low, pink, and
white. Gaily-plumaged birds, and beautifully-tinted butterflies, of
wonderful size, flitted through the air. The party, though well
accustomed to the rich vegetation of the West Indies, agreed that few
scenes in the tropics could surpass this in beauty.

Curiously-rigged boats came floating by, some loaded with fruit and
vegetables, others like haystacks gone adrift, and others of
considerable size carrying cattle to the market at Rio. Several
picturesque islets were passed, covered like the main land with rich
vegetation and numberless flowers of various hues.

"Well, I think we shall have a jolly trip of it," exclaimed Tom. "There
is no necessity to bother ourselves by taking observations or keeping a
dead reckoning, but, like the navigators of old, we shall never lose
sight of land."

"No; but we must stand by to lower the sail pretty sharply if a squall
comes off one of those pointed hills there," observed Higson, "and that
is not at all unlikely to happen."

"Who is after getting hungry?" sung out Desmond. "I suspect it must be
past eight bells, and so I vote we land, and look out for a pleasant
place to take our dinner."

"There is one," said Higson, pointing to a spot where the landing
appeared easy, and there was a tolerably wide space of open ground
backed by an orange grove, on the branches of which golden and green
fruit, with white and pink blossoms, all hung together.

All hands were soon on shore, with such provisions as they required, and
the greater number employed themselves in collecting wood for their
proposed fire, which was soon blazing away. From the sparkling stream
which rushed down from the mountains, they obtained a supply of water.
The dark green leaves of the orange-trees overhead afforded sufficient
shade, and they were soon all seated round a substantial repast, to
which they were well inclined to do full justice.

"We have not far to go for our dessert," said Tom, as he eyed the
oranges hanging temptingly above his head. Archy Gordon was of opinion,
however, that as they were not growing wild they must belong to
somebody; and that unless the owner would consent to part with his
fruit, they would not be right to take them. As may be supposed,
however, he was in the minority, though Higson acknowledged that if the
owner could be found he was entitled to payment should he demand it. In
the meantime Snatchblock and his companion, who were not troubled with
any