monkey; but I'll see what my book says about it when we
get back to the ship."

There was, of course, a general laugh among the boats' crews. Jack did
not think it necessary to interfere, though he suspected that had they
not been on duty the boatswain would have used the word "midshipman" in
lieu of "powder-monkey."

Every now and then the boats grated against a snag, which reminded them
of the danger which they would have to encounter when returning. The
rocks and snags could not, as they were then steering, do them muc