away in if it does."

I was afraid little Bella would be alarmed, but she kept gazing up at
her sister, and seeing her countenance calm and tranquil, sat contented
by her side, without speaking, however. In spite of the rain, I every
now and then put my head out to ascertain that the canoes were safe; for
as the waters rushed down, I was afraid lest the stumps to which they
were fastened might be carried away. So thick was the rain that we
could scarcely see across to the other side. Suddenly, as if by word of
command, it ceased; and though the thunder continued to rattle towards
the west, and flashes still issued from the clouds in the east, all
quickly became serene. The sun burst forth again upon our heads, and
the leaves of the trees and shrubs glittered for a few minutes as if
covered with diamonds, though the sun rapidly dried up the moisture.
The hut had become very hot, and I was just going out of it, when I saw
the head of an animal crawling out from a neighbouring bush. At first I
thought it was some creature, till I saw a long body following. It was
a huge serpent. It came wriggling over the ground directly towards the
hut. "Ondara!" shouted Chickango; "shoot! shoot!" Stanley sprang down
from his seat, and aimed at the monster's head. I did the same. The
creature, after convulsively twisting and turning itself into huge
coils, lay still. We hurried down to examine it. On measuring it, we
found that it was upwards of fifteen feet in length. David examined the
head, and pronounced it to be venomous.

"Yes, indeed," said Senhor Silva. "It is the largest of all venomous
serpents, and if the stories told of it are true, so virulent is the
poison that it causes almost instantaneous death."

We had reason to be thankful that we had escaped the two dangers. As we
were anxious to proceed on our voyage, having now an ample supply of
provisions, we once more embarked. I was afraid, from the thickness of
the water, that we should have difficulty in avoiding any banks in our
course; but it very soon cleared, and we proceeded as before.

As we were paddling along a sudden sickness seized me. Whether it was
from over-exerting myself, or from the heat of the sun, I could not
tell. Still I tried to go on. At length I felt my paddle slip from my
hand. Natty had just time to catch it, and to save me from falling
forward on my face. I was placed in the bottom of the canoe, alongside
poor Igubo, and knew