hung over the trunk of a tree, as the stream would
act as their guide on their return.

Then going on, the little rapids and falls in the tiny river showed that
they must be steadily rising, but at so slow a rate that it soon became
evident that, unless the country opened out, they would not reach the
mountain that day.

At the end of a couple of hours, though, when they paused to rest and
began refreshing themselves with some fruit similar to a large nut, but
whose interior contained a couple of kernels imbedded in custard, they
found themselves quite upon a hill, with a valley dipping down below
along which the streamlet came, and beyond these the mountain-slope
rose, so that they had a good view of the cone, with the film of cloud
still rising, but looking almost transparent in the bright sunrise.

"There ought to be pigs here," said the major; "but it does not seem as
if we shall see any. But look yonder; there's another of those
fruit-trees, with pigeons feeding beneath. Go and try now."

Mark hurried on, and threading his way among the trees took a long and
careful aim before firing; and, as might be expected, missing. But as
luck had it, the flock rose with a tremendous beating of wings and went
right over the major's head, giving him an opportunity to get a couple
of good shots, with the result that three more of the great pigeons came
crashing down.

"I think I hit one," said Mark as he came panting back, to find that the
major and Bruff between them had retrieved all three birds.

"Where is it, then?" said the major.

"The smoke got in my eyes, and I could not see whether one fell."

"Take the dog, then, and see if he can find it," said the major, smiling
to himself. But after a good search the lad came back hot and
disappointed.

"Better luck next time, my boy," said the major. "You are not the only
one who did not hit his first bird. Shooting is not so easy as fishing
in the sea."

The question now arose whether to go on further or to return. They had
obtained eight good weighty birds, and the heat was great; but Mark was
so anxious to try and make better use of his piece that the pigeons just
shot were hung up similarly to the first, and they proceeded, to find
hopeful signs of an abundance of fruit, some of which was familiar to
the major from his having encountered it in different parts of the East,
while other kinds looked promising enough for testing.

But though a sharp look-out was