at!" cried out Leo; "you do not mean to say you would eat those
hideous creatures?"

"I suspect we shall have no objection to do so," said David. "They are
varanians, a species of water-lizard, very similar to the iguanas of the
New World, which are considered great delicacies. Ugly as they look,
they are perfectly harmless."

The fires were already lighted, and without loss of time young Mango and
Paulo set to work to skin their prizes. Chickango stewed a portion of
them in our big pan. The flesh looked remarkably white and nice. First
I took a piece; David followed; then Leo put in his wooden fork.

"Why, it is capital!" he exclaimed. "Kate, you must have some. Bella,
I am sure you will like it."

In fact, in a short time we were all partaking of the varaniad meat,
which we preferred to that of the giraffe. We had a dessert of great
variety, if not to be compared to some of our English fruits; but we
were very thankful to get such nice and wholesome food. The fruits,
indeed, were particularly cooling and pleasant to the palate.
Chickango, who had disappeared, soon came back with a quantity of honey,
which he had taken from the hollows in the trees we had seen on our
shooting expedition. It was, as may be supposed, a welcome addition to
our repast.

We were still seated at our meal, when a low rumbling noise reached our
ears. It continued for some time, and looking out towards the east,
whence it appeared to come, we saw dark clouds collecting. Presently
vivid flashes of lightning darted forth, and reiterated roars came
pealing through the air. "We must get shelter up immediately," cried
Senhor Silva, "or the young ladies will be wet through; and our goods
may suffer too." The canoes had been well secured to trunks of trees,
though not unladen. We immediately got out the axes, and commenced
cutting down the smaller saplings and straight branches of trees as
rapidly as we could. These we placed on the side of the bank, covering
our rude hut over with large leaves and heavy boughs on the top, which
we secured by rattans to prevent their being blown away. Everything
that could be injured by rain was immediately brought up, leaving room
for the young ladies and poor Igubo in the centre.

"Oh, we can perch ourselves on the top of the baggage," cried Leo.
"There will be room then for all hands inside."

While we were working away the clouds came rushing on over the sky, the
flashes of lightning becom